U.S. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta expressed confidence that the U.S. can mend its strained relationship with Pakistan, because the stable relationship with Islamabad is key to win the U.S. war in Afghanistan.
Panetta said that restoring the strained relationship with Pakistan is critical to the long-term progress in Afghanistan.
“I think it is going to be important, as we are able to move and progress in our efforts in Afghanistan, that we continue to do outreach in Pakistan,” he told the U.S. forces press service.
“It is essential to stability in that region that we not only achieve a peaceful resolution with regards to Afghanistan, but that we are able to develop a more stable relationship with Pakistan as well,” he said. “If that region is ever going to find peace, it is going to happen not only by achieving stability in Afghanistan, but also by achieving some degree of stability in Pakistan as well.”
The U.S. defense chief conceded that the U.S. relationship with Pakistan has been “difficult and complicated,” while emphasizing that “it is an important relationship, and it is one we have to continue to work at.”
“Obviously what took place has complicated that relationship,” Panetta said. “But I think the effort now is to try to see if we can restore that kind of communication with regards to those border incidents.”
He said he was confident that Pakistan will finally agree to reopen the ground supply routes into Afghanistan, adding that, ultimately, restoring a solid relationship goes well beyond supply routes and border operations.
“The most important thing is to keep lines of communication open and make sure we do everything we can to restore some degree of a relationship that will allow us to be able to fulfill our mission,” he said.
Panetta emphasized that the mission of fighting terrorism supports both the U.S.’ and Pakistan’s interests.
“The terrorism that threatens us also threatens them,” he said. “And if we can recognize that, despite our differences, there are some common areas that we share in terms of our security, then I think we can ultimately find a way to resolve our differences and improve our relationship.”
It is important for us to realize that the greatest sacrifices has been given for our war on terror is by Pakistan and we owe to Pakistan a great deal about it. Pakistan has been our friend throughout the cold war and beyond.
Mr.Leon Panetta you have rightly said that stable Pak-US relations are critical to Afghan success. However, you must remember that stability of our relations won't come over the blood of our martyred soldiers. Muslims are never taught to offer the other cheek, if slapped on one. US must understand our psyche before before even thinking of building stable relationship with Pakistan. The only way to reach out Pakistan for it's cooperation and friendship is to first recognize what it has sacrificed for your imposed war and then deal on mutual and equal terms. Else, our doors are shut for you permanently.
This is the end of the Road for US in Pakistan.After this even after the supply route is reopened ,the path to Pakistani hearts is for ever closed for the US.In the long term the US -India nexus can now only be countered by a China-Russia- Pakistan-Iran alliance.How long and how costly will this make the US stay in Afghanistan?Still we in Pakistan must be prepared to eat grass if necessary (As famously said by Bhutto when he embarked on his quest of nuclear weapons)-
Being a Pakistani who has never held public office or sought it view the Pakistani civil military establishment with the same suspicion as I do it it's USA counterparts. The latter has demonised through propaganda in which the ordinary middle class Pakistani has suffered the prejudice of the world of being Muslim and a Pakistani.
If I look to the USA for a relationship it is because that country produces great citizens like Steve Jobs and Bill Gates whom I believe contributed to mankind. Praetorian societies do not always beat the oppresser take the example of Prophet Muhammad and others like Ghandi and Nelson Mandella.
The Indian national army of Subhas Chander Bhose could have easily removed the british colonials from the sub continent through force but as Ghandi wrote then Indian Icons would have been praetorian.
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