The United Kingdom (UK) has played a key role in the thaw in relations between Pakistan and the United States, two estranged allies in the global counterterrorism campaign, who are now set to resume their bilateral ties to the fullest with Islamabad about to restore supplies for US-led foreign troops in Afghanistan that were suspended in the aftermath of NATO air strikes on two Pakistani border checkposts in November last year.
Pakistan is likely to resume the suspended NATO supplies in the next few days after an approval of a resolution by the joint session of parliament, which is being convened within days, to ratify the recommendations of the Parliamentary Committee on National Security (PCNS) on review of relations between Islamabad and Washington that became strained after the NATO air strikes.
“This resolution will pave the way towards the resumption of ties with the United States and also lead to the restoration of suspended NATO supplies,” said a Pakistani diplomat here on Friday, seeking anonymity.
However, he said a lot of effort had been made by Washington to normalise ties with Islamabad, adding that the sole world superpower had also involved another important ally, Britain, which had good relations with Pakistan, as well to iron out differences with Islamabad.
“The UK played a key role in bringing closer the two estranged allies and both Islamabad and Washington are now willing to work together to end their differences and move towards normalisation of relations,” he said.
He said the UK would also play a role of guarantor that the US would fulfil its commitment about not violating Pakistan’s sovereignty in future. He said now that Islamabad and Washington were most likely to do away with their differences, the important visit of US Special Representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan Marc Grossman to Pakistan was likely to take place in the next two weeks to give final shape to the new ‘terms of engagement’ between the two states.
Pakistan refused to host the special US envoy earlier this month on the grounds that first Islamabad would complete its homework for future course of action regarding ties with the US.
