Statement by Secretary Clinton on her Call With Pakistani Foreign Minister Khar
Press Statement
Hillary Rodham Clinton
Secretary of StateWashington, DC
July 3, 2012
This morning, I spoke by telephone with Pakistani Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar.
I once again reiterated our deepest regrets for the tragic incident in Salala last November. I offered our sincere condolences to the families of the Pakistani soldiers who lost their lives. Foreign Minister Khar and I acknowledged the mistakes that resulted in the loss of Pakistani military lives. We are sorry for the losses suffered by the Pakistani military. We are committed to working closely with Pakistan and Afghanistan to prevent this from ever happening again.
As I told the former Prime Minister of Pakistan days after the Salala incident, America respects Pakistan’s sovereignty and is committed to working together in pursuit of shared objectives on the basis of mutual interests and mutual respect.
In today’s phone call, Foreign Minister Khar and I talked about the importance of taking coordinated action against terrorists who threaten Pakistan, the United States, and the region; of supporting Afghanistan’s security, stability, and efforts towards reconciliation; and of continuing to work together to advance the many other shared interests we have, from increasing trade and investment to strengthening our people-to-people ties. Our countries should have a relationship that is enduring, strategic, and carefully defined, and that enhances the security and prosperity of both our nations and the region.
The Foreign Minister and I were reminded that our troops – Pakistani and American – are in a fight against a common enemy. We are both sorry for losses suffered by both our countries in this fight against terrorists. We have enhanced our counter-terrorism cooperation against terrorists that threaten Pakistan and the United States, with the goal of defeating Al-Qaida in the region.
In addition, I am pleased that Foreign Minister Khar has informed me that the ground supply lines (GLOC) into Afghanistan are opening. Pakistan will continue not to charge any transit fee in the larger interest of peace and security in Afghanistan and the region. This is a tangible demonstration of Pakistan’s support for a secure, peaceful, and prosperous Afghanistan and our shared objectives in the region. This will also help the United States and ISAF conduct the planned drawdown at a much lower cost. This is critically important to the men and women who are fighting terrorism and extremism in Afghanistan. Foreign Minister Khar has informed me that, consistent with current practice, no lethal equipment will transit the GLOC into Afghanistan except for equipping the ANSF. In concluding the call, I reiterated our deep appreciation to the Government and the people of Pakistan for their many sacrifices and their critical contribution to the ongoing fight against terrorism and extremism.
Lots of wingnutjobbery out there today. But if these folks support our troops, then they should be glad that the supply lines are opening.
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This is the ONLY way we were ever going to get out of Afghanistan,
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[…] Clinton is being credited with saving NATO nations an estimated $100 million a month as a result of her apologetic phone call to Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar. These are not pretty pictures of our […]
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Amazing does not begin to describe Hillary. She is truly gifted beyond description, possessing a vast knowledge base which fuels her unfailing intellect to quickly form a concise, accurate understanding of any given situation. Those qualities coupled with her diplomacy skills result in one valuable, irreplaceable, unparalleled stateswoman.
During her campaign in 2008, I, like all of her supporters, donated as much as I possibly could afford to her campaign. Even though her victory was taken from her, and she did not get to fulfill her destiny and become president (yet), I have never regretted “losing” that money (as a family member put it). I always knew that win or lose, it was a privilege to be able to donate to her campaign, and to work on her behalf. She never lets us down. She never lets her country down.
Even though there seem to be fewer Hillary haters than in the past, it never ceases to amaze me that the ones who are still out there, spouting their negative drivel lack the good sense to see what a great leader she is. She truly has every quality one would want in a leader. I so hope she will occupy the WH at some point in the near future. The woman is a power house. Plus – she just plain rocks!
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I heard Andrea Mitchell say today that Hillary was prepared to issue this apology several times over the past eight months and was reined in by the White House every time. These were not the only such instances either. When she is safely out of Foggy Bottom I intend to review her years there and call this White House on those issues. I believe we would be on different footing with Iran and be closer to Middle East peace if they had given her her head.
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I failed to understand the criticism for the apology in the first place. There were communication problems that resulted in an instance of friendly fire that killed some Pakistani troops. Pakistan had every right to demand an apology and it was only right to give it. It was the fact that they were demanding some crazy fee for the use of these supply lines that was the problem and that has been resolved. Thus, we finally issued the apology. It should not be shocking that, when we mistakenly shoot people, we apologize. I don’t understand what it was about this situation that worked the right wingers up into the frenzy they were in. It seems rather cut and dried to me.
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$5000 per truck. Now no fee. We had been paying $250 before the incident. It’s just sour grapes from the right. We (she) got this solved. Now we can withdraw more easily – although it won’t be THAT easy. These poor truckers are targets for the Taliban and Haggani network – but at least we’re rolling again.
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Agreed.
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