Pak, US back on the same side?

Washington and Islamabad appear to have pulled back from the brink after behind-the-scenes diplomatic efforts made substantive progress towards normalisation of ties.

According to sources with close ties to the American embassy in Islamabad, “the worst is over” as the leadership of the two countries had gone the extra mile this week to defuse the simmering tension between the two allies in the war against terror. According to these circles, the two countries agreed unequivocally on one central point: that a breakdown in their relationship “is not an option”. The progress was reportedly made during US Ambassador Cameron Munter’s talks with Foreign Secretary Salman Bashir and President Asif Ali Zardari. However, it is unclear if the two countries have been able to overcome their differences on the Haqqani network, which has become the core irritant in the relationship.

 A Pakistani official also confirmed that the US and Pakistan were eager to put recent tensions behind them. “The two sides have realised that they have to maintain this relationship and at the same time agreed that the war of words must be ceased,” the official added.