SLAMABAD, July 4: Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar denied on Wednesday
any secret deal for reopening Nato supply routes and insisted that the
American `sorry` showed their respect for aspirations of the people of
Pakistan.
`I can today tell the people of Pakistan that US
respects their aspirations as stated by the parliamentary
recommendations,` Ms Khar said at a reception at the US embassy to
celebrate America`s 236th Independence Day.
She described the
breakthrough in ties as a `turning point` and hoped that the new
beginning would translate into a strong friendship.
US Secretary
of State Hillary Clinton said `sorry` on Tuesdayfor the deaths of24
Pakistani troops killed in a border post attack to secure resumption of
Nato supplies. Pakistan was further assured that there would be no
repeat of Salalatype incidents, but the agreement did not touch upon
several other parliamentary demands, including cessation of drone
attacks.
The government ministers, anticipating a strong backlash
by the opposition, however, made it a point to emphasise that the deal
was in accordance with the April 12 parliamentary resolution on new
terms of engagement with the US.
The foreign minister, who looked
upbeat over Tuesday`s developments that led to the reopening of supply
routes, also said she expected that the two coun-tries could convert the
insurmountable challenges in their relationship into new opportunities.
She noted that there was no other option but to work together.
The
foreign minister further said that the progress achieved so far would
now help the two countries to engage seriously on other issues.
Ambassador
Cameron Munter, who will soon be leaving Islamabad, in his brief
comments wished that Pakistan would keep its promise to achieve the
promise made to it by the US.
Earlier in the day, Ms Khar said
there was no `secret agreement` with the US to end the seven-month long
suspension of supply routes.
She rather contended that the US had to `back down`
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