‘Trust deficit in US-Pak ties can be erased by joint efforts’

US has admitted that there was a 'trust deficit' in its ties with Islamabad,but hoped that it can be erased by jointly tackling a range of issues,including terrorism.

Concerned over the recent peace deal between Pakistani authorities and the Taliban in the Swat valley,the US has admitted that there was a “trust deficit” in its ties with Islamabad,but hoped that it can be erased by jointly tackling a range of issues,including terrorism.

It also pledged long-term commitment to help Pakistan come out of its present economic crisis and the threat from terrorism,asserting that there was an urgent need to marshal out international resources in this regard.

The “trust deficit” between US and Pakistan can be handled by continuing to work closely together on a whole range of issues,State Department Acting Spokesman Robert Wood said.

Story continues below this ad

“There is certainly a commitment on the part of the Government of Pakistan to address this issue,as on the part of the US Government. So this is not something that we won’t be able to erase that trust deficit tomorrow,but certainly,as days and weeks go by,that is our hope that we’ll be able to reduce that,” he said on Monday.

Wood said the US would continue to relentlessly work for the development and security of Pakistan.

“We’ll continue to try to show the Pakistani people that we care about their interests,we want to see them succeed in terms of getting rid of these violent extremists that are bringing such harm and detriment to their country. But this is going to take time,as I said,and we’ll continue to work it,” he said.