Pakistan ‘Normalization’ Talks in Doubt as US Resumes Drone Strikes Pakistan Slams Attack, Four 'Suspects' Slain by Pakistan ‘Normalization’ Talks in Doubt as US Resumes Drone Strikes Pakistan Slams Attack, Four 'Suspects' Slain, April 29, 2012 Print This | Share This Ongoing US negotiations with Pakistan aimed at “normalization” of relations are in serious doubt tonight after the Obama Administration ordered a resumption of drone strikes, killing four “suspects” in an attack on an abandoned high school in North Waziristan.
Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry was quick in issuing a condemnation of the strike, the first since Pakistan’s parliament issued a statement making resumption of normal relations with the US conditional on halting such attacks.
Ties between the US and Pakistan have been tense for years, but there was a major degradation in late November, when US warplanes attacked Pakistani military outposts on the Afghanistan border, killing 24 soldiers. The Obama Administration is still debating whether or not to officially “apologize” for the attack, but has expressed regret.
Since then Pakistan has closed the border to NATO occupation forces in Afghanistan, cutting a key supply line. Parliament has insisted that reopening the border must be predicated on ending the drone strikes, but the US seems content to continue to insist that it expects the border to reopen “soon” while launching more provocative strikes. Last 5 posts by Jason Ditz