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Kerry Says US Relations With Pakistan at Critical Moment

   VOA News  May 15, 2011
   US Senator John Kerry in Kabul, Afghanistan, May 15, 2011

Photo: AP

   US Senator John Kerry in Kabul, Afghanistan, May 15, 2011

   U.S. Senator John Kerry says America's relations with Pakistan are at a
   "critical moment" and the two counties need to resolve some "very
   serious issues."
   Kerry made the remarks to reporters Sunday in Kabul, the Afghan
   capital, in advance of his trip to Pakistan. The senator arrived in
   Pakistan's capital, Islamabad, late Sunday, becoming the most senior
   U.S. official to visit the country since U.S. special forces killed
   al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden in Abbottabad on May 2.
   Abbottabad is located just 50 kilometers from Pakistan's capital and
   there have been suggestions that Pakistani intelligence must have known
   of bin Laden's years-long presence in the military garrison city.
   Kerry, who heads the powerful Senate Foreign Relations Committee, in
   earlier remarks, said the United States wants Pakistan to be what he
   called a "real ally" in the fight against terrorism. The Democrat from
   Massachusetts said there are "things that can be done better" in the
   U.S.-Pakistani relationship and that the United States wants to build
   on that relationship.
   On Saturday, Pakistan's parliament adopted a resolution condemning the
   U.S. raid as a violation of the country's sovereignty while calling for
   an independent commission to investigate the incident.
   The measure was passed after Pakistan's military and intelligence
   officials briefed lawmakers on their failure to find bin Laden or
   detect the U.S. operation that killed him.
   Kerry arrived in Afghanistan on Saturday. He held talks with Afghan
   President Hamid Karzai and met with some of the 130,000 troops
   stationed in the country.
   The senator's travel plans were not announced in advance for security
   reasons.

   Some information for this report was provided by AP, AFP and Reuters.

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