WikiLeaks revelations “don’t change anything fundamental” in US-Pak ties: Holbrooke

WASHINGTON - The White House is confident that the US-Pakistan ties will withstand any negative effect emanating from the diplomatic cables released by WikiLeaks, US Special Representative Richard Holbrooke has said, while vowing continued efforts towards building mutual trust.

“These dreadful leaks, these appalling leaks, which are so unfortunate, are not going to change US-Pakistan relations. We will continue to advance the ties,” the Daily Times quoted Holbrooke, who had talked to the top Pakistani civilian and military leadership before the release of classified cables, as saying.

“I was at a high-level meeting at the White House this morning. That was one of the main conclusions of the meeting that whatever these WikiLeaks have to say, they don’t change anything fundamental in our relationship,” the diplomat said in an interview.

When asked about the confusion emanating from the disclosure of classified documents and the need to build mutual trust, he said, “We have been developing mutual confidence ever since President Obama took office last year. That will continue.”

Speaking in the backdrop of media stories questioning the security of Pakistani nuclear arsenal on the basis of a cable attributed to former ambassador Anne Paterson, Holbrooke also reaffirmed the Obama administration’s confidence in the safety of Pakistani nuclear assets.

However, he would not comment on the contents of any specific cable because “we haven’t had a chance to compare what has been released. There are too many of them (cables) so they may be doctored or whatever.”

“Having said that, let me say that the conversation in question took place a long time ago, the (early) days when we took office. We’ve spent a great deal of time, talking to our Pakistani friends about this. And as President Obama and Secretary Clinton have said repeatedly, we believe that the Pakistani government and those in charge of its arsenal have taken safeguards which are reassuring to us,” Holbrooke said. (ANI)