As the talks between Pakistan and the US on the reopening of the stalled NATO supplies remained inconclusive despite intense negotiations, Britain has decided to intervene and mediate between the estranged allies.
In this regard, British Foreign Secretary William Hague will hold important talks with top Pakistani leadership today (Tuesday).
The British foreign secretary will meet Pakistan’s civilian and military leaders in the wake of failed negotiations between US Assistant Defence Secretary Peter Lavoy and the Pakistani officials in the last couple of days.
Before Lavoy’s talks with the Pakistani authorities, a US team headed by US deputy ambassador Richard Hoagland had also been discussing the issue but could not make any progress. Pentagon on Monday reportedly confirmed that the talks between the US and Pakistan on reopening the NATO ground supply routes into Afghanistan had stalled. “The Pentagon has called its negotiating team home,” Pentagon spokesman George Little was quoted as saying in reports from Washington.
The diplomatic circles here say frustration was at all time high in Washington over Islamabad’s refusal to reopen the NATO supplies and now hopes have been attached with the visit of the British foreign secretary who will press the Pakistani leadership to oblige the US.
“The British foreign secretary’s mediation is aimed at the unblocking of NATO supplies and for that he could discuss his country’s plan with Pakistani leaders that could help end the stalemate,” said a diplomatic source.
He, however, showed ignorance about the details of the British plan to defuse tensions between Islamabad and Washington. A Pakistani official, when contacted, said the reason for no progress in Pakistan-US talks was Washington’s refusal to tender a public apology over the Salala incident.
He said the two sides had been able to cover some ground as far as the taxation to be imposed on NATO vehicles was concerned but the contentious matter of US apology over the Salala incident could not be settled. Meanwhile talking to reporters in Washington, Pentagon spokesman Little said even though the US was pulling out its negotiating team, Washington would continue to maintain a “dialogue” with Pakistan, AFP reported. “That’s not to be taken as a sign of our unwillingess to continue the dialogue with Pakistanis on this issue,” he said, adding that the negotiators are “prepared to return at any moment.” Members of the negotiating team started to leave over the weekend and the remainder of the negotiators would soon return to the United States, Little said. The comments came after Pakistan’s army chief, General Ashfaq Kayani, refused last week to meet US assistant defense secretary Peter Lavoy, who traveled to Pakistan to try to resolve the dispute, officials said.
