ISLAMABAD: Foreign Secretary Salman Bashir has admitted that his country’s
image has taken a beating after the Osama episode but at the same he said
Pakistan-US relations are strong.
Pakistan and United States have a strategic convergence and both countries
may have differences on actions, but on the whole we agree that we are pursuing
the same goals”, he said this in an exclusive interview with CNN-IBN on Tuesday.
“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 when asked
Responding to a question about negative impact on Indo-Pak relations after
Osama killing, he said, “That’s not the case. I think - there was 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 prioritized, he said, adding that, we want to get comfort levels
going on India Pakistan talks on terrorism. Those talks were productive,
positive, constructive. And its necessary to build confidence on this issue of
global importance.
“I think we’ve started doing that - this must be carried forward, and we’ve
got to start educating, making the point to everybody that we are genuinely
interested in turning the page and its an issue for us both”, he added.
.Terrorism, he said, is a curse, Pakistan and India have both suffered from
it - we have to reverse this tide. Rhetoric and sloganeering doesn’t help. Its
important to look forward and not keep doing the forensics of the past, he
added.
Replying to a query about US has 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 sheet, I don’t know much at this point
in time - but lets not extrapolate on these issues. What’s really required is a
clear determination on both sides to deal with this issue”, he added.
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 the blame game that characterized past
interactions. This time we should make a break with the past”, he added. Online
