Pakistan and America are both locked in a serious conflict which has been "worsened by the arrogance exhibited by the US", a Pakistani daily said Sunday as it observed that the "already rocky" ties could see "even worse days in times ahead".
An editorial in the News International said Islamabad has refused to take part in a US inquiry into the air strikes that killed 24 Pakistani soldiers Nov 26, "which means that the already rocky Pakistan-US relationship could see even worse days in times ahead".
The NATO air strikes at two Pakistan Army border check-posts in Mohmand Agency sparked outrage in the country. Islamabad promptly cut off NATO supply line through Pakistani territory and decided to boycott a conference in Bonn that would discuss Afghanistan's future.
The editorial said Islamabad's refusal to be part of the US inquiry stems from the argument that "the NATO attacks of 2010 and 2008 were poorly investigated and hence there is an expectation that the third inquiry will be the same -- inconclusive and unsatisfactory".
It said the refusal "does not come as a surprise and in fact Washington says it was expected given that Pakistan has already taken a series of retributive actions, including refusing to budge on its decision to boycott the Bonn conference..."
"As things stand, it is clear that the Pakistani and US sides are both locked in a serious conflict which has been worsened by the arrogance exhibited by the US," it added.
It went on to say that the outrage over the NATO strikes was "of course genuine and justified but it is also increasingly clear that Pakistan will use it to make ever stronger the case that there can be no deal in Afghanistan without Pakistan".
"So, as Pakistan goes ahead and begins to rethink its priorities and interests, it must singularly focus on developing clarity and coherence with regards it dealings with the US and Afghanistan.
"That - and not secret deals - is the only way of instituting a credible process for a durable political settlement that fulfils the interests of Pakistan while at the same time guarantees stability for Afghanistan."
