'Bumpy road ahead for US-Pak ties'

Washington, Mar.25 (ANI): The United States' cool response to Pakistan's demand of having a India like civil nuclear deal and unmanned Predator drones would play a determining role in future engagements between both countries, officials privy to the first ministerial level strategic dialogue between Washington and Islamabad have said.

Pakistani and US officials said that a "bumpy road lay ahead" with the United States snubbing Pakistan over its ambitious demands.

While Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi described Washington's approach towards Pakistan as a '180-degree difference', experts said that suspicions concerning Islamabad are still to vanish.

Former State Department official, Marvin Weinbaum, said there has been a change in the White House's attitude towards Pakistan, but there still remain some areas of concern.

"I don't think people's suspicions about Pakistan have gone away, but I think there is a new willingness to give them the benefit of the doubt," The News quoted Weinbaum, as saying.

Many foreign officials and analysts have been questioning Pakistan's motivations in Afghanistan, and believe that it is more concerned about preserving its influence in the war torn country than fighting the Taliban and other extremist groups.

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has also clearly pointed out that there have been misunderstandings between both states in the past and that they were likely to continue in future also, but the latest talks should be seen as a positive beginning.

"The two nations have had ... misunderstandings ... and there are sure to be more disagreements in the future as there are between any friends or, frankly, any family members. But this is a new day," Clinton said while speaking during a press conference after meeting Qureshi.

She said that Islamabad must realise that demanding more military and financial assistance would not resolve issues, rather the dialogue between both countries should also include methods to improve the lives of the Pakistani people. (ANI)