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US building strong base for Pak-US relations: Hillary

* US secretary of state says reaction in Pakistan positive
* Comment on Qaeda not meant to doubt Islamabad’s anti-terror commitment

WASHINGTON: Describing the response to her candid engagement with Pakistan’s civil society as “overwhelmingly positive”, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on Thursday said America is building a strong base for ties with Pakistan.

“The reaction that I got in Pakistan was overwhelmingly positive and I’ve been reading a lot of blogs and the reaction of the press in part because they’re not used to anyone from the US government coming and opening herself to their concerns,” Clinton told the National Public Radio while travelling to Cairo.

“They’re just used to having somebody say, take it or leave it, with us or against us, go forward or not. I think we’re building a stronger base for our relationship,” she said.

Al Qaeda: Hillary argued that her remarks on Islamabad not being aware of whereabouts of Al Qaeda leaders were not meant to doubt the government’s anti-terror commitment, but were part of an open conversation with the people of the country regarding each other’s concerns.

“The whole purpose of my trip was to try to clear the air with the Pakistani people and government, to reassert our support, particularly in this very difficult conflict they’re engaged in with the Taliban, and to listen and absorb all the criticism they have.”

“They had this sort of pent-up frustration against the US. And as you know and as you saw, I listened, understood and tried to convey answers to all their questions about our policy.”

“But at the same time, I wanted to stress that we’re looking for a partnership, and they have to listen to our concerns as well as we listen to their concerns.” app

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