Afghan endgame: Pakistan prefers to watch and wait on US drawdown

Foreign ministry shares Islamabad’s anxiety over Obama’s plans, especially the deflection of blame for insurgency.

ISLAMABAD: 

Pakistan has ‘serious concerns’ on certain issues concerning US plans for the future of Afghanistan following President Barack Obama’s announcement of a phased withdrawal of 33,000 troops by September 2012.

While Kabul and major world capitals welcomed Obama’s decision, Islamabad offered a guarded response and stopped short of giving any explicit statement.

Instead, the foreign ministry said in a terse statement that Pakistan has “ongoing engagement on issues of peace and reconciliation in Afghanistan and counter-terrorism”.

“We will have the opportunity

Article source: http://tribune.com.pk/story/195295/afghan-endgame-pakistan-prefers-to-watch-and-wait-on-us-drawdown/