ISLAMABAD, Pakistan – So far, there has been no breakthrough in the meeting between Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and US President Barack Obama in the drone attack issue. Sources claim that the US’ demand for the release of Dr. Shakeel Afridi who managed to find Osama Bin Ladan in Pakistan has created a bitter taste to this meeting.
Diplomatic circles in Islamabad confirm that the US has categorically informed Pakistan that it will not stop drone strikes within the territory of Pakistan, particularly in tribal areas of Pakistan bordering Afghanistan. The US also expressed its concern that Dr. Shakeel Afridi who helped the United States to track down Osama Bin Laden has been jailed by Pakistan, and Pakistan considers him a spy and a person who betrayed his nation, while the US considers him a hero who worked for the whole of humanity for finding Osama Bin Laden and helping in his killing in Abbotabad, Pakistan.
Sources said that when Pakistan talked about stopping drone attacks in the Pakistani territory, Pakistan faced a hostile but decent reaction from the US side as President Obama shared burning issues of South Asian terrorism and said that Jama’at-ud-Da’wah was operating from Pakistan which is an international terrorist organization. Sources maintained that Obama also shared India’s reservation against Pakistan regarding cross-border terrorism injecting from Pakistan to India-held Kashmir, and also discussed that all important Al-Qaeda fugitives were killed in Pakistan through drone strikes, so drone strikes are a very useful operative in the war on terror, and this cannot be stopped unless the US successfully get its targets.
Speaking at a press conference, Obama was of the view that the US will look at how it can help Pakistan in the energy sector.
About security issues and terrorism, Obama said the US respects the sovereignty of Pakistan. He was of the view that terrorism mostly damaged Pakistan, and the Afghanistan issue is important for both countries. He said both countries were trying to tailor a long-term strategy for peace in Afghanistan.
PM Nawaz Sharif demanded US-Pakistan relations in the field of education, development, and terrorism.
He said that he talked about drone attacks against Pakistan, and that he also discussed Aafia Saddique and her case.
www.dnd.com.pk
