There have been various signs over the past week the relationship between the United States and the Pakistan is on the mend. The resumption of drone attacks is the most evident. Ten militants were killed near Miramshah in Waziristan on Wednesday after missiles hit their compound. The next day, AQ/TTP member Badar Mansoor was killed inside Miramshah. As he was blamed for attacks that killed dozens of Pakistanis, Pakistani officials were most likely happy to see him go and have thus far not spoken out against the strike.
On Tuesday, Pakistani Defense Minister Ahmad Mukhtar voiced support for reopening NATO supply routes to Afghanistan closed after a November 2011 NATO-Afghan cross border attack killed 24 Pakistani soldiers. Pakistan's National Assembly is set to debate reopening the route, albeit for a price.
Incredibly importantly, there are reports the Obama administration is considering a public apology for the November raid, for which it has thus far only expressed "deep regret." The NYT quoted a State Department official as saying, "We've felt an apology would be helpful in creating some space." I'd be interested in hearing the military's take on the apology, whether or not there has been a shift toward supporting such a gesture. It is my understanding the military at the time was not incredibly excited about the possibility of an apology, judging by the murky role Pakistani forces play in the Afghanistan war. It probably doesn't help that US forces along the border have long suspected Pakistani forces have been attacking them from the safety of Pakistani border posts
US Centcom commander General Mattis is scheduled to visit Islamabad for talks with Pakistan's army chief General Kayani next week. I'd hardly expect a kumbaya, but I guess it's good to move back to being frenemies instead of enemies.
On Tuesday, Pakistani Defense Minister Ahmad Mukhtar voiced support for reopening NATO supply routes to Afghanistan closed after a November 2011 NATO-Afghan cross border attack killed 24 Pakistani soldiers. Pakistan's National Assembly is set to debate reopening the route, albeit for a price.
Incredibly importantly, there are reports the Obama administration is considering a public apology for the November raid, for which it has thus far only expressed "deep regret." The NYT quoted a State Department official as saying, "We've felt an apology would be helpful in creating some space." I'd be interested in hearing the military's take on the apology, whether or not there has been a shift toward supporting such a gesture. It is my understanding the military at the time was not incredibly excited about the possibility of an apology, judging by the murky role Pakistani forces play in the Afghanistan war. It probably doesn't help that US forces along the border have long suspected Pakistani forces have been attacking them from the safety of Pakistani border posts
US Centcom commander General Mattis is scheduled to visit Islamabad for talks with Pakistan's army chief General Kayani next week. I'd hardly expect a kumbaya, but I guess it's good to move back to being frenemies instead of enemies.
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