Bridging trust deficit crucial to improvement in US ties: Pakistan

Pakistan has said progress in relations with the United States depends on bridging the trust deficit that continues to affect ties.
Presidential spokesman Farhatullah Babar said the partnership will remain fragile if trust deficit is not addressed.
“President Asif Ali Zardari dispelled the misperceptions about the alleged links of Pakistan with groups of militants,” Senator Babar said.
He said Pakistan and the United States are making a sustained effort to overcome difficulties in the bilateral relationship and President Asif Ali Zardari believes that bridging trust deficit is the key to making the partnership meaningful.
Briefing journalists, the presidential spokesman and ambassador to the United States Sherry Rehman said Pakistan wants a relationship of mutual trust and respect with the United States.
He said there is no doubt that the two sides have differences on many issues.
The two officials spoke after the Pakistani president’s meeting with Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.
“We are trying, they are also trying, to bridge the trust deficit. I hope we will be able to resolve,” Babar said in response to a number of questions about stalemate in relations between the two countries.
The two countries have kept open the political and military channels and are trying to narrow down differences, Ambassador Sherry Rehman said.
Islamabad, the ambassador underscored, wants to be part of the solution in the region.
“We are trying to move forward but we are not compromising on our national interest.”
In the meeting with US chief diplomat, President Zardari referred to the immense sacrifices Pakistan has rendered in fighting militants in the interest of peace, with 37000 of its civilians dead and 6000 of its soldiers killed.
“Our sacrifices are second to none,” President Zardari said, according to the spokesman. Economically too, Islamabad has incurred a huge loss of $ 70 billion due to prolonged war on terror.
“We do not lack the will – but we don’t have the resources —- We call upon the international community to help us in capacity building.” Babar said, quoting the president.
The Pakistani officials said President Zardari also raised the issues of non-payment of coalition support fund, drone attacks and apology over Salala tragedy when 24 Pakistani soldiers were killed in a cross-border attack on border posts on November 26, 2011.
Despite Pakistan’s counter-terror role, the country has not received any CSF disbursement since July 2010.
President Zardari also made the argument in favor of trade expansion, instead of dependence on aid, as the preferred way to economic development.
On the issue of drone attacks, the president said, they are counterproductive, his spokesman said.
He also called for sharing counterterrorism intelligence to prosecute an effective war against terrorism.
The two officials rejected the impression that Pakistan’s importance has diminished in view of continued stalemate and differences in ties with Us-led NATO.
Islamabad, they maintained, remains crucial and very much relevant and vital to regional peace and security efforts and that the alliance’s unconditional invitation to it for NATO summit bespeaks of its significance.
In his meetings, President Asif Ali Zardari said Pakistan stands for peace and security in Afghanistan.
The president said Pakistan supports peace and reconciliation in Afghanistan including the Qatar process and any effort, which is backed by Kabul, the presidential spokesman said.
Ambassador Rehman said President Zardari’s meetings with the Afghan and Australian leaders and US Secretary of State took place in a constructive and positive atmosphere.
The envoy said a meeting between President Zardari and NATO Secretary General is being rescheduled, after it could not take place as planned earlier due to delayed arrival of the plane the Pakistani leader was flying in.
The ambassador said US Secretary of State Clinton expressed Washington’s desire to have a long-term partnership with Pakistan. Secretary Clinton noted that Washington acknowledges the country’s sacrifices in the war on terror.
The top American diplomat also reaffirmed support for democratic development in Pakistan.