Posted on 05/21/2012 11:29:09 AM PDT by SunkenCiv
President Obama won't meet with Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari. U.S. officials are furious over Pakistan's refusal to reopen supply routes to Afghanistan...
Aides said Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta planned to meet with officials from five Central Asian countries that have provided an alternative, but considerably more expensive, northern land route for NATO supplies since Pakistan closed its roads after U.S. airstrikes killed 24 Pakistani soldiers in November.
After weeks of closed-door negotiations with Zardari's government, U.S. officials did not deny that they are seeking to send the Pakistanis a public message.
"If they're feeling a little bit of pressure this weekend, they should," said a U.S. official, who requested anonymity because of diplomatic sensitivities. "The U.S. and NATO are ready to move beyond this issue."
During the summit, North Atlantic Treaty Organization nations are expected to ratify a U.S.-backed plan to withdraw most of the 130,000 foreign troops by the end of 2014 and then provide the government in Kabul with billions of dollars in military aid to battle the Taliban insurgency.
(Excerpt) Read more at latimes.com ...
Whoops, that was an AP photo, as it turned out, so here’s a successful ping.
Bambi does it again!
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