Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar said Monday an apology by the US government for the NATO airstrike that killed 24 Pakistani soldiers would not satisfy the Pakistani government, and the attack demanded a reassessment of Islamabad’s partnership with the United States. “The incident was grave enough for an apology not to be good enough,” said Khar in a wide-ranging interview with CNN at her home in Islamabad. “This did require a complete relook at the terms of engagement with the United States of America.” Khar said the new terms could help mend US-Pakistan relations and restore the trust and respect that have eroded between the two countries.
“We were partners for the past 10 years. Did we get the respect that a partner deserves? A partner which has lost many lives, a partner which has had huge economic costs? I think we must look at this relationship in a more realistic, in a more pragmatic manner, rather than a philosophical manner.” She said that Pakistan is prepared to play a “crucial supportive role” in the Afghan peace talks, rejecting claims that Islamabad has links to Mullah Omar and can persuade the Afghan Taliban leader to take part in the negotiations. “If what you’re trying to get out of me is if we have links to Mullah Omar or not, the answer to that is no,” said Khar. “I think that the perception of what Pakistan is able to do is blown out of proportion most of the time,” said Khar.
‘US apology for NATO strike not good enough’
