The White House has said it sincerely expressed condolences to Pakistan over the loss of 24 soldiers in a NATO strike, but indicated the US would wait for conclusion of investigations underway before reacting further to the border incident. “Well, we are in the middle of an investigation—actually, at the early stages of an investigation—into what exactly happened. So I think that the expression of condolences for tragic loss of life conveys a sincere sentiment about our feelings, the president’s feelings and the administration’s feelings, and it goes to the importance of the relationship that we have with Pakistan,” President Barack Obama’s spokesman said. Press Secretary Jay Carney dismissed as “utter nonsense” the suggestion in a report by The New York Times that President Obama was refraining from making a formal apology to Pakistan due to domestic political considerations. Questioned at the daily briefing about whether the White House had apologised over the incident that has evoked a strong reaction from Pakistan, Carney referred to the comments that President Obama saw it as a tragedy. “We need to find the results of this investigation. We have offered our condolences. We have called it what it is, a tragic loss of life. And we anticipate results of the investigation to come when they’re ready,” he said, when asked if the White House considered it premature to offer an apology. “It’s a matter of fact that I, speaking for the White House and the president, offered condolences on behalf of him, the administration, the American people, for the tragic loss of life—and it was a tragedy,” he responded to a question. “And we have launched an investigation through CENTCOM, as well as ISAF, to find out exactly what transpired. But—maybe I’m pre-empting what your question was, but there was obviously no apology and there was an expression of condolences,” the spokesman added.
