LOC21:29
18:29 GMT
WASHINGTON, Oct 19 (KUNA) -- The United States sees high-level talks with
Pakistan as ways to mend rising tensions in bilateral relations, a top US
official confirmed Tuesday.
Frank Ruggerio, US deputy special representative for Afghanistan and
Pakistan, said at a press briefing that the high-level talks will be led by
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Pakistani counterpart Shah Mahmood
Qureshi.
The meeting, which starts from Wednesday through Friday, is the third in a
series of strategic dialogue meetings between Washington and Pakistan. It will
try to smooth tensions over American military incursions across the border
from Afghanistan and allegations that Islamabad is not doing enough to target
Taliban militants.
The incident prompted Pakistan to close a key Afghan border crossing to
NATO supplies for about 10 days. The US eventually apologized, saying the
pilots mistook the soldiers for insurgents.
"Were coming through a period of tension in the US-Pakistan relationship,
and the strategic dialogue provides a venue to really exchange views with the
Pakistanis on a strategic level and to move beyond tensions," he told
reporters, calling the talks a "mechanism" to build trust in the US-Pakistan
relations.
He added that within the talks the US "supports Pakistans efforts to
strengthen democratic institutions, foster economic development, expand
opportunity and defeat extremist groups who threaten both nations common
security."
In addition, officials will discuss the US response to the summer's massive
flooding disaster in Pakistan. The US donated nearly USD 390 million in
emergency aid and provided 26 military helicopters for rescue and relief
missions.
"We continue to work very closely with the government of Pakistan, its
civil and military leadership, on responding to the floods. And this is really
just another example of the strategic nature of the relationship with Pakistan,
" Ruggerio said. (end)
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