There is an obvious trust deficit in U.S.-Pakistani relations though Islamabad remains an important partner in the region, the U.S. defense secretary said.
Questions about U.S.-Pakistani relations were brought to the forefront following the May 2 death of al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden at the hands of U.S. Navy SEALs. Bin Laden was tracked to a fortified compound close to one of Pakistan's elite military academies.
U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates told an audience at the conservative American Enterprise Institute that military support for Pakistan hasn't been a waste because of the Pakistanis' efforts in the lawless tribal regions along the Afghan border.
He cautioned, however, that the U.S. relationship with Pakistan wasn't the best.
"I would say that, obviously, the record is a mixed one," he said. "And we both have concerns but there's also no doubt in my mind that we have to continue to make our best efforts to manage this relationship going forward."
Bin Laden's death raises questions for U.S. lawmakers concerned about Washington's strategy in the region. U.S. Sen. Dick Lugar, R-Ind., ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said he questioned whether the region was strategically important for the United States.
"The question is how the United States navigates the contradictions inherent in dealing with the Pakistani government and Pakistani society to ensure that our resources and diplomacy advance our objectives efficiently," he said in a statement. UPI
