The serious nature of differences that erupted in Pakistan-US ties in the aftermath of the NATO attack in Mohmand Agency, in particular Islamabad’s decision to boycott the Bonn Conference, forced President Barack Obama to make a phone call to his Pakistani counterpart Asif Ali Zardari and explain that the “regrettable” incident was not a “deliberate attack”. The phone call from President Obama that lasted for around 30 minutes led to consultations between President Zardari and Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani on the phone and both also spoke separately to Chief of Army Staff General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani on the phone later. “The conversation between the Pakistani leadership was meant to discuss the two presidents’ telephonic talk and also to once again deliberate upon the vital issue of going or not going to the Bonn Conference now that even the US president has made the request in this regard,” said a senior Pakistani official privy to the late night developments. He said as the consultations were still underway, he could not say with authority what would be the decision but as it was the top most request by US, it had been taken very seriously here. If it was decided to send the country’s ambassador in Germany to the conference to represent Pakistan, that would not be something surprising, he added. Meanwhile, a White House statement said President Obama telephoned President Zardari on Sunday to express his condolences. “Earlier today the President phoned President Zardari to personally express his condolences on the tragic loss of 24 Pakistani soldiers,” the statement said. “The President made clear that this regrettable incident was not a deliberate attack on Pakistan and reiterated the United States’ strong commitment to a full investigation,” it added. It said that during the roughly 30-minute call, the two presidents reaffirmed their commitment to the US-Pakistan bilateral relationship.
Whether Pakistan attends Bonn Conference or not is a minor issue for Pakistan but understandably so a major issue for those who are extricating themselves from Afghanistan and seeking an exit.
The major issue for Pakistan is the form of Government and the form of Governance after US leaves. Pakistan Government pleaded with US Government in the 80's on similar lines to no avail.
There has to be a major paradigm shift in US policy makers need to undertake before Pakistan can attend a conference arranged for this purpose.
This is certainly not a precondition but an invitation to US to policy makers to engage in a major rethinking process with Pakistan.
Truly Speaking,
MA
4th December 2011
Pakistan's participation in Bonn Conference is a minor issue for Pakistan but it is a major issue for US who is extricating itself from Afghanistan and seeking an exit.
The major issue for Pakistan is the form of Government and the form of Governance after US leaves. Pakistan Government pleaded with US Government in the 80's on similar lines to no avail.
There has to be a major paradigm shift which US policy makers need to undertake before Pakistan can attend a conference arranged for this purpose.
This is certainly not a precondition but an invitation to US to policy makers to engage in a major rethinking process with Pakistan.
Truly Speaking,
MA.
4th December 2011
I,the very ordinary citizen of Pakistan solute the people of Pakistan that after their unity,Obama was forced to change his stand and realized his mistakes to express his deep concern and condolences on the brutial killings of innocent Pakistani soldiers.this is the great victory for UNITY..If in the same spirit,they unitedly stand on all national issues,no one tries to harm.this is the greatest achievment by unity.a major paradigm shift which US policy makers have a needful undertaking before Pakistan to change thier double diplomacy against Pakistan.Ofcourse this is not a precondition but an open choice to US policy makers to get theselves engaged in a major rethinking process with our country.
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