With United States-Pakistan relations at an all time low, the top American diplomat in Islamabad has called for a 'renewal' of ties with Islamabad, even as he called India a 'natural friend'.
"America and Pakistan need to work together on common issues, and we have many. It remains vital to us both to see progress in Pakistan and the region, in the interest of peace, stability, and prosperity of Pakistan and its neighbours. In all these areas, I stress one word: renewal," US Ambassador to Pakistan Cameron Munter said on Monday.
He added, "Why renewal? We've had some difficult days in the recent past. Those problems have been acute in recent months, symbolised by the case of Raymond Davis."
"In the ensuing weeks, I believe both sides have reflected on the importance of our ties, and how we must not let this very regrettable incident stop us as we work together for Pakistan's bright future with America's determined help. Instead, let us look for renewal," he said.
Davis's arrest took bilateral relations to a new low and led to the suspension of cooperation between the intelligence agencies of Pakistan and the US.
Davis was pardoned and freed by a Pakistani court after over $2 million was paid to the families of the men he killed under a 'blood money' deal.
Munter, who was speaking in an interaction at the Institute of Strategic Studies said, "I am going to emphasise some of the areas where we have a strong partnership, and our renewed commitment to make it even stronger."
He also said Pakistan and India are "natural friends" of the US, which is attempting to strike a balance between the South Asian neighbours as it focuses on key regional objectives like fighting extremism in Afghanistan.
"We are natural friends with both Pakistan and India. We are doing our best to balance between both. Pakistan and India are different, but equal. For us a strategic relationship is an enduring relationship," he said during an interaction at the Institute of Strategic Studies in Islamabad.
The envoy, who spoke on the theme 'Pakistan-US: A way forward', was responding to a question on former US Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage's remarks that America's relationship with India is natural while that with Pakistan is need-based.
Munter contended that Armitage's comments reflected the change in India-US relations and 'an adjustment' that occurred in the 1990s.
During his address, Munter said the US applauds discussions between Pakistan and India on matters as diverse as "possibilities for economic development and commercial exchange" to security issues.
