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WASHINGTON: The United States and Pakistan are working on the language of a possible US apology to end their stalemate and reopen Nato’s supply routes to Afghanistan, diplomatic sources told Dawn.
Pakistan wants the United States to apologise over a Nov 26 air raid that killed 24 Pakistani soldiers at the Salala military post. The United States had initially agreed to apologise but changed its mind after aides warned President Barack Obama the move could harm his re-election campaign.
Pakistan closed Nato’s supply routes to Afghanistan after the raid and is refusing to reopen them unless the Americans apologise.
The sources who spoke to Dawn said they “now see a stronger desire on both sides” to resolve this dispute.
They said the two sides had already exchanged several drafts of the expected apology and might soon agree “on a draft that meets everybody’s requirements”.
The sources rejected recent reports in the US media that Pakistan was refusing to reopen the routes because it wanted higher tariffs from the United States for using its highways.
A team of US experts has been based in Islamabad for the past six weeks, trying to end the dispute and reopen the supply routes. On Friday, another senior US official, Assistant Secretary of Defence Peter Levoy, also joined the team.
Meanwhile, Pakistan’s ambassador in Washington, Sherry Rehman, urged US officials to avoid making remarks that could further deteriorate an already tense relationship between the two countries. Commenting on Secretary Panetta’s recent statement that the United States was losing patience with Pakistan, Ambassador Rehman said: “This kind of public messaging from a senior member of the US administration is taken very seriously in Pakistan, and reduces the space for narrowing our bilateral differences at a critical time in the negotiations.”
Such statements, she noted, “adds an unhelpful twist to the process and leaves little oxygen for those of us seeking to break a stalemate”.
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Comments (54) Closed
Jun 10, 2012 01:10pm
Mr. Bhutani, you must have also objected to many articles published in NY Times referring to 'reliable sources', 'undisclosed location', 'asking not to be named', and 'classified information'.
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Jun 09, 2012 05:00pm
Pakistan's position is rational and solid and the only way out is a legal apology by US coupled with a just compensation for the victims.
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Jun 09, 2012 04:48pm
What will the US or Mr. Panetta do if they run out of patience????
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Jun 09, 2012 03:56pm
Why Apology?Another new apology to restore unwanted drone attacks.Another apology to start killing more Pakistani citizens.
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Jun 09, 2012 03:49pm
I see weakness of Pakistani media in confronting the propaganda by US media, which is pinning down Pakistan with tons of false accusations. It also show a true picture of western media
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Jun 09, 2012 03:37pm
"The United States had initially agreed to apologize but changed its mind after aides warned President Barack Obama the move could harm his re-election campaign."
This is probably right, but sometimes a president is better off not listening to his aides. At least it is understood about elections. Pakistan might have a tougher time dealing with Mitt Romney, but that's another story.
Obama was a professional negotiator for twenty-five years. He knows what is doable and what is not.
The idea that apologizing would hurt him in the election polls tells us more about how the American people feel toward Pakistan.
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Jun 09, 2012 02:51pm
It should be unconditional apology.........nothing else,
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Jun 09, 2012 02:32pm
there is a simple way out. US doesn't need to apologize. Nato can apologize and everyone can move on
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Jun 09, 2012 01:57pm
Are you sure there is going to be another article on this topic or even the mention of this article in the future?
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Jun 10, 2012 05:19pm
We dont want your money nor your trucks on Pakistani soil. Not even a billion dollars per truck. Go beg the russians and iranians
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Jun 09, 2012 01:37pm
Hopefully issue is resolved in the best interest of both countries. Enough of those long winded statements. Pakistan can't afford isolation from US & West , yet a clear line should be drawn so that Salala liket tragedy does not happen again. Pakistan should also be forthcoming in revealing the colateral damage caused by US drones so the world can understand the sufferings of the people living in tribal area.
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Jun 09, 2012 01:19pm
Whatever, are the words of US apology, if it's not coming from the mouth of President Barack Obama, the apology will be meaningless and soulless.
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Jun 11, 2012 05:08am
media is one of the corrupt and culprit in this..
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Jun 11, 2012 04:42am
I agree with your assessment!!!
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Jun 11, 2012 03:39am
We take those reports with a pinch of salt and go on to the next item. If that's what you want us to do with the present report, we are quite content.
I asked for references. None have been forthcoming.
V. C. Bhutani, Delhi, India, 11 Jun 2012, 0909 IST
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Jun 11, 2012 03:30am
routes should be opened only if they agree to end the war peacefully,,,morever pakistan should not allow weapons on routes...
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Jun 11, 2012 02:46am
kams,
I shall much appreciate if some competent authority in the Islamic Republic of Pakistan having jurisdiction could refer or cite such a precedent in the political history of Nations. Did Nato Commander sit with Karzai of Afghanistan to work on draft of apology over Afghan deaths in recent air strike by Nato Force. Or is it that, President of USA, Barak Obama does not know how to apologies (in English and or Urdu) and that Mr. Yusuf Raza Gilani, the Prime Minister of Islamic Republic will tutor Obama on the subject!
Jokers in circus, on pack of playing cards and now in politics, is not that funny!
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Jun 10, 2012 11:40pm
We need to end this agreement with the United States, we were better off when under sanctions. At least we were self sufficient. The US is not a trust worthy ally, American people may be good but the government and particularly the CIA is horrendous.
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Jun 10, 2012 09:39pm
Will it make significant difference after apology? Even diplomacy improves, both will be suspicious of each other regarding terrorism or terror sanctuaries.
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Jun 10, 2012 11:20am
The matter of significant consideration for you is that if Pakistan is a slave, then why is it not obeying the current orders of US i.e. opening the supply routes. For your information, the current upsurge in the frustration of USA is only because Pakistan has never done what USA wanted it to do.
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Jun 10, 2012 11:08am
I do not see any harm in re-opening the supply lines after a soft apology by USA. Pakistan has given enough tough time to USA by blocking the lines for more than 6 months now. In any event, the supply lines would actually be used now by US to get of Afghanistan in a year's time.
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Jun 16, 2012 12:04am
Dear Sandeep, I just watched the video which you call secret :) tell me how any intelligence agency in the world work without double cross policies??
There are more video like this on internet but not everything is trust-able we know our ISI we know Our army, you didn't saw those video in which Indian Army support Extremist Hindus for Mass killing Muslims in India
I saw a picture in which A group of Hindus Burning Quran and christian also burn our Quran tell me did you ever see any Muslim burnt your book or any other Holy Book
FYI Still Taliban have stronghold in Afghanistan 65% people in Afghanistan support Taliban, Media is misguiding you..
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Jun 10, 2012 03:44pm
Secret Pakistan : Documentary by BBC Part 1 (Double Cross) .please watch this before making a conclusion on anything
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qSinK-dVrig
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Jun 10, 2012 03:34pm
i hope the US should not apologize if that can keep Pakistan to keep the supply roots closed. And i hope even if the US apologize, Pakistan should immediately find another excuse to keep the supply roots closed.
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Jun 10, 2012 03:30pm
i hope the US should not apologize if that can keep Pakistan to keep the supply roots closed. And i hope even if the US apologize, Pakistan should immediately find another excuse to keep the supply roots closed.
US has to admit that the key to Afghan prob and respectable pullout (brave defeat) frm Afghanistan is Pakistan, not India or anyone else.
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Jun 10, 2012 01:53pm
Dear Haider,
There may not be a draft in progess.This may be an effort by the pakistan govt to regain its popularity among its own people.
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Jun 10, 2012 01:48pm
the reason is pakistan economy has become too much dependent on the US money ,that it cant sustain without that.
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Jun 10, 2012 01:37pm
US is already bombing inside pakistan in tribal areas .what more do u want?
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Jun 10, 2012 01:29pm
The fact is pakistan hasreceived millions of dollors from US for last so many years for allowing its own people and territory according to US interests.What is the use of closing the supply routes now.Please remember that if US is attacking the tribal areas of pakistan,it is attacking pakistan itself.which country will allow something like this to happen?
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Jun 09, 2012 05:43pm
Sir, what kind of apology Pakistan just wants dollars, settle the amount and just carry on with the atrocities...
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Jun 09, 2012 05:44pm
pakistan should afraid of these panetta remarks because through these tactics they want to pressurize pakistan they only have an axe to grind. pakistan should not open Supply route.
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Jun 10, 2012 06:32pm
National interest comes first over our personal ego. We may not like our enemy, but sometime we have to shake hands for the larger interest of the country.
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Jun 09, 2012 07:50pm
Sounds like Embassy in Washington keeping up appearances. After the recent statements by US officials regarding Pakistan I don't see any apology on the horizon.
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Jun 09, 2012 08:26pm
I believe it is pointless, even apology is not enough US need to pay not only to victim of drones but immediately vacate Afghanistan for good of this region.
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Jun 09, 2012 08:31pm
This is really an interesting question, but we don't know either our civilian and military leadership ask this question from each other or not. Because it seems they have decided to test the limit of their patience.
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Jun 10, 2012 12:08pm
I have read this report a second time today and 27 comments, mostly from Pakistani comment writers.
I have seen nothing in the world press (I read 8 newspapers every day) to indicate that US and Pakistani officials are looking at drafts of a possible apology by the US.
What is the source of your information? Quoting “diplomatic sources” is not an adequate basis. Are you just trying to pander to the baser instincts of your people?
V. C. Bhutani, Delhi, India, 10 Jun 2012, 1737 IST
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Jun 09, 2012 08:43pm
"...Pakistan can't afford isolation from US & West ..." It's this kind of thinking that got us in this mess in the first place!!
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Jun 09, 2012 08:48pm
False? Like what?
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Jun 09, 2012 08:51pm
More killings goes on and on and what good an apology will do. shame on Pakistan leadership.
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Jun 09, 2012 10:51pm
Yes no supply route no aids and move towards becoming Somalia or Afghanistan
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Jun 10, 2012 07:33pm
Mahsud .
Every one is talking abt US patience, no one consider that how much patience we had shown from a last decade, either its in shape of drones attack or ray mond devis incidence or abbotabad incidence and last bt not the least the sad incidence of salala post....time has come that we shud reconsider our ties with US.
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Jun 10, 2012 12:48am
You can wait for the apology till hell freezes. My tax dollars are NOT paying extortion money - from $250 to $5000 per truck - either.
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Jun 10, 2012 12:57am
You do not want to know. Refer Hillary Clintons threat to Pakistan regarding any terrorist attack in the US which can be traced back to Pakistan. Unfortunately if history of terrorism is a guide sooner or later the USA and Pakistan would be in direct confrontation militarily. Gone will be the fig leaf about Pakistan being an ally.
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Jun 10, 2012 10:57am
Mine either
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Jun 10, 2012 10:56am
Pakistan shouldn't be confused...We shall keep closed the nato supply route and keep open supply routes to Haqqani network and . that would make Pakistan an honourabe and sovereign country,, our great Quaid e Azam envisioned for us.
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Jun 10, 2012 02:39am
Finally, the camel's back is broken. Pakistan can't afford to loose US as a partner. In long run, that would have been too expensive. Pakistan found itself in between a rock and hard place.
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Jun 10, 2012 03:40am
Is it really called an apology if it is secured by arm-twisting (read, closing supply routes) ? Is it called an apology which if issued after multiple meetings just because Pakistan insists on it ? I think the apology would come just in time before elections and rulers can showcase it as a 'victory over America'. Big drama prolonged enough to divert the attention of the Pakistanis from domestic problems. Nice to see that all the audience are mesmerized by the screenplay.
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Jun 10, 2012 04:33am
sure you know very well about the fiscal deficit from where they get the remaining amount of deficit no source else NATO
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Jun 10, 2012 04:42am
pakistan should not be afraid of us because they r arrogant and will always be arrogant as it is their nature.
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Jun 10, 2012 05:05am
I see Panetta's visit to India and the obscene remarks as an effort to sabotage the normalization of Pak India Relations. The arms industry strikes again.
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Jun 10, 2012 05:46am
Apology on repeated, insistent demand?
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Jun 10, 2012 05:47am
Regarding the relationship between US and Pakistan,one must understand that it is a master-- slave relationship.where is friendship in this?US will say and Pak will obey.
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Jun 11, 2012 09:45am
I believe it isn't a matter on dollars as i see in few comments, this is diplomacy at its very best. Govt wants to score some points on this issue as opening the NATO supplies would badly dent their election campaign as we have already seen some parties issuing strick statements on the issue, so they are basically buying time for them. Till now Pak govt has shown some gutts that matters can now be discussed in parliment and be resolved through diplomacy contrary to our past record where US demands were met on just a phone call. This is another perspective of looking at the issue. Peace.
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Jun 11, 2012 05:56am
Pakistan must insist on sincere apology
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
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