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Reports noted that the Commander of US forces in Afghanistan, Gen. David Petraeus has pointed out that best way to persuade Pakistan to do more against terrorist groups is to defeat the Taliban in Afghanistan. He stated, “I think … the way to influence Pakistan is to show that there can be a certain outcome in Afghanistan that means that there should be every effort to help their Afghan neighbours and indeed to ensure that they do that on their side of the border as well,”.1
However, Pakistan demanded an apology and explanation from the US over a drone attack in the North Waziristan area that killed around 40 people. Terming it as a “flagrant violation of human rights”, Pakistan Foreign Ministry spokesperson Tehmina Janjua condemned the drone strike. The drone hit a jirga of elderly tribal leaders.2
Meanwhile, reports noted that in a rare condemnation of a US drone attack by Pakistan Army Chief Gen Ashfaq Kayani and Washington’s dismissal of the same highlights increasing strained relations between US and Pakistan. Coupled along this is the public row over killing by CIA contractor Raymond Davis and his controversial release. Pakistan has also pulled out of a trilateral meeting between US-Afghanistan-Pakistan to be held in late March in Brussels. All these are evidence of a growing discord between the two allies which could prove ominous to war on terror and stability Afghanistan. 3
- 1. “US to focus on Afghanistan to make Pakistan do more”, Dawn, March 16 at http://www.dawn.com/2011/03/16/us-to-focus-on-afghanistan-to-make-pakist...
- 2. “Pakistan demands US apology for drone strike, Dawn, March 18 at http://www.dawn.com/2011/03/18/pakistan-demands-us-apology-for-drone-str...
- 3. “US-Pakistan relationship increasingly strained, Dawn, March 18 at http://www.dawn.com/2011/03/18/us-pakistan-relationship-increasingly-str...