Pak-US strategic dialogue in interest of two countries
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The strategic dialogue between Pakistan and the United States to be held on March 24 is in the respective interests of the two sides as the U.S. needs Pakistan's help to stabilize Afghanistan before its proposed safe exit and Pakistan wants America's help on economy and balance of the region.
A high level delegation of Pakistani officials led by Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi and Pakistani Army Chief Pervez Ashfaq Kay ani are in Washington to attend the wide-ranging talks on Wednesday. It is the first time that the Pakistani army chief participate in the strategic dialogue.
Pakistan wants a balance in relations with the U.S. as the latter offered favor to India in civil nuclear technology but ignored Pakistan, which is facing serious crises in energy sector.
Secondly, Pakistan recently made it clear that it cannot tolerate Indian-trained forces on its western border and offered training to Afghan security personnel in meetings in Brussels as well as London conferences on Afghanistan. Analysts said that Pakistan army chief being in Washington signifies military aspects of the dialogue as well.
Sources in Pakistan's foreign office confirmed to Xinhua that besides cooperation in other sectors Pakistan is expected to demand civil nuclear technology and billions of dollars monetary assistance from the United States for the war against terror.
Defense analyst Brigadier Mehmood Shah said that the dialogue is very important for Pakistan itself as it needs balance in the region.
"The U.S. help to Pakistan is crucial and that is why that this time Pakistan's delegation went to Washington after planning with clear mind. This time Pakistan means business, it needs walk in talk and not mere talks for talks." he said.
He said that energy crises and free access to western markets are crucial.
Observers said that Pakistan has been inflicted colossal loss by the war on terror and wants America's help in provision of latest defense equipment, access to American market for trade and cooperation in energy sector.
On the other side, since inception of Barack Obama administration the U.S. prefers to quit Afghanistan but at the same time it does not want to repeat its mistakes in the past, leaving Afghanistan in the hands of internally weak leadership that could be swept by the regional countries.
Analysts said that past experiences prove that stability and development in war-torn Afghanistan is not possible without the political will of Pakistan. Shift in Pakistan's polices toward Afghanistan and war on terror has convinced the U.S. to strengthen the Pakistan against terrorism and support its economy.
Pakistani new political setup has extended friendly relations toward Karzai government in Afghanistan that improved trust between Islamabad and Washington.
Meanwhile, Pakistan recently has arrested several senior Taliban and Al-Qaeda leaders, which America considers as an important breakthrough in connection with the war on terror.
The dialogue is also aiming at sorting out an agreed strategy for the war against terror, analysts maintain.
Mariana Baabar, an expert on foreign affairs told Xinhua that the strategic dialogues is to have great positive impacts on the stability of the region and the year 2010 is a decisive and final year of the battle against Taliban in Afghanistan.
Baabar said that America has recognized Pakistan's role in the war against terror and for the first time Pakistani military officials were saluted by Pentagon to acknowledge its efforts in the war against terror. The Afghan problem is not the point where America and Pakistan have to end relations but they have to go a long way, she said.
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