President Barack Obama called his Pakistani counterpart to personally express his condolences for the deaths of 24 Pakistani soldiers in a recent NATO airstrike along Afghanistan's border, a sign the White House was stepping up efforts to ease tensions.
The White House said Mr. Obama told Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari during the call that "this regrettable incident was not a deliberate attack on Pakistan and reiterated the United States' strong commitment to a full investigation." Mr. Obama called the loss of life "tragic."
It was the first such statement by Mr. Obama since the Nov. 26 incident. U.S. officials have called the incident a tragedy and have offered condolences, but haven't apologized for any wrongdoing, as the Pakistanis still demand, citing the need to complete an investigation.
The White House said Messrs. Obama and Zardari "reaffirmed their commitment to the U.S.-Pakistan bilateral relationship, which is critical to the security of both nations."
U.S. and Pakistani officials have offered conflicting accounts of the incident, which has badly strained already shaky U.S.-Pakistan relations. Pakistan has so far refused to take part in the U.S. investigation.
As a result of the strike, Islamabad has boycotted a conference in Bonn of countries meeting Monday on ways to aid Afghanistan, which borders Pakistan, and has closed border crossings to North Atlantic Treaty Organization convoys trying to move supplies to U.S. and NATO troops in Afghanistan.
The government also has asked the U.S. to cease its drone operations from Shamsi Air Base in the country's southwest.
"Loss of access to this base would not lessen capabilities, as it has served primarily as a back-up capability for quite a while now," a U.S. official said.
U.S. officials say the Central Intelligence Agency can launch the drones from bases in Afghanistan. The CIA uses the drones to strike militant targets on Pakistani soil. And NATO supplies can be flown over Pakistan into Afghanistan.
Both the air cargo and drone operations depend primarily on access to Pakistani air space, which Islamabad has kept open.
The White House had considered having Mr. Obama issue a video message expressing condolences for the incident but decided not to do so for now.
U.S. officials say mistakes were made on both sides that led to the airstrike that killed the Pakistani soldiers.
Mr. Obama's decision to personally engage with Mr. Zardari shows that efforts by top State Department and military officials have thus far been insufficient in getting Islamabad to tone down its response to the incident.
The administration's urgency reflects concerns that Pakistan could keep the border with Afghanistan closed for weeks if not months, potentially resulting in supply shortages for U.S. and NATO forces there.
Pentagon planners say they have enough ammunition and other supplies to last at least 60 days, but some officials say shortages of fuel and other essentials could start to appear sooner.
Pakistani officials charged the strike was a deliberate attack on Pakistani troops by NATO forces. U.S. officials said Afghan and U.S. commandos were pursuing militants in the area the night of the attack and received clearance for the strike from a joint border coordination center run by U.S., Afghan and Pakistani officials.
Pakistani officials responded that the U.S. forces provided the center with the incorrect location for the strike. U.S. officials say they gave accurate data.
The White House said Mr. Obama told Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari during the call that "this regrettable incident was not a deliberate attack on Pakistan and reiterated the United States' strong commitment to a full investigation." Mr. Obama called the loss of life "tragic."
It was the first such statement by Mr. Obama since the Nov. 26 incident. U.S. officials have called the incident a tragedy and have offered condolences, but haven't apologized for any wrongdoing, as the Pakistanis still demand, citing the need to complete an investigation.
The White House said Messrs. Obama and Zardari "reaffirmed their commitment to the U.S.-Pakistan bilateral relationship, which is critical to the security of both nations."
U.S. and Pakistani officials have offered conflicting accounts of the incident, which has badly strained already shaky U.S.-Pakistan relations. Pakistan has so far refused to take part in the U.S. investigation.
As a result of the strike, Islamabad has boycotted a conference in Bonn of countries meeting Monday on ways to aid Afghanistan, which borders Pakistan, and has closed border crossings to North Atlantic Treaty Organization convoys trying to move supplies to U.S. and NATO troops in Afghanistan.
The government also has asked the U.S. to cease its drone operations from Shamsi Air Base in the country's southwest.
"Loss of access to this base would not lessen capabilities, as it has served primarily as a back-up capability for quite a while now," a U.S. official said.
U.S. officials say the Central Intelligence Agency can launch the drones from bases in Afghanistan. The CIA uses the drones to strike militant targets on Pakistani soil. And NATO supplies can be flown over Pakistan into Afghanistan.
Both the air cargo and drone operations depend primarily on access to Pakistani air space, which Islamabad has kept open.
The White House had considered having Mr. Obama issue a video message expressing condolences for the incident but decided not to do so for now.
U.S. officials say mistakes were made on both sides that led to the airstrike that killed the Pakistani soldiers.
Mr. Obama's decision to personally engage with Mr. Zardari shows that efforts by top State Department and military officials have thus far been insufficient in getting Islamabad to tone down its response to the incident.
The administration's urgency reflects concerns that Pakistan could keep the border with Afghanistan closed for weeks if not months, potentially resulting in supply shortages for U.S. and NATO forces there.
Pentagon planners say they have enough ammunition and other supplies to last at least 60 days, but some officials say shortages of fuel and other essentials could start to appear sooner.
Pakistani officials charged the strike was a deliberate attack on Pakistani troops by NATO forces. U.S. officials said Afghan and U.S. commandos were pursuing militants in the area the night of the attack and received clearance for the strike from a joint border coordination center run by U.S., Afghan and Pakistani officials.
Pakistani officials responded that the U.S. forces provided the center with the incorrect location for the strike. U.S. officials say they gave accurate data.
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