ISLAMABAD : Chairman US Senate Foreign Relations Committee Senator
John Kerry said his goal in coming to Pakistan was
not to apologize over what he considers to be a triumph in fight against
terrorism. His goal in coming to Pakistan was talk to Pakistani leaders on how
we manage this important and critical relationship.
He said that the United States and Pakistani leadership have agreed to take a
series of steps immediately in order to get the bilateral relationship back on
track.
He said this in a statement recorded for Pakistani national media on Monday
following his meetings with President Asif Ali Zardari, Prime Minister Yusuf
Raza Gilani, Army Chief General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani and Director-General ISI
Lt. General Ahmad Shujaa Pasha.
John Kerry said the fact remains that Pakistan and United States are
strategic partners with common enemy in terrorism and extremism. We must not
lose sight of the fact that the countries have sacrificed too many citizens and
too many troops in this fight and it would not make sense to see this
relationship broken or abandoned.
He said the United States recognizes that like every other nation, Pakistani
people and their leaders take their sovereignty very seriously. He said there
is need to understand the extraordinary circumstances behind the mission to kill
Osama bin Laden who was responsible for killing of three thousand Americans on
9/11 and thirty-five thousand Pakistani citizens and five thousand Pakistani
soldiers.
John Kerry said he explained to the Pakistani leaders that maintaining of
extreme secrecy was essential to protecting the lives of the professionals who
were involved in Abbottabad operation. He said very few in the United States
had advance knowledge of the operation and he himself heard about this
afterwards.
He said during Tora Bora bombing in 2001, regrettably decision was made not
to send American troops to capture Osama bin laden and as a result he escaped to
Pakistan and began planning more attacks. He said this was second chance to
capture him and no American President could afford take even the slightest
chance that he may slip through our grip again.
He said maintenance of secrecy for the operation was not a matter of trust
but an imperative for operational security. John Kerry said he would ask
Pakistanis to understand that and respect that.
The Chairman of US Senate’s Foreign Relations Committee said his visit was
initial step and later this week two senior US Government officials will arrive
in Pakistan to work out details to build on these steps. Secretary of State
Hilary Clinton will soon announce plan to visit Pakistan to expand on the
decisions taken to help develop a new trust and new level of relationship.
He said this relationship is not only about threats we face, it is about
partnership between our two peoples. He referred to the US assistance during
earthquake and floods and now again he was determined to make sure that all
projects financed under Kerry Lugar Bermin will get on track to demonstrate our
long term commitment to Pakistan. He said ultimately it is for people of
Pakistan to decide what kind of country Pakistan should become – a haven for
extremists or a tolerant democracy as envisioned by Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali
Jinnah.
He said the United States will remain committed to assist Pakistani people
through long term assistance and will remain committed as a mutual partner with
shared trust and objects in the fight against terrorism.
Senator John Kerry said during his meetings with Pakistani leadership he conveyed the grave concern that prevails in the US over presence of Osama in Pakistan. He said he emphasized to his Pakistani friends that many in the US Congress are raising tough questions about on-going economic assistance to Pakistan because of the events that have unfolded because of presence of Osama in Pakistan.
He, however, said he explained to them that he has backing of the US President and Secretary of the State to find ways to rebuild the trust between our two countries. SANA
Senator John Kerry said during his meetings with Pakistani leadership he conveyed the grave concern that prevails in the US over presence of Osama in Pakistan. He said he emphasized to his Pakistani friends that many in the US Congress are raising tough questions about on-going economic assistance to Pakistan because of the events that have unfolded because of presence of Osama in Pakistan.
He, however, said he explained to them that he has backing of the US President and Secretary of the State to find ways to rebuild the trust between our two countries. SANA
