US envoy hopes WikiLeaks leaks won’t hit Pakistan ties
By Awais Saleem, IANSWednesday, December 1, 2010
ISLAMABAD - US Ambassador in Pakistan Cameron Munter has hoped that WikiLeaks’ embarrassing disclosures will “not affect his country’s relationship with Pakistan” as he termed it “unfortunate that WikiLeaks has made classified documents public”.
While talking to media at a ceremony for flood victims in Islamabad Wednesday, Munter said: “I can only say that this is unfortunate”.
“I am sure that this will not affect Pakistan-US bilateral relations which are long-term and strategic,” he said.
The US envoy while deflecting a query on WikiLeaks revelations about Pakistan’s nuclear arsenal said: “Pakistan has an important role to play in the stability of the region and is a vital strategic ally of the United States.”
WikiLeaks has claimed that the US and Britain had deep concerns about Pakistan’s nuclear capability falling into wrong hands and the country had refused requests for inspection visits from the US and Britian.
“We think Pakistan can play a pivotal role in furthering the negotiations process for peace in Afghanistan,” Munter said.
The US envoy also shed light on the resources being mobilised for the US to help build infrastructure in the areas devastated by floods.
The flash floods across Pakistan in July and August played havoc in northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, interior Sindh and south Punjab, leaving more than 1,800 dead and over 20 million homeless. Estimates of $9.5 billion have been made for rehabilitation purposes.
(Awais Saleem can be contacted at ians.pakistan@gmail.com)
