Pakistan warns U.S. on damage to relations

**Tumbleweed** · Admin Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts votes: 4

The fallout seems to be continuing over Obama's comment, as well as other statements concerning Pakistan.

By Zeeshan Haider

Quote:

ISLAMABAD (Reuters) - A U.S. law linking aid to Pakistan to progress in the fight against militancy and some comments from U.S. politicians were detrimental to cooperation between the countries, Pakistan said on Wednesday.

The warning on relations between the United States and one of its most important allies in the fight against terrorism came in talks in Islamabad between Foreign Minister Khursheed Mehmood Kasuri and U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Richard Boucher.

"The foreign minister ... stressed that certain recent U.S. statements were counter-productive ... (and) also expressed concern regarding the recent U.S. legislation," the Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

The ministry did not elaborate on the statements but relations with Pakistan have become a hot topic in the U.S. presidential election campaign.

Democratic candidate Barack Obama said this month that if elected, he would be willing to attack al Qaeda militants inside Pakistan without the approval of its government.

U.S. President George W. Bush described talk of such action as "unsavory" and said he respected Pakistan's sovereignty.

But Bush also signed into law a bill on implementing the recommendations of the September 11 commission, which contained the provision tying aid to Pakistan to its progress in cracking down on al Qaeda and Taliban militants.

The law and tough talk have cast a shadow on the countries' relations. Kasuri told Boucher the law "was contrary to the spirit of Pakistan-U.S. strategic relationship."

Source

**CHUQ** · Agitator Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts votes: 3

Mushraff support is in the toilet, he is just trying to blame someone else for his probs. It could work because ofd the dislike for the US in the area.

**CHUQ** · Agitator Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts votes: 3

Musharraf may be up to his butt in probs and the US needs to keep a close watch on stuff.

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan — This country's long-running political crisis has entered a decisive phase, with developments in coming weeks likely to determine whether President Pervez Musharraf is able to hang on to power or is pushed aside.

Exiled opponents such as former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto are vowing to return and reclaim a place on the political stage. The current parliament, whose rubber-stamp approval Musharraf wants for another term as president, is nearing the end of its tenure. An emboldened Supreme Court is weighing legal challenges to Musharraf's participation in politics while he retains his position as military chief.

And all the while, popular anger simmers. Celebrations last week of the 60th anniversary of the end of British colonial rule and the advent of statehood were muted not only by security fears but by a sense among many Pakistanis that a transition away from military rule is long overdue.

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**CHUQ** · Agitator Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts votes: 3

Bhutto is up to something. I cannot see her accepting Musharraf as the leader.

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Chairperson Benazir Bhutto for the first time on Tuesday detailed a plan to keep President Musharraf in office under a power-sharing deal that she said would strengthen the fight against terrorism.

In remarks to a US network broadcast on Tuesday, Benazir outlined an agreement that would reduce Musharraf’s power while allowing her to return from exile – and perhaps to government.

“So we’re not trying to bail out a military dictator by saying we will come there on your terms,” she said on PBS “News Hour with Jim Lehrer.

SOURCE

**Tumbleweed** · Admin Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts votes: 4

Power sharing? Yea, right. Musharraf may, by some miracle retain power of the military, but I don't see any power sharing .

**CHUQ** · Agitator Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts votes: 3

If power sharing becomes a reality, then it will not last long, IMO. The ones they are considered as [possible sharers of power; none will like being a second banana and a power play will not be far behind.

**CHUQ** · Agitator Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts votes: 3

Another of Musharraf's opponents. Yhis is his bio.

NAME: Muhammad Nawaz Sharif.

AGE-BIRTHDATE: 57; Dec. 25, 1949, in Lahore, Pakistan.

FAMILY: Wife, Kulsoom; three children.

POLITICS: Served twice as prime minister while leader of conservative, secular Pakistan Muslim League. Ordered Pakistan's first nuclear weapons test in 1998 and sought unsuccessfully to assert civilian control over the military. Ousted amid accusations of corruption.

READ ON

**CHUQ** · Agitator Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts votes: 3

Just in on the news wires. This will be worth the watch. This guy absolutely hates Musharraf and then there is Bhutto who he will also have a prob with. This is really cool stuff!

There has been a dramatic shift in the political landscape in Pakistan, after the Supreme Court ruled former prime minister Nawaz Sharif can return home after seven years in exile.

He was ousted in a 1999 military coup by General Pervez Musharraf, who is now the President.

Mr Sharif was sentenced to life in prison on tax evasion and treason charges, but he was exiled the following year.

Now he says he will be back home next month to begin his campaign to bring down the Musharraf regime.

STORY

**CHUQ** · Agitator Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts votes: 3

We would never do anything to harm our relations with Pakistan.

KABUL: The US-led coalition in Afghanistan has admitted it did not have permission from Pakistan to strike Taliban positions across the border at the weekend, citing a “miscommunication” problem.

The coalition had insisted it was given the go-ahead for the attack inside Pakistan on Saturday that destroyed six Taliban firing posts on both sides of the frontier, killing more than a dozen rebels.

The coalition said in a statement late on Monday it had investigated further and found that Pakistan had not actually given permission. “We regret the miscommunication in this event,” said the coalition’s deputy commanding general for operations, Brigadier General Joseph Votel.

He said the coalition was committed to respecting the sovereign borders of Pakistan. Votel said in the statement the coalition wanted to continue cooperation with Pakistan, “which has been an important ally in fighting the enemies of peace and stability.”

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**Tumbleweed** · Admin Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts votes: 4

Quote:

The US-led coalition in Afghanistan has admitted it did not have permission from Pakistan to strike Taliban positions across the border at the weekend, citing a “miscommunication” problem.

Yea, right. Laughing

They knew damn well what they were doing.

**CHUQ** · Agitator Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts votes: 3

we have satelites that can count the nose hair on an individual, but they somehow did not know where they were at the time? Right! I was born at nite, but not last nite.

**Tumbleweed** · Admin Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts votes: 4

I'm not sure how they could have mistook a no for yes. Laughing

**CHUQ** · Agitator Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts votes: 3

Let see, no in Arabic is LAHM and yes is MAH. In Pashto yes is BALE and no is NAH am not sure what they are in Farsi or Dari, but anyway none sound similar to me. I so agree with tumble.