Give peace a chance, Gilani tells US

As the US on Thursday urged Pakistan for military action against the Haqqani Network, Islamabad expressed its inability to oblige Washington on this count, but offered full cooperation for the facilitation of ‘result-oriented dialogue’ with all Taliban groups, including Haqqanis, for lasting peace in Afghanistan, instead of opting for military operation and closing the doors for talks.
“Give peace a chance,” Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani was quoted as telling US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, who reached Islamabad on Thursday evening for a two-day visit along with an unusually high-powered delegation for talks with Pakistan’s civilian and military leadership, in an attempt to find ways to mend fences and repair the damaged relations between the two key allies in the war on terror.

The prime minister explained to the US secretary that the entire political leadership of the country had evolved a consensus that dialogue with Taliban militants was the way forward. The PM referred to the joint resolution of the All-Parties Conference (APC) to support his argument.
Secretary Clinton called on Gilani along with CIA Director General Patraeus, Special US Envoy Marc Grossman, US Ambassador to Pakistan Cameron Munter, Chairman of Joint Chiefs of Staff General Martin Dempesy and White House Adviser on war in Afghanistan Lt Gen Douglas Lute. Prime Minister Gilani was assisted by Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar, Finance Minister Abdul Hafeez Sheikh, Army Chief General Asfhaq Kayani, ISI DG Lt Gen Ahmad Shuja Pasha, Foreign Secretary Salman Bashir and Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister Khushnood Lashari. A Pakistani diplomat told Pakistan Today that the meeting lasted for four hours and the two sides tried to iron out their differences on conflicting issues, including operation in North Waziristan against Haqqanis, US endgame plan for Afghanistan, suspension of military aid to Islamabad, deployment of American military trainers and CIA operatives in Pakistan, drone strikes and other important bilateral matters. “Differences persisted between the two sides and no breakthrough could be achieved on the conflicting issues, with the US sticking to its demand for North Waziristan operation and Pakistan refusing to oblige,” he said, but added that it would be premature to say that the meeting ended in a deadlock.
He said the talks would continue on Friday with the Hillary-led US delegation meeting President Asif Ali Zadari and Foreign Minister Hina Khar, as well as other likely meetings between the military and intelligence officials from the two sides. “There is a possibility of finding a middle ground to make it a win-win situation for both sides,” he said. “The Americans seem to be unflinching in their demand for North Waziristan operation, but the two sides could agree on Pakistan’s role as a facilitator to arrange meaningful talks between not only Washington and the Haqqani Network, but all other Taliban groups such as the Mullah Omar-led major militant faction,” he said.
According to a statement issued from the PM House, Gilani welcomed Hillary Clinton and members of the delegation followed by a meeting, which was held in a “cordial and frank atmosphere”. The prime minister reiterated the collective national view on the issue of peace in Afghanistan as articulated in the APC resolution. “Disagreements between the coalition partners in the war on terror should not undermine strategic relationship which is so vital for the promotion of mutual interests of the two countries, said the prime minister,” the statement added. The discussion also focused on the bilateral relations between the two countries especially in the fields of security, economy, energy and investment, it said. The US Secretary of State said: “I have too much respect for Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani and for the country.” She recognised the importance of Pakistan in the context of peace and security in the region. Clinton appreciated the APC resolution, which she said was a right message from Pakistan to the world.