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Politics : Politics for Pros- moderated -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Bridge Player who wrote (494034)	7/3/2012 1:00:41 PM
From: Brian Sullivan	Respond to of 793916

Clinton apologizes to Pakistan, announces supply route deal Secretary of State Hillary Clinton apologized Tuesday for a November attack by U.S. forces that left 24 Pakistani troops dead. "I once again reiterated our deepest regrets for the tragic incident in Salala last November," Clinton said in a statement about her call with Pakistani foreign minister Rabbani Khar. "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," Clinton said. The Salala incident involved NATO helicopters crossing into Pakistan from Afghanistan, and engaging Pakistani troops at two border crossings while conducting operations against Afghani Taliban forces. The NATO air forces claimed that they had come under fire and were only defending Afghan troops on the ground. Until now, the administration has declined to apologize — citing an ongoing investigation. Clinton also announced Tuesday that an agreement had been reached with Pakistan over supply routes — a longstanding source of tension between Washington and Islamabad. Those overland supply routes have been closed ever since the attack. "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," Clinton said in a statement. "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," Clinton said. The attack and the ensuing dispute over the supply routes, along with occasional border incursions by U.S. drones and commando units, have strained relations between the U.S. and a former close ally. politico.com