US urged to avoid verbal assaults, finger-pointing

ISLAMABAD: In what is seen here as a serious attempt to repair the dent in relations caused by serious allegations emanating from Washington, America’s special envoy Marc Grossman said here after wide-ranging talks with political and military leadership on Thursday that US-Pakistan relations were important for both the countries and served their best interests.


The United States wanted strong and cordial relations with Pakistan, he said at a joint press conference with Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar.


But during a meeting with Mr Grossman, President Asif Ali Zardari told him bluntly that restraint should be exercised in public pronouncements for the sake of developing a cooperative roadmap to overcome trust deficit. He stressed that relations between the two countries should not be transactional, but based on long-term partnership, mutual respect and shared interests.Mr Grossman also met Army Chief Gen Ashfaq Parvez Kayani. According to the ISPR, matters relating to Pak-US ties and cooperative framework for peace in the region were discussed.


General John Allen, Commander of ISAF, also called on Gen Kayani and discussed with him measures aimed at improving cross-border coordination and procedures between Pakistan army, ISAF and Afghan forces along the Pak-Afghan border.