US ambassador Cameron Munter

We (Pakistan and the US) need to get- together, we need to talk together openly, honestly and frankly.

Q:-Now that the Parliament has unanimously approved its guidelines, what is the way forward for the two countries?

Ans: First of all, we are very pleased that the Parliament has taken this job very seriously and has come up with these guidelines and we respect the guidelines. But we may not agree with all these guidelines. We are ready to engage with Pakistan on these guidelines. These guidelines are being looked at by the Defense Committee of the Cabinet (DCC). The DCC will decide who will discuss these guidelines with us. We are ready to engage with you. The answer to your question is let us engage, let us solve these problems.

Q: – Excellency, when you say you may not agree to all the guidelines, so what are the areas of divergence in these guidelines between the two countries?

Ans: It is more constructive to say that we are going to look at all these issues. These are short-term and long-term issues. We want to make sure that there is proper focus on short-term needs for the both sides, especially in fighting the common foe of against terrorism and long term stability of Pakistan in the region. All the issues mentioned in the parliamentary debate deal with these basic questions. So to answer your question, we have to do both the short-term and long-term. Sooner we get to it, the better for the two countries.

Q:- Certain media reports suggest that Pakistan will be soon re-opening NATO supplies. Is there any intimation to your side from the government of Pakistan?

Ans: I think the government of Pakistan is still deliberating on this issue. There is no secret deal to this account. The Government of Pakistan is still deliberating how it wants to talk to us on all of these elements included in the guidelines. When DCC talks about these issues with all the stakeholders, then they will talk to us. It matters for us and similarly, it matters to you, including all other issues.

Q: Excellency, when you assured repeatedly respect for the parliamentary process, does this means that the United States will abide by the parliamentary guidelines for abandoning drones?

Ans: we have to look into that in this way that what is in the interest of Pakistan and what is the interest of the United States; how do we work together and make sure that Pakistan’s sovereignty is respected and the US interests are met? We can work together, especially in fighting the terrorists who are the common enemies of the two countries. We need to get-together; we need to talk together openly, honestly and frankly.

Q: what is the thinking back in Pakistan as to whether drones constitute violation of Pakistan’s sovereignty?

Ans: In the United States, we are concerned that we face the common foe; we are concerned to fighting against this foe the way we can. There are number of ways how to do that. But there are people who are trying to destroy Pakistan’s way of life, famous tolerance, openness, and your economy. We also want to reduce them as you also want to fight against them.

Q:-Parliamentary guidelines also talk about doing away with any discrimination against Pakistan over the years, particularly in the area of Civil-Nuclear technology cooperation? Is the United States willing to address this issue because Pakistan is facing severe shortage of electricity?

Ans: The USAID Administrator, Rajiv Shah, said last week during his visit to Pakistan that we have a robust assistance program in energy sector. It is the 3rd largest program in civil assistance program. We are committed to building new dams, refurbishing the old dams. As suggested by the parliament, we have to talk about something when we are re-engaged. We are ready to talk about all these issues given the fact that we are committed to working with you.

Q:-Salala attacks have been regretted. There can not be any compensation of 26 precious lives. Pakistan nation thinks if the United States can seek apology on misbehaving with Shah Rukh Khan, why not an apology on the issue of 26 soldiers, lives?

Ans: we agree that Salala tragedy should have never happened. We regretted deeply and the expression of sorrow has come from Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, General Dempsey, our chief military officer, and from myself. We realize that soldiers died there who should never have died. We want to make sure that mechanisms are placed that will ensure that this will never happen again. We feel sorrow on the tragedy.

Q:- – – So no consideration of apology on any level, whether military of civil level?
Ans:- I think the focus here is on the fact that we regret so much on what has happened. We do not want it to happen that again. And we are talking of the concrete measures to move ahead.