Geo Pakistan

Pak, US to cooperate on future high-value targets

Updated at: 0048 PST,  Tuesday, May 17, 2011  ISLAMABAD: Pakistan said Monday it would work together with the United States on any future operations against high-value targets in the country, in the wake of the row over Osama bin Laden's killing. "It was agreed that all tracks of US-Pakistan engagement need to be revisited, with a view to creating a clear understanding on ways and means to carry forward their cooperation," said the foreign ministry. "It was also agreed that the two countries will work together in any future actions against high-value targets in Pakistan." Meanwhile, visiting Chairman of United States Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Senator John Kerry accompanied by US Ambassador Cameron Munter Monday had two hours meeting with President Asif Ali Zardari in the Presidency. Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani and Army Chief General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani were also present. A joint statement issued later simultaneously by US Embassy and the Presidency said it was agreed that all tracks of US-Pakistan engagement "need to be revisited with a view to creating a clear understanding on ways and means to carry forward their cooperation in a mutually beneficial manner. It was also agreed that two countries will work together in any future actions against high value targets in Pakistan." Pak–US bilateral relations with focus on the situation arising out of May 2 Abbottabad operation was discussed in meeting. According to joint statement issued here, "The President, Prime Minister and the Chief of the Army Staff have had a constructive exchange of views with Senator John Kerry. The situation arising from the Abbottabad Operation and the death of Osama Bin Laden was discussed at length. Senator Kerry conveyed that the secrecy surrounding the operation was strictly for reasons of operational security and not of mistrust of Pakistani Leadership. He said even in the US Government very few persons knew about it. Senator John Kerry said that it was important to press the reset button in US-Pakistan relations and use this opportunity to put the relations back on track and work jointly to bring about the most effective cooperation to combat terrorism, which is in both countries interest. "Pakistani leadership conveyed to Senator Kerry that Pakistan was a victim of terrorism and that the whole nation was united in eliminating this curse from its soil. Osama Bin Laden was an enemy of Pakistan and the Al-Qaida had declared war against Pakistan and launched wave after wave of suicide attacks against its people. Pakistan was now being hit by a spate of terrorist attacks which were blowback from the elimination of Osama Bin Laden. Pakistan-US relations should go forward on the basis of mutual respect, mutual trust and mutual interest. Pakistani leadership made clear that Pakistan’s sovereignty and national interests must be respected and accommodated by the US. "It was agreed that the two sides would intensify their engagement through official channels and that negative media messages were misplaced and detrimental to the core national interests of both US and Pakistan," joint statement stated. (Agencies)

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