The United States and Pakistan sought yesterday to turn a page in a relationship soured by years of mistrust and tensions over nuclear co-operation, security and anti-American sentiment.
“It is the start of something new,” US secretary of state Hillary Clinton said at the beginning of two days of meetings with its nuclear-armed ally.
But she added: “Our countries have had our misunderstandings and disagreements in the past, and there are sure to be more disagreements in the future.”
Pakistan is an important US ally in the battle against al-Qaeda and the Taliban, particularly as Washington sends more troops to neighbouring Afghanistan to fight a war weighing heavily on President Barack Obama’s political legacy.
“Such a partnership, we are convinced, is good for Pakistan, good for America and good for international peace, security and prosperity,” Pakistan’s foreign minister, Shah Mehmood Qureshi, said.
“Now is the time to look forward,” he added.
The “strategic dialogue” between the nuclear-armed allies is likely to produce several signed agreements, from building dams and roads to power projects for energy-starved Pakistan, as well as additional security commitments.
In public, both sides sought to show a united front with the delegations intermingled rather than seated on opposite sides for the official meetings as is often the case.
However, behind closed doors both planned to raise a host of tough issues. The United States wants Pakistan to sustain its recent military successes, including the arrest of a top Taliban leader, while Islamabad points out that it has already done “too much”.
There are also tensions over how far the United States is prepared to go in its pledge for a closer relationship, with Pakistan pushing for a similar civilian nuclear co-operation deal with Washington that its arch-rival India has.“What is good for India, should be good for Pakistan,” said Salman Bashir, Pakistan’s foreign secretary.