With the deadlock still persisting, tension between the US and Pakistan would certainly reduce after the visit of US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, as there was a realisation on both sides that downward trend in relations needed to be arrested, experts said.
Former foreign minister Khurshid Kasuri said the deadlock still persisted, though the US had changed its language.
“The US is still adamant and wants military action against the Haqqani Network, though there is a change of language,” Kasuri said. He, however, said that both countries wanted to continue dialogue and the US knew that there could be no Afghan endgame without Pakistan’s help. Prominent analyst of political and foreign policy affairs, Dr Hassan Askari, said tensions between the two countries would reduce after Hillary’s visit, but the deadlock would persist.
He added that intelligence sharing would increase and the negative propaganda against Pakistan was likely to be curtailed. Answering another question regarding the operation in North Waziristan, Dr Hassan Askari said sooner of later, Pakistan had to take action in North Waziristan.
Dr Rasul Bux Raees said Clinton’s visit underscored a realisation on both sides that common understanding was vital to resolving the issues and there was no way out apart from reducing tension or narrowing down differences.
“Aggressive tone and threats of unilateral action are likely to disappear after the visit. The downward trend of deterioration in relations has been arrested,” Raees said, adding that still deadlock persisted.
