The visiting US senator John Kerry Monday said that his country understands that the issue of sovereignty is critical for Pakistan.
Addressing the media here, John Kerry said Osama bin Laden’s presence in Pakistan had given rise to a number of questions.
He said it was Osama bin Laden who violated the sovereignty of Pakistan.
John Kerry said only a handful of people knew about the Abbottabad operation, so much so that even General Petraeus had no knowledge of it until the last moment. The operation had to be kept classified in view of the safety of the US soldiers, he added.
He said President Obama did not want to lose Osama and added that Pakistan and America were facing a common foe in the shape of terrorism.
Osama bin Laden was responsible for the deaths of 35,000 Pakistanis and a mastermind violence that killed 3,000 Americans, John Kerry said.
He said he apprised General Kayani and Lt General Pasha of the apprehensions of the Americans. There is a pressure for suspending Pakistan’s aid, however the projects under Kerry-Lugar Bill will continue unaffected, he added.
The US senator was of the view that Pak-US relations held great importance. Pakistan people will not be left in the lurch … long-term relations will be maintained with Pakistan, he added.
He said Pakistan had rendered supreme sacrifices in the war on terror. We cannot forget that 35,000 Pakistanis sacrificed their lives in this battle, he said.
