US respects but resists some PCNS recommendations

Talking to Dunya News on Thursday, Cameron Munter disclosed the secret of convincing Maulana Fazalur Rehman and Nawaz Sharif about PCNS recommendations.“What magic did you play on Maulana Fazlur Rehman and leaders of other political parties to persuade them to evolve consensus on parliament’s recommendation, asked the reporter of Dunya News.Cameron avoided answering the question, saying meaning of his name in the Urdu language was “Jantar Mantar” (Magician).The US envoy said that it would be premature to say anything about halt in US drone attacks on Pakistani soil. Answering a question, Munter said that the US was not using any Pakistani airbase.The US ambassador also gave a vague answer to a question about how many US intelligence officials were operating in Pakistan.He said US might not agree to all the recommendations proposed by Pakistan’s Parliamentary Committee on National Security however it will negotiate after the final decision on the recommendations.Responding to a query, Munter said he wants to know about the agreements which would be suspended after the final approval of the recommendations.He said US expressed its regret several times over the Salala incident. It was not a deliberate act but just an accident, the US envoy said.Stressing the need for mending fences before it was too late, Munter said US was ready to hammer out all the bones of contention including drone attacks.Expressing his grief on Siachen tragedy, he said US would always stand by Pakistan in the hour of need.“US offered Pakistan help in the search & rescue operation, which it welcomed as a token of goodwill, other nations have also stepped forward in this regard”, Munter said.Responding to another question regarding PK-Iran gas pipeline, Cameron Munter said that Pakistan is a sovereign country and it is free to take decisions to meet its demand in energy sector.