Concerned about its negative images among the Pakistanis, the US on Friday vowed to use its diplomatic assets and aid to turn the tide.
“We are concerned about the public opinion polling numbers in Pakistan,” State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland said when asked why the US, instead of India, was now perceived by many Pakistanis as their number one enemy while providing them with billions dollars of aid each year.
Nuland’s comments came after US President Barack Obama, just hours ago, warned Pakistan on its alleged ties with militant groups, including the Haqqani network, saying Washington would not accept a long-term relationship in which Pakistan was “not mindful” of US interests.
She said a key focus of US embassy in Islamabad is to give “an accurate picture” to a broad cross-section of Pakistanis, admitting it is sometimes “hard to permeate, given the intense emotions about other aspects of the relationship”.
She emphasised that the US civilian aid to Pakistan, which had not been affected by the soured relationship, would help Pakistan improve its economy, education etc, adding that the US would continue to make efforts on these areas to support the country.
Last month, then chairman of the US joint chiefs of staff, Mike Mullen publicly accused the Haqqani network of being a “ veritable arm” of the Pakistani intelligence service, which prompted furious response from Pakistan.
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