U.S. Senator John Kerry was Monday in Islamabad to try to restore relations between the United States and its key ally, as it arrived at a "defining moment" in Pakistan after the elimination of Osama bin Laden.
The Democratic chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Senate, is the first senior U.S. official to visit Pakistan since a helicopter-borne U.S. commandos killed the leader of al-Qaida May 2 in Abbottabad, a city-garrison two hours drive from Islamabad.
The attack "illegal" according to Islamabad, caused a stir at a population overwhelmingly anti-American, not for the death of bin Laden, who has raised little protest, but for the "violation of sovereignty "Pakistan.
The CIA, who led the operation, confirmed that she had not warned the Pakistani authorities for fear of leakage.U.S. officials have since reported suspicion of "complicity" in the military and intelligence community to explain the presence of brain attacks of Sept. 11 in a city housing more than 10,000 soldiers.
Many parliamentarians in Washington advocated greater severity towards Pakistan, which from the end of 2001, had proclaimed his support for the "war against terrorism" and delivered, since, dozens of senior Al-Qaeda to Americans.
Pakistan, who protested softly since 2004 against the very frequent fire missiles CIA drones targeting the Taliban and Al Qaeda in the tribal areas of north-west frontier with Afghanistan, has raised his voice after the raid cons bin Laden.He threatened to Washington to review its policy of cooperation on counterterrorism if such an incursion occurs.
Their sides, prominent members of Congress calling for cutting funds allocated considerable since late 2001 by the United States to Pakistan to finance its war effort against Al Qaeda and its allies, who have taken refuge in the tribal areas since the invasion of Afghanistan in late 2001.
Washington has given more than $ 18 billion to Pakistan in nearly ten years, mainly as support to his omnipotent army, and in 2009, notably under the leadership of John Kerry, Congress authorized an extension of 7.5 billion over 5 years in civilian aid.
But observers believe it is dangerous for Washington to alienate the only nuclear military power in the Muslim world, inhabited by nearly 180 million inhabitants, when the international coalition comprised two-thirds of U.S. troops bogged down in its war against the Taliban in Afghanistan.
Senator Kerry arrived in Islamabad late Sunday night and a sign that the army who actually run this country according to experts unanimous, he met upon his arrival Gen. Ashfaq Kayani, the all-powerful Chief of Staff , relegating to Monday's meetings with President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani.
The army has assured that General Kayani had conveyed to Mr.Kerry of "intense emotion" has caused the U.S. raid in the army.
"This is a decisive moment in our relationship with Pakistan", said Mr. Kerry on Sunday in Kabul.
Before the death of bin Laden, Washington had always praised the efforts of Islamabad in the fight against al Qaeda but felt that the army does not produce enough effort against the Taliban in Afghanistan in their rear bases in Pakistan.
But Mr. Kerry said that there was evidence that Islamabad "has knowledge of certain activities" of the Taliban on its territory, and that it was "very disturbing". "We must find a way to move forward, if possible.Otherwise, it could be a series of negative consequences that may be important, "he warned.
