British backdoor diplomacy is in action to resolve tensions between Pakistan and the United States that intensified with NATO attack on Pakistani border posts on November 26 last year. “We are not in a position to say anything openly but we are advising Pakistan through back channels to go for early resolution of conflicting issues,” a high-ranking British diplomat told Online on condition of anonymity. “An early resolution is not only in the interest of Pakistan and the US, but also the entire alliance (NATO),” he added. According to the diplomat, the United Kingdom supported most of the points Pakistan was seeking to revisit in its bilateral relations with the US and subsequently with NATO. “For instance,” he mentioned, “Pakistan was rightful in asking the US to stop drone strikes within its sovereign territory.” Without saying in clear terms, the diplomat sounded as if the UK was also supportive of Pakistan expelling or limiting CIA operatives and their activities. However, the diplomat added that Pakistan did not have the choice to get out of the war on terror which had already entered its final phase. “It would be a suicidal decision if Pakistan chooses so at the end of an ongoing parliamentary review of the particular segment of your foreign policy,” he said. The diplomat was of the view that it was not fair to punish the entire alliance by halting NATO supplies to troops in Afghanistan, saying Pakistan’s grievance with the US alone. He said Pakistan should continue playing its role in the war on terror so that it could reach a logical conclusion and the region could achieve peace and stability.
