Something’s gotta give
The parliamentary review to ensure credibility to the new rules of engagement with the United States doesn’t seem to have made any headway towards normalisation of relations between the two countries. The sticking point remains Washington’s reluctance to apologise over last year’s airstrikes at Salala checkpost which resulted in the killing of 24 soldiers.
The issue figured prominently during a meeting between President Zardari and an American delegation led by special envoy to Pakistan and Afghanistan Marc Grossman in Islamabad on Friday. The president was quoted as having told the visiting delegation that after Pakistan had followed the democratic course for re-engagement with the United States to be based on mutual respect, it was now Washington’s turn to help Islamabad in reaching a closure on Salala. Not unexpectedly, Grossman did not go beyond offering his regrets.
The issue of drone attacks also came under discussion at a time when the US had already refused to negotiate on it, leaving Pakistan to push for alternatives that could satisfy its security concerns. Mr Zardari very rightly pointed out that since drone strikes were highly counterproductive in the ongoing war on terror, both countries should consider setting up a framework of mechanism to find out an acceptable alternative. The interaction at the presidency was followed by meetings of sub-groups which were reportedly confined to exchange of notes on the resumption of Nato supplies, counter-terrorism cooperation, CSF reimbursements revival of strategic dialogue and Kerry-Lugar assistance.
That the United States has reneged on its earlier commitment to tender an apology over the Salala attack is understandable in the wake of President Obama’s domestic political compulsions. But then without showing flexibility or trying to find a mutually agreeable way forward, it cannot expect the democratically elected government of Pakistan to re-open the Nato supply routes in total disregard of the parliamentary recommendations.
