The North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) has sent an unconditional invitation to President Asif Ali Zardari and we are looking forward to this high level visit, says Pakistan’s ambassador to the US Sherry Rehman.

Ambssador Rehman, who attended two weeks of intense talks between the US and Pakistan in Islamabad before returning to Washington last week, said the Chicago summit meeting will be an important milestone in the search for stability in Afghanistan and now Pakistan can play its role in bringing peace and prosperity to its neighbourhood.

The two-day Chicago summit begins on May 20 and will bring 50 heads of states and governments to the US city to decide a future course of action for Afghanistan.

When asked to comment on Islamabad’s demand for an apology for the Nov 26 US air raid that killed 24 Pakistani soldiers, the ambassador said Pakistan will continue to press for an apology and the military will seek new ground rules with Nato and Isaf to prevent Salala like incidents.

Pakistan closed Nato supply routes over the incident and is still demanding an apology from the US but Ambassador Rehman noted that two sides were now close to resolving this dispute.

Here is her interview with Dawn.com:

Q: Is the Nato land route dispute over?

A: We are constructively engaged with the Americans to resolve this issue and I look forward to a positive outcome. However, let me make it clear that this was an issue that required long overdue political buy in as well as exhaustive negotiations.

Pakistan wants to lay the foundation of an engagement that is durable, yet protects our interests as well as addresses Nato and Afghanistan’s concerns.

Q: Is President Zardari attending the Nato summit in Chicago?

A: An unconditional invitation has been extended to President to participate in Chicago. We welcome the invitation and now that the DCC has endorsed, I look forward to this high level visit.

Q: Why is it important to attend the Chicago summit? What will be our contribution to the summit? What do we expect from Nato?

A: Chicago is an important milestone in the search for stability in Afghanistan and the region, as it will lay down a strategic and security framework which will be linked to Nato’s security transition from Afghanistan by 2014. A number of agreements will also be signed during the summit.

Given our high stakes in regional stability, Pakistan wants a peaceful and stable Afghanistan and to achieve that objective, we are hopeful of a regional dynamic in which Afghanistan leads the way.

Pakistan wants to be a responsible global player working for solutions in the region and we should have a seat at the table that makes important decisions that directly affect the lives of our people.

We hope that the Nato Summit would reach decisions which are pragmatic, practicable, and protect Pakistan’s interests as well as create a regional framework that is viable.

Q: It seems that there is a disconnect between the civilian and military leadership over the Ground line of Communication (GLOC) dispute, is this a correct impression?

A: Absolutely not. To the contrary, the civil and military leaderships have acted in complete lockstep on this matter, consulting with each other repeatedly on key issues.

Q: The Foreign Minister’s announcement that Pakistan is willing to settle the GLOC dispute surprised everyone, including the State Department. Were you ready for it or was it also a surprise for you?

A: I am aware that we were hoping for a productive outcome. This is consistent with the DCC’s view.

Q: What else are the two sides doing to improve US-Pakistan ties, where do we go from here?

A: The Pakistan-US relationship, despite its challenges, is a very important one. Let me be honest. This is a complex relationship which will profit from the sunlight of transparency, stability and realistic expectations on both sides.

I am confident that we can work on this relationship in a way that serves our mutual interests best.

Pakistan’s Parliament has just concluded an exhaustive review of the Pakistan-US relationship, which we believe is among the most important in the world and which, we on the Pakistan side, are very keen to maintain and strengthen.

At the same time, we want this relationship to be grounded in realistic expectations, respect for each other’s sovereignty, appreciation of each other’s legitimate security interests and understanding of each other’s redlines. Similarly, both sides need to be aware of each other’s limitations and constraints.

Q: The US Congress, in various appropriations bills, is attaching strict conditions to aid to Pakistan. Some lawmakers even suggested that Pakistan should only receive 10 per cent of the approved aid. How would you deal with it?

A: The Congress has its own internal dynamics, particularly in election year, but I hope that Pakistan’s friends in the Congress would demonstrate greater appreciation and understanding for Pakistan’s concerns. I will certainly do my utmost to draw attention to Pakistan’s role in securing the region, particularly on US/Nato partner that has done the most to hunt down al Qaeda.

Q: At one stage, the American seemed willing to offer an apology, why the delay then?

A: Pakistan will continue to press for an apology, and work for best outcomes for our nation. As the foreign minister said, Pakistan has made its point, and we will continue to do so.

The military will look to fresh border ground rules with Nato and Isaf so incidents like Salala don't recur.

Q: Some media reports suggest that Pakistan is demanding higher rates for allowing the Americans to use the supply routes. Are we? Are we going to have a written agreement or will it be another oral understanding like Musharraf’s?

A: Pakistan’s infrastructure and roads have suffered enormously due to the heavy load and traffic of Nato containers. According to international obligations, it is Nato’s responsibility to bear the cost that Pakistan had incurred and could incur in future.

I see that the DCC has mandated our working group to negotiate new structures and hopefully we will find an outcome that is mutually acceptable.

We have made it clear over and over again that there will be no more oral agreements between Pakistan and the US. All agreements would need to be transparent.

Q: Will they release reimbursement funds that the US owes to Pakistan and when?

A: Our teams are working this matter also. As I said I remain hopeful and urge consistent engagement between all groups in our two countries.