Author : Editor
US Ambassador in Islamabad Cameron Munter on Thursday revealed that supply to NATO in Afghanistan is continuing by using Pakistani air space.
He was talking to reporters after inauguration of a photo exhibition highlighting 10 years of US support for the preservation of Pakistani heritage at the National Council of Arts. The ambassador said that his country was waiting for completion of the parliamentary process after which certain issues would be discussed.
"What we need is to talk to each other so that incidents like Salala tragedy could be avoided," he added. To a question about reports that the US was mulling apology for the NATO attack on November 26, the ambassador said that his country's officials have said this was a tragic accident and it happened unintentionally. "We must work together to avoid Salala like incidents," he said.
He said that enhanced consultation among NATO, Afghanistan and Pakistan was essential for coordination along bordering areas. He said, "These kinds of tragedies, which we regret deeply, and the sorrow we feel for the soldiers who died there, should not have been died there, the tragedy we feel is deep and sincere." The ambassador said there is need that each one should make sure that mechanism were in place and efforts should be made that such kind of mistakes should never happen again. Referring to the meeting between military officials from Pakistan, America and Afghanistan recently to talk about the situation of the border, he said that is the way to solve the problems.
On Pak-Iran gas project, he said that the US was ready to offer help of millions of dollars for coping with the energy crisis. Pakistan had blocked supply to NATO after the incident of November 26, its conditional restoration is expected but completion of the parliamentary process is awaited. Parliament has to take final decision in this connection.
Earlier, in a press talk on the photo exhibition, Munter said that over the past 10 years the Ambassador's Fund for Cultural Preservation has expended over $34 million in support of 700 projects in 120 countries. And the first project in Pakistan was undertaken in 2001 to a well-known archeological site. He said that cultural cooperation between Pakistan and US was an essence of the relations between the two countries. Munter said that both Pakistan and United States have to work together to improve their relations and resolve the issues.
The ambassador said, "We are looking forward to the debate that will take place soon in the Pakistani parliament on relations with the United States." He said, "We have waited because we think that Pakistan requested the time to think how the relationship should go ahead." The ambassador said American leadership has welcome those suggestions and welcome the honesty, straight forwardness and it will reciprocate with same honesty and straightforwardness so that the relationship of the two countries will be strong in the future.
Source : paktribune.com
