September 20, 2006	Wednesday	Sha'aban 26, 1427

Please Visit our Sponsor (Ads open in separate window).

NEW YORK, Sept 19: President Gen Pervez Musharraf on Monday had a candid interaction with influential American policy people at the Nixon Centre, a think-tank founded by former US president Richard Nixon.

Representatives of major media organisations, including Time Warner, CNN, Newsweek International, ABC news, Wall Street Journal, Financial Times, and US News & World Report, had an open discussion with the president on a wide range of issues.

During the nearly three-hour session he was asked pointed questions about future of Pakistan-US relations, war on terrorism, Indo-Pakistan peace dialogue and Kashmir dispute, peace deal in the North Waziristan Agency, Women’s rights bill, democracy and elections in Pakistan, it is learnt.

The president held out assurance that he was committed to holding free and fair elections in 2007. Regarding his own status, he said it would be as per the Constitution.

At the outset the president gave an overview of Pakistan-US relations from 1947 onwards and then the post-9/11 phase. Referring to disconnect between the government-to-government relations and the public perception about it, he said the anti-US sentiment in Pakistan was based on past experiences.

In the post-9/11 period, he highlighted four milestones in bilateral relations. His June 2003 meeting with President George W. Bush at Camp David and the $3 billion aid package, granting of Major Non-Nato Ally status to Pakistan in 2004, the approval of sale of F-16s in 2005 and Pakistan-US strategic partnership agreement in 2006.

Outlining the broad parameters of current Pakistan-US relations, he pointed to counter-terrorism cooperation, strategic partnership and economic assistance in terms of market access and investment and defence cooperation.

President Musharraf made a strong case for civilian nuclear cooperation for energy generation, saying it was Pakistan’s genuine need. He also emphasised that US assistance was required for setting up the Reconstruction Opportunity Zones in tribal areas.

When asked what if after the war on terror the US again walked away as it did in 1989, the president was confident that it would not do so given Pakistan’s geo-strategic location and the US interests in Central Asia, Middle East and China.

He maintained that Pakistan was an important reality, a vital link with other parts of the region and therefore had an important position in the overall US strategic equation. Pakistan’s important position in the Islamic world was also mentioned in this regard.

On the Indo-Pakistan peace process the president’s message was that the US needed to put its weight behind the whole process to ensure that it keeps moving forward. He also talked about the proposal of self-governance in the context of Kashmir.

The president emphatically refuted a claim by CNN correspondent Christiane Amanpour about the presence of Mullah Omar and other Taliban leaders in Quetta. He pointed out that there were 600,000 Pukhtuns (refugees) in Quetta and they ought not be taken as the Taliban.

While asserting that there were no bases of militants in Pakistan, the president noted that some activity under the cover of refugee camps could be taking place and, therefore, it was important to wind up the camps.

On the peace deal, the president underscored that use of force beyond a certain point was counter-productive. NWFP Governor Lt-Gen (retired) Ali Mohammad Jan Aurakzai, who was present there, also spoke about the peace deal with tribal elders in the North Waziristan Agency.

Minister for Women’s Development Sumaira Malik talked about steps taken for women’s empowerment. Pakistan Ambassador to the US Mahmud Ali Durrani and Foreign Minister Khurshid Kasuri also attended the meeting held at the Time Warner Headquarters.

ROUNDTABLE: Earlier, at a roundtable with top US businessmen, representing important American companies, President Musharraf said Pakistan offered the right climate for investment.

Later, Minister of State for Privatisation Umar Ahmad Ghuman told media that 20-plus CEOs of key American companies were present on the occasion.

He said the president invited them to come and invest in Pakistan. Some of them were expected to visit Pakistan soon, he added.

Responding to a question, Mr Ghuman said the main concern of American businessmen was the Free Trade Agreement between Pakistan and the US.

However, he pointed out that it was not possible without the Bilateral Investment Treaty (BIT).

When asked about the status of BIT, he said 95 per cent of it was finalised and the sticking point was some restrictions on certain products that the US side wanted to put. He was hopeful that it would be resolved soon.