NEW YORK, Sept 24: President Gen Pervez Musharraf’s current visit to the United States has laid the foundation of a ‘pro-Pakistan movement’ in America and it has by far been the most successful one.
This assertion was emphatically made by federal Information Minister Muhammad Ali Durrani while addressing a news conference here on Sunday.
Giving a roundup of the visit that is now in its last phase Mr Durrani said President Musharraf’s interactions at various levels in the US had generated a pro-Pakistan sentiment across the board and created an understanding of Pakistan’s position on key issues. According to him, at no point was Pakistan’s national interest undermined or compromised.
The information minister was evasive when his attention was drawn to the negative and somewhat vicious reaction in the major American television networks about the president’s visit and his book launch.
His thrust was: “In the US, the president is seen as a statesman, a responsible, bold and courageous leader who is capable of meeting the present and future challenges.” In this context he also referred to comments made by President Bush at his joint press conference with President Musharraf on Friday.
Even on the nuclear technology for peaceful purposes, the minister said the president had done a lot of straight talking and established that there was no logic in denying it to Pakistan when it was already a nuclear power like India. Also, that discrimination was not acceptable.
He listed the following points which the president had raised during the visit: Palestine issue is at the heart of extremism and terrorism and must be resolved; In Afghanistan and linked areas the influence of Al Qaeda is reducing and now the real challenge Talibanisation and the Taliban which haves the base in the Pushtoon population of Afghanistan and to deal with the issue the Afghan government should evolve a strategy that is realistic and practical;
Pakistan’s peace treaty with tribal elders in North Waziristan is to marginalise Taliban and Talibanisation influence and if it is successful it could play an important role and be replicated in Afghanistan;
Pakistan as a front-line state in the war on terror has evolved a short-term and long-term strategy to face the challenge and is providing intellectual leadership and taken initiatives such as enlightened moderation;
Pakistan is the torch-bearer of peace in the region and the credit for resuming the peace dialogue with India goes to Pakistan which has become the symbol of peace in the region;
Kashmir is the core issue between Pakistan and India and there cannot be durable peace in the region unless it is settled through creative initiatives and ‘out-of-box’ thinking; Pakistan’s right and need for civilian nuclear technology and discrimination in this regard is indefensible and has no justification given that Pakistan and India are both declared nuclear powers; Pakistan’s geographic location in the region is very critical and important and a strong Pakistan would be a source of stability for the entire region;
Pakistan is a key Muslim country and can play an important role in bridging the gap between the Muslim world and the West and removing misperceptions; Pakistan no longer needs aid. It wants market access for trade and investment;
Democratic, political and economic institutions in Pakistan are strengthening; steps have been taken to empower women and minorities;
From 1979 till 1989 Pakistan worked as a frontline state against Russia and thousand of foreign militants were sent to the region and later Afghanistan and Pakistan were left high and dry.
