US supports 'mutual respect' with Pakistan

WASHINGTON: The United States said Tuesday it supported calls by Pakistan for mutual respect but held off a formal response to a parliamentary demand for an apology over a deadly air raid.

Lawmakers earlier Tuesday called for taxes on NATO convoys and demanded an apology for the November raid near the border that killed 24 soldiers, plunging relations between the war partners to a new low.

State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland told reporters that the United States would not comment in-depth on the long-awaited Pakistani report on US relations until it comes up for debate in parliament next week.

But she said: "We also have always considered that our relationship should be grounded on the basis of mutual respect and common interest."

"We believe that we have a lot to do together, not only in combating terrorism and creating more security, but in strengthening and promoting economic prosperity, democratic development inside Pakistan and in strengthening Pakistan as a good neighbor throughout the region," she said.

The United States sent its condolences over the November air strikes, but stopped short of an apology. NATO expressed regret over what it called a "tragic unintended incident."

Copyright AFP (Agence France-Presse), 2012