Clinton in Pakistan to mend fences
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Xinhua, October 20, 2011
U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton arrives in Islamabad later on Thursday to get soured relations with Pakistan back on track and push the leadership to act against the armed groups blamed for cross-border attacks into Afghanistan.
The relationship has seen a sharp decline after the last month attack on the U.S. embassy in Kabul and the truck bomb blast at a major American military base in Afghanistan's Maidan Wardak province, which were blamed on the Taliban-linked Haqqani network.
Senior U.S. military leaders accused Pakistan's intelligence agency of supporting the Haqqani network in both attacks, the charges denied by Pakistan as irresponsible. The U.S. side insists that Haqqani network operates from Pakistan's North Waziristan tribal region along the border with Afghanistan.
Secretary of Defence Leon Panetta had even warned a unilateral action against the Haqqani network and other Pakistan-based armed groups if Pakistan did not take action.
Pakistan has so far rejected the U.S. pressure for North Waziristan offensive and the Army Chief General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani told parliamentarians at a rare briefing that it is up to Pakistan if and when to launch military operation.
The relationship had also seen a decline after the United States suspended in August 800 million U.S. dollars in military aid and also attached tough conditions to the future American assistance. General Kayani had told the lawmakers that the United States cut of aid will not affect the country's defence capability.
Clinton, who landed in Kabul late Wednesday, will arrive in Islamabad later Thursday and is scheduled to meet Pakistan's civil and military leadership, including President Asif Ali Zardari, Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani and army chief Gen Ashfaq Parvez Kayani.
She will be accompanied by the new U.S. Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff General Martin Dempsey, Central Intelligence Agency Director David Patraeus and Under-Secretary of Defense for Policy Michele Flournoy will join Clinton in Islamabad.
Section of U.S. media has described Clinton's visit as "a list-ditch effort" to salvage America's partnership with Pakistan, which is key to stability in Afghanistan at a time when the United States has started withdrawal of troops.
Pakistani sources said that leaders will raise the issue of the alleged bases of Pakistani Taliban from Afghanistan's border region. The military said that leaders of Pakistani Taliban, who fled after military operations, have now established bases in Afghanistan and carry out attacks on border posts.
Sources said that the peace and reconciliation process in Afghanistan, deadlocked after last month assassination of Afghan peace envoy Prof. Burhanuddin Rabbani, will also come under discussion. Afghanistan had suspended peace process with Pakistan and also trilateral efforts involving Afghanistan, Pakistan and the United States.
The U.S. push for a Strategic Partnership Agreement with Afghanistan may also come under discussion as Islamabad and other neighbouring countries have concerns about the permanent U.S. bases under the proposed pact. Kabul wants Washington to remove concerns of the neighbours before finalizing the agreement, an Afghan diplomat in Islamabad has said.
Clinton's visit takes places just a few weeks before two important international conferences on Afghanistan for the future setup and peace process. Turkey is hosting a conference in Istanbul next month and the second would be held in Bonn in December and sources said Clinton will also discuss matters relating to the conference.
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