Associated Press of Pakistan
US House Speaker for robust ties with Pakistan; dismisses criticism
WASHINGTON, May 4 (APP): Speaker U.S. House of Representatives John Boehner has called for forging a strong relationship with “critical” ally Pakistan and dismissed any talk of cutting aid to the South Asian country due to eliminated al-Qaeda’ leader Osama bi Laden’s hiding in a Pakistani town.The Speaker, who just returned from a congressional visit to the region,told American media that the U.S. relationship with Pakistan is critical to breaking the back of al-Qaida.Boehner brushed aside much of the criticism levelled against Pakistan after the killing of bin Laden.
“We both benefit from having a strong bilateral relationship. This is not a time to back away from Pakistan,” Boehner said on the Capitol Hill.
“We need more engagement, not less,” he said, according to reports in USA Today and National Journal, In the context of criticism that bin Laden remained undetected in Pakistan, Boehner urged perspective.
“It is important for the U.S. to look Pakistan in the eye and come to a real understanding on where they are. Our engagement needs to be robust. We need to have an eyeball-to-eyeball conversation about where this relationship is going.”
The speaker dismissed any talk of reduced foreign aid to the Pakistanis:
“It’s premature to discuss cutting aid to Pakistan.”
He called the relationship critical to U.S. national security, saying success in Afghanistan is linked directly to cooperation from Pakistan.
“They have been helpful. They have lost more troops than we have.”
Boehner said the billions of dollars in U.S. aid to Pakistan since 9/11 has been worth it.”
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