Khar seeks trusting, mutually respectful Pakistan-US ties

Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar on Thursday called for infusing Pakistan-US relations with mutual respect and trust, as she had “frank” discussions with key American senators on the way forward in the bilateral ties, undermined by a series of events in the last couple of years.
The foreign minister’s talks with the influential members of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, took place a day ahead of her formal talks with Secretary Hillary Clinton at the State Department.
In the post-meeting comments, both Ms Khar and Senator John Kerry, who chairs the Foreign Relations Committee, acknowledged the need to build mutual trust in the bilateral relationship, which is seen here as critical to the outcome of the lingering Afghan war.
“I am encouraged by the frank and honest discussion that we had ——I think it is important to have discussion because we had too much mistrust and fears which have inhibited the course of our relations in the past,” foreign minister Khar said.
She voiced the hope that the “frank and honest discussions,” between the two sides would help open up “new opportunities in pursuing our joint interests.” “What Pakistani people look for from the United States of America is mutual respect to pursue goals as a sovereign people…”
On Afghanistan, Ms Khar reiterated her country’s commitment to peace and security in Afghanistan. She remarked if the US stated objective is peace and stability in Afghanistan and the region, then the two countries are pursuing which is also in Islamabad’s interest and a core goal, a peaceful and stable Afghanistan next door.
Ms Khar noted that a peaceful Afghanistan is prerequisite for peace and stability in Pakistan. She also advocated the need for promoting tolerance amidst worldwide unrest caused by the anti-Islam film. She said fringe elements can force a great wave of chaos. “Islam is a religion of peace and the messenger of Islam Muhammad, Peace Be Upon Him, is the messenger of peace.” The foreign minister also stressed the importance of building harmony within civilization.
In his remarks, Senator Kerry described the panel’s meeting with Ms Khar as a “positive step” towards trust building, which he added, takes time.
Senator Kerry, who is a proponent of an important Kerry-Lugar aid measure for Pakistan, rejected calls by some Congressmen to cut off all assistance for the country over differences on some counterterrorism issues. “Walking away is simply not the option, and we are not going to do that.,” he said firmly. But, he added, Congress wants assurances from Islamabad that the countries will work together towards common goals and to foil terrorism plans to make both countries safer and that there is no looking away while terrorist plan attacks.
“We need to renew and reaffirm our mutual commitment to working together in order to make both our countries safer.”
The Democratic leader from Massachusetts strongly condemned the sacrilegious contents in an anti-Islam film, which has been made in the United States and whose circulation on the Internet has led to widespread protests in the Islamic world. “All of us in the United States condemn the senseless intolerance exhibited by the video —— religious intolerance is insult to everybody and no religion deserves disrespect and this country is founded on tolerance.” While protests (against the film) are valid, he said, there is no room for violence and taking lives. Kerry, a former presidential candidate noted that the members of foreign relations panel had a “a very frank, extensive, extremely productive” conversation with Pakistan’s top diplomat. He acknowledged the efforts of Pakistan’s ambassador to the United States Sherry Rehman and the foreign minister towards improving the bilateral relations. “We are working hard to get this relationship back on track (after a difficult year) —— because we know the importance of the relationship.” Kerry said the United States is grateful to Pakistan for reopening the supply routes for American troops in Afghanistan.