Bernier letter attempt to reassure Pakistan
Meagan Fitzpatrick , Canwest News Service
OTTAWA -- Foreign Affairs Minister Maxime Bernier sought to reassure Pakistan on Friday and distance the federal government from controversial comments made by Opposition Leader Stephane Dion about Pakistan's role in the war in neighbouring Afghanistan.
In a letter to Pakistan's high commissioner, Musa Javed Chohan, Bernier said Canada appreciates Pakistan's contribution to the fight against terrorism and expressed sympathy over the casualties it has suffered. He also insisted that the Conservative government's policy toward Pakistan remains consistent.
"Canada will continue to work with Pakistani and Afghan officials to improve the management of your shared border," Bernier wrote. "I believe it is necessary for me to reaffirm Canada's position at this time due to recent remarks made by the leader of the official Opposition which do not reflect the views of the government."
The diplomatic flap erupted Wednesday when Dion said success in countering terrorists in Afghanistan will only come with intervention in Pakistan. The Liberal leader hinted that NATO could take action in Pakistan if the Pakistani government isn't able to deal with the porous border "on their own."
"We could consider that option with the NATO forces in order to help Pakistan help us pacifyAfghanistan,"Dion said while in Quebec City. "As long as we don't solve the problem in Pakistan, I don't see how we can solve it in Afghanistan,"he said.
Pakistan responded sharply by calling Dion's comments "irrational" and making it clear the country would not allow any foreign forces on its soil. In a statement from the high commission released Thursday, Pakistan said it did not need any help, as Dion had suggested.
"The sovereignty of the state will not be compromised at any level as the government and people of Pakistan are fully capable of handling their security matters themselves," it read.
Dion later insisted that he meant NATO countries should apply diplomatic pressure on Pakistan to have its military deal more forcefully with Afghan insurgents who take advantage of the porous border between the two countries to evade NATO and Afghan forces in Afghanistan.
That clarification prompted even more criticism from the federal government and other critics who said Dion should know better, that NATO is a military alliance, not a diplomatic one.
© CanWest News Service 2008