US Special Representative for Pakistan and Afghanistan Marc Grossman arrived here on Wednesday to carry forward US efforts for improving ties with Pakistan and also to persuade the Pakistani leadership for ‘more’ anti-terrorism endeavours. Grossman’s visit is a follow up to the recent but very important trip by Senator John Kerry to Islamabad, which helped in bringing the relations between two estranged allies to the track.
Before Senator Kerry’s visit, tensions were very high on both sides and cooperation between the two states against terrorism and especially between their spy organisations, the CIA and the ISI, had come to a halt owing to the US covert operation in Abbottabad on May 2 to kill Al Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden. However, it was during Senator Kerry’s visit that the two sides agreed on “new rules of engagement” including their agreement on future joint actions against ‘high value targets’ in the cadres of Al Qaeda and its affiliated militant groups.
“The US special representative is leading a delegation of senior officials,” a US embassy spokesman said. However, he would not give further details about the agenda of the US special envoy’s visit to Islamabad. A diplomat said, “Grossman’s visit and his talks with Pakistani leaders will help pave the way for a highly significant visit to Islamabad by US Secretary of State Hilary Clinton later this month.”
According to the diplomat, CIA Deputy Director Michael Morell would also make a trip to Islamabad in the next few.
