Clinton says Pak visit's purpose was to 'clear the air'
Washington: Describing her recent visit to
Islamabad as the one aimed at clearing the air, Secretary of
State Hillary Clinton has said Pakistanis had a "sort of pent-
up frustration" with the US over its policy in the region,
including on the war on terror, which she tried to address.
"The whole purpose of my trip was to try to clear the air
with the Pakistani people and government, to reassert our
support for Pakistan, particularly in this very difficult
conflict they're engaged in with the Taliban, and to listen
and absorb all the criticisms they have," Clinton, who was in
Egypt yesterday, told the popular National Public Radio in an
interview from Cairo.
"They had this sort of pent-up frustration with the
United States. And as you know and as you saw, I listened ...
and tried to convey understanding of all of their questions
about our policy, going back years," she said.
At the same time, she said, she wanted to stress that the
US was looking for a partnership and that they have to listen
to American concerns as well.
"I feel strongly that as we move forward in these very
complex areas that pose real concerns to our national
security, concerns to partners like Pakistan's security, that
it is important to make clear to the people - not just the
leaders - that we have to speak openly with each other,"
Clinton said.
Bureau Report