Emmie
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WASHINGTON: The United States (US) believes Pakistans cooperation remains vital to American national security even as it has issues at times with the country, the White House said amid reports of improved counter-terror collaboration between the two sides.
The cooperation we have with Pakistan is extremely important in terms of our national security objectives, in terms of protecting Americans, in terms of taking the fight to al Qaeda, and thats why we continue to work with the Pakistanis and try to build on that cooperation, Jay Carney, President Obamas spokesman said.
(Read: Islamabad, Washington rebuilding ties: Clapper)
The White House press secretary was responding to a question at the daily briefing in the backdrop of the latest strains in US-Pakistan ties, appearing after Washingtons assertions that Pakistani security organisations backed militant Haqqani groups activities in Afghanistan.
Islamabad has strongly rejected any such assertions.
At the briefing, Carney noted the United States which has relied on Pakistan for enforcing security along the porous Afghan border as well as for transporting NATO and US supplies to landlocked Afghanistan in the decade-old conflict has an important relationship with Pakistan.
We have had enormous successes through our cooperation with Pakistan, the spokesman said, echoing President Obamas remarks at a press conference on Thursday that the US could not have succeeded in crushing al Qaeda in Pakistan-Afghanistan border region without Islamabads cooperation.
(Read: 10 years on: Karzai admits security failure, Obama touts progress)
However, Carneys comments also acknowledged disagreements existing on some issues between the two countries. We have also made clear that we have issues with Pakistan at times, and that it is a complicated relationship. And I think the President addressed that very clearly and fully yesterday in his press conference.
On Friday, Director of National Intelligence James Clapper said in an interview that the intelligence and security organisations of the two countries are rebuilding their ties and revealed that Islamabad has captured five al Qaeda suspects.
Cooperation with Pakistan is extremely important: US – The Express Tribune