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Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and her Pakistani counterpart Shah Mahmoud Qureshi would be co-chairing the day-long meeting on March 24. ISI chief Shuja Pasha will also be part of the Pakistani delegation.
"How can you have a strategic dialogue without including the military," Special US Representative for Pakistan and Afghanistan, Richard Holbrooke, told reporters here.
"If we have a strategic dialogue in our country, we're going to include the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of staff or some other representative. So we are very pleased that General Kayani is part of this delegation. We think that it's one country, one government, one team. It was their decision, and we welcomed it," Holbrooke said.
Responding to a question, Holbrooke said the strategic dialogue with Pakistan is not at the expense of India or any other country.
"We have an important strategic dialogue with India and with other countries, including China. (It) makes it all the more important we have one with Pakistan. But this is a bilateral dialogue. This strategic dialogue with Pakistan is not at the expense of any other country in the region," he said.
Holbrooke said the strategic dialogue means that the two countries talk about their basic core objectives, which is defeating, destroying al-Qaeda, helping the Afghans become self-reliant so they can take care of their own security and strengthening Pakistan's ability to own security, development, strengthening democratic institutions.
"So we need to sit down with our Pakistani friends and hear their points of view and give ours. Now, we've all been going to Islamabad and they've all been coming here," he said, adding beyond the strategic discussions, the broad range discussions include moving into operational things in areas like water, energy and other issues.
Holbrooke said the next round of US-Pakistan strategic dialogue would be held in Islamabad in next six months.
The Pakistani delegation of the next week's meeting include Qureshi, Kayani, Pasha, Minister of Defence Ahmed Mukhtar and Foreign Secretary Salman Bashir, among others.
The US delegation would be led by Clinton and will include Secretary of Defence Robert Gates, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Admiral Mike Mullen and US Ambassador to Pakistan Anne Patterson, among others.
Meanwhile, a Canada-based Pashtun organisation urged the Obama Administration to include their representatives in the crucial US-Pak strategic dialogue.
"Pushtuns demand the inclusion of representatives from FATA (Federally Administered Tribal Areas in Pakistan), Pukhtunkhwa and other Pushtun representatives in this significant dialogue, otherwise Pashtuns will denounce any outcome that is against their interests," Toronto-based Pashtun Peace Forum said.
Even the Chairman of the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Asfandyar Wali Khan, is excluded from the dialogue, it said.
"We suspect because he represents Pushtuns, who have a somewhat different approach towards relations with India and Afghanistan (than the Pakistani establishment)," the Peace Forum said.
"Exclusion of Pashtuns would mean that both the US and Pakistan's Punjabi-dominant establishment are unlikely to be in a position to solve the current crisis in these areas," it said, adding that such an approach "can benefit Taliban and al-Qaeda."
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USA finally declared that Pakistan is in the hands of military rulers and hi-jacked by the terrorists and Other officials of Pakistan as ornamental.USA itself is also seems to hi-jacked by these elements due to 'Laden'factor.China is a country who never care USA ,but staying happily.USA is hinting for such talks our 'Military personnel' may attend and hear them.Already few days back USA anticipated an out-break of approching War-shadows between India and Pakistan.
A strategic Dialogue with pak and not with India, India is quite and not a least for each and everything, this strategy of US and pak towards India must seize, when India comprehend of this foreign policy of both of them, India would be able to deal with its own policy and would not be depended and humiliated by any country once and all the time to come. This is not only pak`s terrorist issue but unfortunately an issue of India`s SOVEREIGNTY.
if inspite telling india that the talk is not at expence of india or any third country, i will be surprised if there are quite a few items that wil be in final communiqae. for eg pakistan already ill get ( or alrwedy got drones) and laser directed bombs supposed to tbe to fight alqueda or taliban . next request will be bunker busting boms again to bust open caves od talibanI hope mrs clinton and mr gates and mullen will focus talks on pakistans fight with alqueda and taliban and never even indirectly mention india or kashmir . if pakistan brings up the toppic usa should politely refuseotherwise indo usa friendhip will go backwardsa
Why Indians can not see that Gawd has a plan for them, which USA is implementing? They must realise that secular forces of Christianity and Islam are blessed by Gawd and Allaha and there complaints are not going well with them. Have this candy and keep quite.
What a joke. You must gave begged for the candy from America. Pakistan basically lives on handouts from the US & China. I think you need the candy more than anybody else.
Why we as a self respecting country, the largest democracy in the world depends on every aspect on the US. The US will only do what is in their best interests. I am appalled at the attitude of successive Govt's. For every thing concerning a third country like Pak we rush like a small child to the Americans crying that child has taken my pencil. It is not going to work. Become independent of the US viz-a-viz policy matters. The US can only give you technology that too if they wish to and nothing else. Do you have the strength to develop own weapons technology or space tchnology, if you have then develop your own systems. Like it is not in Pakistans interest to be at peace with India, it is in American intrest as well to keep this pot boiling, they will never reign in Pak terror as long as it does not hit them. They are in Afghanistan only because of AlQueda, who hit them. If tomorrow it is Pakistan, they will never spare them as well. That is how the Americans work.
This is the right move by US, India also talk only with Pak army and ISI because they are real power in Pakistan.
The Cat is out of Bag. The US realizes that any dialogue with the elected government,with out the involvement of the ISI Chief Gen. Pasha and the ARmy Chief Gen. Kiyani is of NO USE Because the real power is with the Army.Zardari, Gilani and Qureshi are fake pictures of Democracy which Pakistan pretends. That's the reason why they can not check the Terrorism emanating from the Pakistan's soil nor they can abandon it's infrastructure. Ha Ha Ha.A recollection: Didn't Manmohan Singh once said we don't know whom to talk to.?
Is America trying to burn both ends of the candle?. They are playing a very dangerous game and stand to loose out with India. Obviously they know they cannot afford this, however they are prepared to take the gamble.