Don’t convey messages through media, Bashir tells US
ISLAMABAD: Foreign Secretary Salman Bashir admitted on Tuesday that Pakistan’s image had taken a beating after the Osama episode but insisted that Pakistan-US relations were strong.
“Pakistan and the United States have a strategic convergence and both countries may have differences on actions, but on the whole agree that we are pursuing the same goals,” he said in an exclusive interview with CNN-IBN. “I believe Pakistan’s image in the world has taken a hit because there are some questions you can’t explain away. But in evaluating one event, the international community must not forget the context of the situation and Pakistan’s role in the hunt against al-Qaeda. That side gets occluded in the high drama,” he said.
“All the al-Qaeda key figures were picked up by the ISI in urban centres. So really one needs to wonder. Man has landed on the moon, there’s great progress in technology but this hiding in plain sight is a phenomenon that probably warrants a rethink,” he added.
Responding to a question about the negative impact on Pak-India relations of the Osama killing in Pakistan, Bashir said: “That’s not the case. I think, there was a clear determination at the leadership level to the foreign ministries to engage in a productive dialogue and that is what is happening. I think basically in short, on the Pakistan India track, there is good news.”
“You see we had the home secretary, interior secretary talks. These were deliberately prioritised,” Bashir said. “We want to get comfort levels going on India-Pakistan talks on terrorism. Those talks were productive, positive, and constructive. And it’s necessary to build confidence on this issue of global importance.”
Terrorism, he said, is a curse that both Pakistan and India have suffered. “We have to reverse this tide. Rhetoric and sloganeering doesn’t help. It’s important to look forward and not keep doing the forensics of the past,” Bashir said.
Replying to a query that the US had filed a second charge sheet against Pakistani nationals in the Mumbai attacks, he said, India and Pakistan must both take each other’s concerns more seriously. “Whether those people have been charge sheeted, I don’t know much at this point in time, but let’s not extrapolate on these issues. What’s really required is a clear determination on both sides to deal with this issue.”
When asked about action against culprits involved in the 26/11 conspiracy, he said: “This is ongoing in our talks at the home-interior talks; the interior minister had a good meeting with Chidambaram last year. The talks have resumed. I think we need to work on that. But this can only be done if we treat each other with civility and respect and not indulge in the blame game that characterised past interactions. This time we should make a break with the past,” he said.
Meanwhile, talking to journalists outside the Parliament House after attending the PAC meeting, Salman Bashir asked the US to stop beating around the bush, saying that if the US wanted Pakistan’s cooperation, it should stop sending messages through the media and adopt the proper diplomatic course.
The foreign secretary said the war on terror was in Pakistan’s own interest and the sacrifices made by Pakistan were unmatched. He said that the visit of US President Barack Obama to Pakistan has not been postponed and the schedule for the visit was being worked out.
In response to a question, he said the US had not contacted Pakistan about the hand over of the widows of Osama bin Laden. Bashir said the prime minister had taken the nation into confidence over the matter and investigations were under way to identify any lapses in the OBL incident.
AFP adds: The Foreign Ministry said on Tuesday that it had yet to receive a formal request from the United States for access to relatives of Osama bin Laden who are being interrogated by Pakistani officials.
“The Foreign Affairs Ministry has not received a formal request from the United States,” said spokeswoman Tehmina Janjua when asked if Pakistan would grant American investigators access to the family. She said no extradition requests been received from the countries of origin of Bin Laden’s wives – Yemen and Saudi Arabia.
Source: The News
Date:5/11/2011
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