Washington, March 24: Apparently hinting at a nuclear deal, Pakistan on Wednesday sought access to vital energy resources in a “non-discriminatory” manner from the United States, which promised to help Islamabad in meeting its “urgent energy needs”.
Opening the first US-Pakistan strategic dialogue here with secretary of state Hillary Clinton, Pakistan’s foreign minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi also harped on the Kashmir issue, asking the US to “constructively engage” in the process of its peaceful resolution with India.
Washington, however, has clearly rejected this, telling Pakistan that it would be “sensible” to look to the existing bilateral mechanism to resolve any issues with India.
But signalling a new warmth in relations with Pakistan, Ms Clinton effusively said that “Pakistan is close to my heart”.
Earlier, speaking to a Pakistani TV channel on the eve of the strategic dialogue, Ms Clinton, when asked if the US could play a role, said: “We’re well aware there is a 50-year-old agreement between Pakistan and India concerning water. Usually, where there is an agreement, with mediation techniques (and) arbitration built in, it would seem sensible to look to what already exists to try to resolve any of the bilateral problems between India and Pakistan.”
Mr Qureshi, leading a Pakistani delegation at the dialogue that also includes Army chief Gen. Ashfaq Parvez Kayani, said: “We hope non-discriminatory access to vital energy resources will also be made available to us, so that we too can pursue our economic and industrial development plans.” In her remarks, Ms Clinton said the US would help Pakistan in all issues, including meeting “urgent energy needs”.
Pakistan has for some time been demanding a nuclear deal with the US similar to the one Washington has with India, but till now the US had been taking the demand coolly due to proliferation concerns. In the run-up to Wednesday’s talks, however, the US has been indicating it would consider the demand for nuclear cooperation.
Bringing the issue of Kashmir, Mr Qureshi said: “Pakistan will continue to seek a peaceful resolution of all outstanding disputes in South Asia, including Kashmir. We hope the US will maintain its constructive engagement to encourage this process.”
The foreign minister pledged support for action against extremism but also said Pakistan had key wishes from the United States. “Pakistan is committed to doing its part to facilitate the world community’s effort for peace and stability in Afghanistan. We hope the world community will be equally responsive to our legitimate concerns and help advance common interests,” he said.
Ms Clinton said she wanted to speak directly to the people of Pakistan, and acknowledged that the two nations “have had our misunderstandings and disagreements in the past.”
“There are sure to be more disagreements in the future, as there are between any friends or, frankly, any family members... But this is a new day. For the past year, the Obama administration has shown in our words and deeds a different approach and attitude toward Pakistan,” said Ms Clinton, who was seen effusively clapping at the end of Mr Qureshi’s remarks.
Signalling a new warmth in US-Pakistani ties, Ms Clinton said Pakistan’s
stability and strengthening its security was “important” for the US. “Pakistan is close to my heart. Pakistan’s struggles are my struggles and I am committed to the success of this (strategic) dialogue,” she said.
Praising Islamabad’s recent offensive against the Taliban and other insurgents, she said Pakistan “stands at the frontline of a struggle against violent extremism”.
Ms Clinton admitted that “misperceptions and mistrust” had grown between the two countries and “some scepticism” remained on both sides, despite efforts to clear the air.
Another senior American official, AfPak special envoy Richard Holbrooke, echoed Ms Clinton’s remarks indicating the US was disinclined to get involved in resolving India-Pakistan disputes, including on Kashmir. “It is for India and Pakistan to resolve all their disputes bilaterally and the Obama administration does not sees a role for itself in it unless both the countries want it,” Mr Holbrooke told journalists at a joint press conference here with Pakistan foreign secretary Salman Bashir.
Responding to questions from the Pakistani media, Mr Holbrooke said the US encouraged both India and Pakistan to talk to each other on all issues, and went on to clarify that talking on Kashmir was not in his mandate.
Lalit K. Jha