Senator John Kerry on Sunday warned Pakistan it could risk losing US aid in case Islamabad failed to cooperate more with Washington in curbing terrorism, while Secretary of State Hillary Clinton assured President Asif Zardari that the US was willing to resolve all issues with Pakistan amicably.
Soon after arriving from Kabul, Senator Kerry went to see army chief General Ashfaq Kayani. An official privy to the meeting said, “Senator Kerry was already expected to talk tough in Pakistan. He warned that Pakistan could lose the US assistance if it failed to increase the level of cooperation with Washington in fighting terrorism.” He said General Kayani told the US senator that Pakistan had been at the forefront in the anti-terrorism global campaign and the international community, including Washington, must acknowledge its sacrifices.
“General Kayani reiterated Pakistan’s concerns over the covert US operation in Abbottabad. He also made it clear that no such action would be tolerated in the future,” the official said, adding that the army chief also handed over a copy of the joint resolution passed by the Pakistani parliament on Friday, which asked for a review of relations with the US. He said that Kerry was scheduled to meet President Asif Zardari and Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani today (Monday).
Meanwhile, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton telephoned President Zardari on Sunday night and discussed the post-Abbottabad raid situation, an official statement stated. However, as opposed to Senator Kerry, Clinton opted for a reconciliatory tone during her conversation with Zardari. The president apprised her of the concerns expressed by Pakistan’s parliament over the operation and “both agreed to resolve the issues amicably and move forward.”
Before leaving for Islamabad, Senator Kerry told a press conference in Kabul that Pakistan would face “profound” changes in its relationship with the US unless it recognised that the dynamics had fundamentally changed in the two weeks since US forces killed bin Laden. “There are disturbing signs that the Pakistani government knows about insurgents crossing from their country into Afghanistan,” he said, adding that the relationship between Washington and Islamabad had reached a ‘critical moment’.
“It is fair to say that some of my colleagues in the House and Senate have deep reservations as to whether or not Pakistan is committed to the same goals or prepared to be a full partner in pursuing those goals,” he said. Kerry said if there is no “improvement in the current situation” it will become increasingly difficult to convince people at home of the need to give aid to Pakistan.
“This is not a moment for anything but very sober serious discussion with an understanding that there is a lot at stake. There is no other way to put it. I think they understand that, we understand that,” he said. Before Kerry’s meeting with Kayani, the president, PM and the COAS held a detailed discussion at the Presidency on the strained relations with the US and Pakistan’s agenda for talks with the US senator.
An official said the troika decided to opt for a hard stance. “Pakistan has prepared its case for Senator Kerry. It’s a very important visit, we know how much important Senator Kerry is in Washington and also that he has always been sympathetic to the Pakistan’s cause,” he said. He said that the meeting of top Pakistani leaders also noted that Pakistan wanted improvement in ties with the US but not at the cost of its honour and dignity.
Pakistan risks losing aid, warns Kerry
