Resumption of strategic dialogue to boost Pak-US ties

ISLAMABAD:  A revival of strategic dialogue between Pakistan and the United States next month, recent important visits from US military officials and various other acts of goodwill can be expected from the US in the near future, sources in Pakistan’s embassy in Washington. 
DC have told to our correspond.

The goodwill gestures are being expected in the aftermath of the cessation of a ban on the ground lines of communication through Pakistan that had lasted for 7 months.
Sources from both sides confirmed that top officials from both countries have agreed to take advantage of the 67th United Nations General Assembly session, falling next month in New York, to give a fresh start to the strategic dialogue between both countries.
Sources stationed at the Presidency in Islamabad.
 “President Asif Ali Zardari will attend the United Nations General Assembly this time as all preparations indicate that there are bright chances to have bilateral meetings with different heads of states but a meeting with the US president is also on the cards”.
Regarding the process of the revival of bilateral ties between the two allies, the US initiated a goodwill message to Pakistan through diplomatic channels stating that “the US is serious in rejuvenation of the torn relations with Pakistan as the Salala incident had brought great damage not only to the existing strong relationship (with Pakistan) but also to the war efforts against terror.”
Similar views were surfacing at Pakistan’s Foreign Office (FO) regarding the expected talks: “We also want to give a fresh start to the ties with the US as there is no use of lingering on issues that have already been settled by both of us, therefore, an agenda for the revival of strategic dialogue is being chalked out in both countries as of now,” an FO official said.
“Keeping in view the tension that erupted between Pakistan and the US since the Raymond Davis issue, Osama bin Laden’s killing and the Salala episode, we hope that the US will have a realistic approach in addressing all issues,” the official went on to say.
During the next strategic dialogue rounds, he said, Pakistan’s tentative focus will be mainly on the social sector and non-security related areas specifically. As many as 11 core groups are part of the strategic dialogue process, including economy and trade, energy, defence, security, strategic stability and non-proliferation, law enforcement and counter-terrorism, science and technology, education, agriculture, water, health and communication, and public diplomacy.
It was learnt that Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar, along with Foreign Secretary Jalil Abbas Jilani, is likely to visit Washington in September to finalise the agenda and to discuss other pending issues for the fourth ministerial session of the strategic dialogue.

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Energy aid: US releases $280m for two key dam projects

 
The United States has released $280 million in immediate funds to support improvements in Mangla Dam and complete due diligence on the Kurram Tangi Dam on Friday. The funds are expected to contribute towards increasing electricity supply to the national grid and help overcome the burgeoning energy crisis in the country.
A statement released by the US embassy said that relieving Pakistan’s energy crisis was a top priority for the US civilian assistance program, citing the release of funds as the “latest example of the United States’ long-term and enduring support for Pakistan’s energy sector and for the people of Pakistan”.
Under the Kerry-Lugar funding, United States has been supporting large scale, impact-oriented infrastructure projects aimed at meeting the energy shortfall in Pakistan. The projects, meant to increase energy production as well as improve electricity distribution, are expected to add 900 megawatts to the national grid by 2013.
The financing for dam projects follows United States existing support in the Gomal Zam Dam, Satpara Dam, and Tarbela Dam projects which will generate 120 megawatts upon completion.
“Our institutional support ranges from improving the governance of the power sector to strengthening the performance of Pakistan’s power distribution companies. We are helping develop new policies to rationalise pricing, reduce subsidies, increase revenues, and improve the distribution of energy resources,” the statement added.
This latest tranche of funding follows the release of $1.1 billion in the long overdue Coalition Support Funds (CSF) on Thursday demonstrating a marked improvement in bilateral relations between Pakistan and the United States.
The CSF funds, along with other financial disbursements, had been halted after relations between the two countries soured in the aftermath of the Salala attack. However, the reopening of Nato supply routes have resulted in continous US assistance towards infrastructure projects in the country.

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ISI chief to discuss drones with US

Pakistan's head of intelligence will next week visit the United States to resume talks on drone strikes, the thorniest aspect of Pakistani-US relations, an official said Wednesday.
It is the first time in a year the head of the ISI intelligence agency flies to Washington, signalling a thaw in relations beset by crisis since US troops found and killed Osama bin Laden in Pakistan in May 2011.
Lieutenant General Zaheer ul-Islam, who was appointed in March, will hold talks with CIA director David Petraeus on US drone strikes, counter-terror cooperation and intelligence sharing.
But the battle lines have long been drawn and there is little indication that in the talks next week Pakistan will win any concessions on drones, given the huge level of distrust between Islamabad and Washington.
A senior Pakistani security official said Islam would demand an end to US attacks against the Taliban and Al-Qaeda, and again ask for the means for Pakistan to carry out the attacks instead.
Islamabad has been increasingly vocal in its public opposition to the drones, which leaders quietly approved initially, as its alliance with Washington crashed to its lowest ebb in a decade.
"This visit comes against the backdrop of extensive consultations between civilian and military leadership and the general has been authorised to take a firm stand on drones issue during his talks," the official told.
"We need this precision strike capability to avoid collateral damage and its political fall out. The idea is that the US develops the target and tells us, and we destroy it ourselves," the official added.
Pakistan says American raids are a violation of sovereignty and fan anti-US sentiment.
But US officials are understood to believe the attacks too important to give up, although the number as declined as relations have nosedived.

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