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Pak-US
defense talks stand postponed
WASHINGTON—After the imposition of emergency in the country, the Pak-US
two days Defense talks to be held today (Tuesday) have been postponed.
The annual defense consultation group talks between U.S. and Pakistani
officials had been due to take place in Islamabad on November 6 and 7,
Pentagon press secretary Geoff Morrell told reporters.
The Pakistani side was to be represented by Defense Secretary Kamran
Rasool while Undersecretary of Defense for Policy Eric Edelman was due
to lead the Pentagon delegation at the talks.
However due to the imposition of emergency the two days talks have been
postponed indefinitely.
“In light of President Musharraf’s emergency declaration, it was thought
wise to postpone this meeting until such time that all parties can focus
on the very important issues at hand that they have to discuss,” Morrell
said.
“We hope to reschedule these meetings as soon as conditions are more
conducive to achieving the important objectives at hand,” he told
reporters in Beijing.
The defense talks are held every year and their aim is to increase
cooperation between the two countries in defense and military sectors.
—Agencies
Close liaison with Pak
Army to continue: Pentagon
LONDON—US and British governments will have to continue to rely on
General Musharraf as an ally in both the war against the Taliban in
neighbouring Afghanistan and in the war against al-Qaeda, Western media
reported on Monday.
“One of the worrying factors for Western governments in the present
crisis is the suspected weakness of some elements of the normally
disciplined Pakistani army,” BBC said, adding that recently, 300
soldiers surrendered in South Waziristan. “While condemning the general
for his declaration of emergency, Washington and London perhaps hope
that a by-product might be a stiffening of military resolve in the
struggles that interest them most.” The United States cannot really
afford to alienate the Pakistani military. Secretary of State
Condoleezza Rice threatened on Sunday to review US aid to Pakistan,
which amounts to about $11bn (£5.27bn) since September 11 2001 - most of
it military. But she later added that she would be “very surprised” if
cooperation on counterterrorism was affected.—Agencies
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