US, Pakistan to turn page on bitter ties

US: The United States and Pakistan hold high-level talks on Wednesday aimed at reversing decades of mistrust, but tensions over issues from nuclear cooperation to security are still expected to taint relations.

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.

But the main aim of the meetings, chaired by the Foreign Ministers and attended also by defence chiefs, is to build on recent military successes by Islamabad against the Taliban while at the same time improve ties and turn around anti-American sentiment.

“We want this dialogue to be a results-oriented dialogue,” said Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi at an event at the Pakistani Embassy on Tuesday night.

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton also urged relations to move to a “deeper level” but said she did not expect to “wave a magic wand” and end years of mistrust.

“It doesn’t happen overnight,” she told Pakistan’s Dunya TV. “It is a process, but it’s such an important process, and we very much believe in it.”

Pakistan’s delegation sent a document to the Americans ahead of this week’s meetings, giving their view of future relations and asking for more helicopters and pilotless drones as well as a wish to have a similar civilian nuclear arrangement that archrival India has with Washington.

“What is good for India, should be good for Pakistan,” said Pakistan’s foreign secretary, Salman Bashir, when asked whether Islamabad wanted a civilian nuclear agreement.

“The priority is energy, which means, energy comprehensively,” he said, adding that the immediate focus was how to tackle blackouts in Pakistan which have disrupted the economy and frayed public patience. WASHINGTON, Wednesday, Reuters