Busan: US Secretary of State
Hillary Clinton on Wednesday voiced regret that Pakistan had
announced a boycott of a meeting on Afghanistan in Germany and
urged it to consider.
Speaking at an aid conference in South Korea, Hillary
reiterated the US stance that the border killing of Pakistani
soldiers was a "tragic incident" and pledged an investigation
"as swiftly and thoroughly as possible."
"Frankly this is regrettable that Pakistan has decided
not to attend the conference in Bonn because this conference
has been long in the planning," Hillary told reporters.
"Pakistan like the United States has a profound interest
in a secure, stable and increasingly democratic Afghanistan,"
Hillary said.
Hillary voiced hope that Pakistan would find a "follow-up
way" to take part in talks on Afghanistan's future.
NATO air strikes killed 24 Pakistani troops on the Afghan
border in disputed circumstances, inflaming new tensions
between Islamabad and the West.
PTI
First Published: Wednesday, November 30, 2011, 10:48