United States Ambassador to Pakistan Cameron Munter has decided to step down this summer after serving less than two years and is likely to be replaced by a diplomat serving in Afghanistan, a move that comes at a time when the bilateral ties are at a critical juncture.
Cameron Munter, former United States ambassador to Pakistan, is optimistic that under the new leadership of Nawaz Sharif, a rapprochement between New Delhi and Islamabad may be on the cards.
Supplies for North Atlantic Treaty Organisation forces in Afghanistan are being transported through Pakistani airspace though land supply routes were closed by Islamabad last year, United States Ambassador Cameron Munter has said.
The United States has said Pakistan's civil and military leadership should have "its writ on its soil", making it clear that Islamabad needs to take more steps to tackle terrorism.
The growing influence of the Central Intelligence Agency and Pentagon in shaping relations with Pakistan was a key reason behind United States Ambassador Cameron Munter's decision to quit his post, the media in Islamabad claimed on Wednesday.
The United States government did not announce any bounty for Jamaat-ud Dawa Chief Hafiz Saeed, suspect in the Mumbai terror attacks, American Ambassador to Pakistan Cameron Munter has said, blaming Pakistani media for "misreporting" the issue.
US Ambassador Cameron Munter on Tuesday said that the American administration was prepared to help in any probe by Pakistan into the secret memorandum that purportedly sought US help to prevent a military takeover in the country.
The Lashkar-e-Tayiba founder Hafiz Mohammad Saeed has served legal notices on two Pakistani journalists for allegedly concocting a report about his secret meeting with United States Ambassador Cameron Munter, seeking Rs 10 crore as damages.
As Hafiz Saeed openly made fun of Washington over announcing a bounty on a man who moved freely across Pakistan, Munter, who is known for his conciliatory approach, decided to pacify the JuD chief in a one-on-one meeting in Islamabad which was kept secret and which is still not being confirmed officially by either side, reports Amir Mir from Islamabad
"Munter announced to his staff Monday morning that he was stepping down this summer after serving less than two years on the job," the Washington Post reported, saying that the word was that he wasn't a good fit with the Pakistani government.
The United States has ramped up pressure on Pakistan over the issue of an American arrested for gunning down two men in Lahore, with Secretary of State Hillary Clinton sending a message to President Asif Ali Zardari seeking his release, diplomatic sources said on Tuesday.
The United States on Monday said it will vacate the Shamsi airbase in Balochistan, believed to be used by the Central Investigation Agency-operated drones, by December 11 deadline set by Pakistan following the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation strike that killed 24 of its soldiers.
The United States on Wednesday expressed its gratitude to the families of two Pakistani men gunned down by Central Intelligence Agency contractor Raymond Davis for pardoning him and said the Department of Justice was investigating the shooting incident.
Munter, confirmed by the US Senate last week, would replace Anne Paterson in Islamabad.
The US stepped up pressure on Pakistan to get access to disgraced nuclear scientist A Q Khan, accused of proliferating nuke technologies to Iran and North Korea, for questioning.
Pakistan will have to decide on the issue of conducting a joint operation with the United States against Taliban and the Al Qaeda leaders like Mullah Omar and Ayman al-Zawahiri if they are found in the country, AmericanAmbassador Cameron Munter said on Monday.
US President Barack Obama has nominated veteran diplomat David Hale as the next ambassador to Pakistan.
Noting that Pakistan's Prime Minister-elect Nawaz Sharif appears to be sincere in his effort to improve relationship with India, a former top American diplomat has said he might not be able to do much unless he brings on board the powerful military.
Council on Foreign Relations Senior Fellow Daniel Markey Tuesday said that the raising of the issue of American intervention in Jammu and Kashmir by visiting Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif at the United States Institute of Peace in Washington was not 'especially constructive' and was motivated by political expediency.
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