Clinton will hold crucial talks with Pakistan’s top civil and military leadership during a two-day trip.
Amid serious bilateral tensions, Pakistan and the United Stated are expected to ink a deal on the Afghan endgame as the American Secretary of State Hillary Clinton reaches Islamabad on Thursday. Clinton will hold crucial talks with Pakistan’s top civil and military leadership during a two-day trip.
Sources in Islamabad say the significance of the visit can be judged from the fact that Clinton is to be accompanied by US Chairman of the Joint Chiefs Staff General Martin Dempsey and Central Intelligence Agency Director David Patraeus. “This is the first time senior US officials have come to Islamabad together and it suffices to say that discussions will be on the Afghan endgame”, said a senior security official in Rawalpindi.
A senior military official said, requesting anonymity, that Clinton intends to clear up the confusion about her country’s “options and proposals” on Afghanistan. “Frankly, so far the Americans have not shared their roadmap on Afghanistan with us”, the official added.
Pakistan’s top civil and military leadership have prepared a joint strategy that includes telling the US that sustainable peace in Afghanistan can only be achieved through meaningful political reconciliation.
The strategy also talks of Pakistan’s fears regarding the growing Indian influence in Afghanistan. “Pakistan has no issues if the US thinks that by giving India a lead role it will bring sustainable peace in Afghanistan. But obviously that is not the case”, the military official pointed out. But it is not unclear if the US will endorse Pakistan’s point of view given the differences on strategic issues, such as action against Haqqani network.
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