Pakistan’s demands of inspecting NATO containers from the US, a public apology over the Salala attack and new amount of taxation on the trucks and tankers has blocked any breakthrough in the stalemate, which is likely to continue as no thaw is expected during vital talks between US Assistant Defense Secretary Peter Lavoy and Pakistani authorities today (Saturday).
Though Pakistan is demanding inspection of NATO containers, the US is unwilling to oblige Islamabad on this count and hence another serious hurdle as emerged in the settlement of row between Pakistan and US over the reopening of NATO supplies.
Moreover, the US is also unwilling to extend any firm assurance to Pakistan that there shall be no “unilateral military action” in future like May 2, 2011 raid that killed al Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden.
Relations between Islamabad and Washington deteriorated after May 2 incident, but the situation took an ugly turn when NATO aircraft attacked Pakistani border posts in Mohmand Agency in November, killing 24 soldiers.
“It’s not only a matter of a public apology by the US over airstrikes on Pakistani border posts or a new taxation meant for NATO trucks and oil tankers, but there are other serious issues as well that are blocking any movement forward for the settlement of Pakistan-US row. Mr Lavoy will hold talks with officials, civilian and military, to sort out these conflicting matters such as Islamabad’s demand for inspection of containers,” said a diplomatic source, seeking anonymity.
The demand for inspection was being made in line with parliamentary guidelines for future ties with the US, which have asked for the ban on weapons’ supply to Afghanistan for the ISAF-led international forces.
The source said there were some other hurdles as well, as the US was asking Pakistan to provide a complete security cover to NATO vehicles in both settled and Tribal Areas of the country. “Islamabad is willing to come up with security arrangements in the settled areas but it is hesitant to do the same in the Tribal Areas,” he said.
He said all the hurdles had made any immediate breakthrough in Pakistan-US strained ties impossible and that was why Washington’s frustration was growing with each passing day.
US Defense Secretary Leon Panetta said in Kabul on Thursday that the US was losing patience with Pakistan on the issue of alleged militant safe havens on the Pakistani side of the border with Afghanistan.
Reacting strongly to Panetta’s remarks, Pakistani Ambassador in Washington Sherry Rehman said the sharp comments only added an “unhelpful twist” in the already oxygen-starved ties. In a statement, she said the remarks had further reduced the space for narrowing bilateral differences that had been hit by a series of conflagrations in the recent past.