巴基斯坦的謝里夫和奧巴馬討論改善雙邊關係
Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has asked U.S. President Barack Obama to end drone strikes on his country, strikes that are widely unpopular in Pakistan.
Following talks Wednesday at the White House, Mr. Sharif said he emphasized "the need for an end to such strikes." Mr. Obama did not mention drones in his remarks to reporters.
But in a published report Thursday, The Washington Post says top officials in Pakistan's government have secretly endorsed the U.S. drone program. The newspaper says top-secret CIA documents and Pakistani diplomatic memos it has obtained shows Islamabad received classified briefings on strikes and casualty counts.
Mr. Obama cited Pakistan's battle with terrorism, saying more than 40,000 Pakistanis have died in extremist attacks during the past decade. He said he knows Mr. Sharif is very much committed to try to reduce terrorism in Pakistan and prevent it from being exported.
A joint statement from the two leaders said their partnership is "based on the principles of respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity."
Mr. Obama also said he tried to reassure Mr. Sharif about the status of Afghanistan, where U.S. combat forces plan to withdraw next year. He said he is "confident" of a solution "that is good for Afghanistan, but also helps to protect Pakistan over the long term."巴基斯坦總理謝里夫要求美國總統奧巴馬停止在巴基斯坦的無人飛機空襲。無人機空襲在巴基斯坦非常不得人心。
謝里夫星期三結束在白宮的會談之後說，他強調了“結束這類空襲的必要性”。奧巴馬在對記者講話中沒有提及無人機空襲。
但華盛頓郵報星期四報道，巴基斯坦高層官員祕密支持美國的無人機空襲計劃。報道說，該報獲得的美國中央情報局高度機密文件以及巴基斯坦外交備忘錄顯示，伊斯蘭堡收到了有關無人機空襲以及傷亡情況的祕密介紹。
奧巴馬讚揚巴基斯坦向恐怖主義所作的鬥爭。他說，在過去10年裏，4萬多名巴基斯坦人死於極端分子的襲擊。奧巴馬說，他了解謝里夫一心致力於制止巴基斯坦的恐怖主義活動，並防止恐怖主義向境外蔓延。
兩位領導人發表的聯合聲明說，他們的夥伴關係“建立在尊重主權和領土完整的原則基礎之上”。
奧巴馬還表示，他試圖讓謝里夫對阿富汗的狀況感到安心。美國作戰部隊計劃明年撤離阿富汗。奧巴馬說，他相信這一方案不但“對阿富汗有利”，也有助於長期保護巴基斯坦。
