Sydney Morning Herald
Clinton treads softly but urges action
ISLAMABAD: The US Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton, has warned that US-Pakistani relations had reached ''a turning point'' and called on Pakistan's leaders to take urgent measures against Islamist extremists in the wake of the killing of Osama bin Laden.
Mrs Clinton, the highest-ranking US official to visit Pakistan since a Navy Seals team found bin Laden hiding in Abbottabad, did not get public pledges of co-operation from the Pakistanis. But she argued that it was in the interest of both countries to jointly pursue terrorists operating from havens in Pakistan. ''We will do our part,'' she said at the US embassy, ''and we look to the government of Pakistan to take decisive steps in the days ahead.''
Clinton was joined by the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Admiral Mike Mullen. The carefully orchestrated diplomatic encounter was intended both to cajole the Pakistanis and reassure them of political support at a time when Congress has threatened to cut economic and security aid. Pakistan has received $20 billion in US aid since 2001.
Advertisement: Story continues below
Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/world/clinton-treads-softly-but-urges-action-20110528-1f9d8.html#ixzz1NkG4EKb8
No comments:
Post a Comment