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Pakistan refuses to welcome US special envoy: Daily

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Islamabad, Jan 18, IRNA -- Pakistani leading news daily on Wednesday reported that the US State Department has confirmed that Pakistan had asked US not to send its special envoy to the country.

Daily ‘Dawn’ reported that Marc Grossman had to visit Pakistan for consultation on exploratory talks with the Taliban.

The report added that Mr Grossman is consulting US allies in Middle East on a move to involve the Taliban in the Afghan reconciliation process.

“We received word that the Pakistani government felt that it would be best to wait until this parliamentary review is concluded,” State Department spokesman Mark Toner told a briefing in Washington.

The strike on November 26 has changed Pakistan mode to close supply line for US-led NATO forces in Afghanistan and the country’s decision to vacate strategically important Shamsi airbase in Balochistan.

The US used the airbase for nearly 10 years for military operations in Afghanistan and spy aircraft strikes in Pakistan tribal regions.

Pakistan and the US have an uneasy relationship for decades but the US military unilateral raid to kill Osama bin Laden in Abbotabad sparked anger in both countries.

State Department spokesman Mark Toner told a briefing in Washington that Pakistan continued to have “a central role” in the Afghan reconciliation process despite the challenges the two sides had faced in the past months.

At the State Department briefing, journalists pointed out that Pakistan is imposing new restrictions on Nato supplies to Afghanistan.

Pakistani public has thrown its support behind the leadership in its changed mode towards the US and its Western allies and many analysts has suggested to the government to reject US aid and adopt policy of self-reliance.

In every public opinion surveys either conducted in the US or Pakistan, majority does not like the US and its policy towards Pakistan and the Muslims.

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Islamic Republic News Agency/IRNA NewsCode: 30771623