U.S. and Pakistan Agree to Reinforce Strategic Ties

WASHINGTON — Pakistan and the United States wrapped up two days of high-level talks on Thursday, with a raft of economic development initiatives, an agreement to hasten deliveries of military hardware and a promise to put their often mistrustful relationship on a new footing.

In a communiqué issued after the talks, the countries said they would “redouble their efforts to deal effectively with terrorism” and would work together for “peace and stability in Afghanistan.”

Administration officials said Pakistan was likely to get swifter delivery of F-16 fighter jets, naval frigates and helicopter gunships, as well as new remotely piloted aircraft for surveillance missions. But the United States was silent about Pakistan’s most heavily advertised proposal: a civil nuclear agreement similar to the one the Bush administration signed with Pakistan’s archrival, India.

Given Pakistan’s history of selling nuclear technology to Iran, Libya and North Korea, such an agreement would realistically be 10 or 15 years away, a senior administration official said Thursday. Still, the administration was careful not to dismiss the idea out of hand.

“This is a new day,” Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton said in greeting Pakistan’s foreign minister, Shah Mahmood Qureshi. “For the past year, the Obama administration has shown in our words and our deeds a different approach and a different attitude toward Pakistan.”

The “strategic dialogue” was by itself meant to send a message: The administration used the term reserved for the substantive, wide-ranging exchanges it carries on with important countries like China and India. Pakistan and the United States held three such dialogues during the Bush administration.

But last year, Mr. Qureshi asked Mrs. Clinton to upgrade the exchange to the level of foreign minister. On Wednesday, he said he hoped the two days of higher-level talks would help Pakistan and the United States overcome a history that “did not always enjoy a sunny side.”

Mr. Qureshi said the United States had agreed to put on a fast track some longstanding Pakistani requests for military hardware.

Although Mrs. Clinton deflected a question about civil nuclear cooperation, she said, “We’re committed to helping Pakistan meet its real energy needs.”

Among specific announcements was an agreement for the United States Agency for International Development to help Pakistan upgrade three thermal power plants. The administration said it would try to push through legislation creating so-called reconstruction opportunity zones in Pakistan. And it hopes to set up a fund to stimulate direct foreign investment.

Pakistan’s military campaign against Taliban insurgents in the Swat Valley and South Waziristan has improved the tenor of its relationship with Washington. But success on the battlefield cuts both ways for Pakistan, analysts said. It gives the country’s government in Islamabad a more credible argument for increased military aid. But it also imposes greater expectations from the United States about Pakistan’s counterinsurgency efforts and military cooperation.

“Yes, you get a pat on the back,” said Bruce O. Riedel, an expert on Pakistan at the Brookings Institution. “But now that you’ve shown you can do something, you’ve got to do more.”

Pakistan’s role in Afghanistan also remains a subject of intense scrutiny in the United States. The Pakistani authorities cooperated with the Central Intelligence Agency to capture the Taliban’s military chief, Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar. But some analysts question whether the Pakistanis are rounding up other Taliban leaders, including shadow Afghan governors, simply to make sure that Pakistan has leverage in any future political bargaining in Kabul.

Mr. Qureshi insisted that Pakistan wanted Afghanistan to lead this process. “If they feel we can contribute, if we can help, we’ll be more than willing to help,” he said. “But we leave it to them.”

On this subject, however, administration officials are more interested in hearing from Pakistan’s chief of army staff, Gen. Ashfaq Parvez Kayani, who was part of the delegation. General Kayani recently held talks in Islamabad with Afghanistan’s president, Hamid Karzai, and the general is viewed as critical to determining the role Pakistan will play.

Of all the raw nerves in the relationship, Pakistan’s nuclear ambitions may be the most sensitive. Islamabad yearns for an agreement with the United States because it would confer legitimacy on Pakistan’s existing program.

But Washington does not formally recognize Pakistan as a nuclear power. The selling of nuclear secrets by the father of its nuclear program, Abdul Qadeer Khan, and the country’s refusal to allow American investigators to have access to him ensures that this recognition may be a long way off.

“The question is, can you move somewhere toward giving legitimacy to a Pakistani nuclear program?” said Daniel S. Markey, senior fellow for India, Pakistan and South Asia at the Council on Foreign Relations. “Is there space between a civil nuclear deal and just saying ‘no’?”

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/26/world/asia/26policy.html?partner=rss&emc=rss

F-16s and OHP Frigates are already arriving in summer so are they talking of additional equipment?

PAF ACM actually taking part in High Mark 2010

World has always benefited from Pakistan-US partnership: FM

WASHINGTON, March 24 (APP): Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi on Tuesday said Pakistan-US partnership is in the interest of the world as he underscored the need for long-term strategic relationship between the two allies.He was speaking at Pakistan Day reception at the Pakistani embassy by Ambassador Husain Haqqani. The reception was attended by top American officials including President Obama’s National Security Adviser James Jones, lawmakers, US ambassador in Islamabad Anne Paterson, and Washington-based diplomats from several foreign missions.

Defense Minister Ahmed Mukhtar, Chief of the Army Staff Gen Ashfaq Parvez Kayani, Finance Adviser Abdul Hafeez Shaikh and federal secretaries, who are here for the Strategic Dialogue with the United States, attended the reception.
“Whenever the United States and Pakistan have partnered the world has benefited,” Qureshi remarked, addressing the gathering.
He said during the last year or so Pakistan has made substantial progress in several fields including economy and democratic reforms despite facing many challenges and the country’s armed forces have fought militants successfully.
“I am here to build a partnership with the United States based on mutual trust, confidence and shared objectives.
“We have made progress in Pakistan and the world is acknowledging our sacrifices.
“We are ready to deliver, we are ready to move, let’s build a partnership which is lasting,” he stated.
Pakistan’s ambassador to the United States Husain Haqqani, earlier, welcomed the gathering which included Congressman Chris Van Hollen, Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee, Deputy Secretary of State Jack Lew, Chief of the US Air Force General Norton Schwatz and several other senior Pentagon and State Department officials.
The top Pakistani officials also exchanged views with National Security Adviser James Jones on bolstering bilteral relaionship in a range of areas.

http://www.app.com.pk/en_/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=99202&Itemid=2

U.S. Naval Academy Hosts Pakistan’s Chief of Naval Staff

ANNAPOLIS, Md. (NNS) — Pakistan’s Chief of Naval Staff Adm. Noman Bashir visited the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Md., March 22, to meet with U.S. Navy midshipmen and observe how the academy educates and trains future U.S. Navy and Marine Corps officers.

Bashir was greeted upon arrival at the academy by Commandant of Midshipmen Rear Adm. (select) Matthew Klunder.

“Pakistan is one of only two countries that have four midshipmen at the United States Naval Academy,” said Klunder. “That shows how strong our partnership is and we hope to continue that partnership in the Navy and at the Naval Academy for years to come.”

The academy’s director of international programs briefed Bashir on how the institution’s academic and officer development programs. The presentation also described how students from Pakistan are fully integrated into the Brigade of Midshipmen.

“We are very proud of the young men you are sending us,” said Klunder to Bashir. “They’ve been exceptional ambassadors for your country.”

Bashir is in the United States on a ten-day visit at the invitation of the U.S. Navy. While there, he is scheduled to meet with various U.S. military and government officials to discuss opportunities for continued coordination and cooperation between the U.S. and Pakistan navies

http://www.navy.mil/search/display.asp?story_id=52113

If you spent a couple of minutes googling before making your proclamations you would find many sources that bellie your assertions.

Here is one for a start.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/07/19/AR2005071901847.html

And please dont tell me that the Washington Post is part of the Indian Press.

If you spent more time reading the actual articles you post.

Firstly, this was 5 years ago, secondly, and I will highlight this for you so you can try and comprehend it

“But Pentagon officials said they considered many of the potential sales, including anti-submarine patrol aircraft that could spot Chinese submarines in the Indian Ocean and Aegis radar for Indian destroyers operating in the strategic Straits of Malaka, as useful for monitoring the Chinese military.”

Nice try…..

While there have been some reports regarding the Kitty Hawk most here knew it was just speculation.

As for PAC 3 being offered to India you can either google or check the last few issues of dti (hardly Indian)

AEGIS has been offer to India for ages ;). So much so that Lockheed made RAdm Catherine Page wrote an article on Force magazine last month about it.

Your bias is amazing 🙂

As for SPYDER israelis often operate the best weapon systems which are battle proven and developed and often they are not exported.

Again, apart from Indian press, no reliable source is qouting PAC3 or AEGIS. As you admitted, Kitty Hawk was speculation so lets wait for something more reliable. Dont want egg on our faces again….

Yes, Israelis have produced some great kit, but not everything they make is a wonder weapon, and SPYDER has certainly not seen battle, so lets not start comparing a system that

1) Is not in service anywhere yet
2) Has not been ordered by the IDF itself

to NATO systems in use by several countries.

Please (and I so want to hear this one!), how did you come up with this conclusion!?

Another deal for 3 more was signed with 3 more as option ,bringing total Phalcon to 6 +3(optional).While DRDO developed AWACS will be inducted in numbers starting 2013.

The lights are on, but the house was emptied years ago huh?

I was responding to the article which incorrectly claimed that 2 AWACs can provide coverage on 2 fronts. Let me guess, you have a math equation showing me I am wrong?

PS extra 3 have not been signed for. Please check facts before posting.