ISLAMABAD: US Special Representative for Afghanis­tan and Pakistan Daniel Feldman said on Tuesday that Pakistan-US ties were moving from aid-based to trade-based relationship.

Speaking to a group of journalists at the US Embassy, he ruled out extension in Kerry-Lugar legislation under which Washington provided about $5 billion in civilian assistance to Pakistan over the past five years. The Kerry-Lugar-Berman authorisation was for five years and wouldn’t be further extended, he said.

The special envoy, however, said the US was trying to avoid a ‘precipitous decline’ in assistance funding for Pakistan and the executive would continue to request Congress for appropriations.

Under the aid legislation enacted by the Congress in 2009, the US was to provide $7.5bn in non-military aid over five years to help the civilian government to deliver essential services. But, during the five years only $5bn could be committed.

“The relationship would change from assistance-based to trade,” he said and described the ties as ‘realistic, optimistic and productive’.

Although Mr Feldman did not list the special steps being taken to transform the nature of relationship, he, in an Op-Ed piece, said “our partnership will also thrive through trade and investment. The United States is already Pakistan’s largest trading partner and source of foreign investment…. Expanding trade and investment will require improving Pakistan’s competitiveness – and that is something which I am convinced we can accomplish together”.

He said people-to-people contacts were being incentivised to build on the base provided by the governments.

On Pakistan’s relations with Afghanistan, he noted that the change in Afghan government had provided a ‘remarkably unique opportunity’ for regional stability.

Mr Feldman, who had held a series of meetings at the Foreign Office and General Headquarters earlier in the day, called on ‘all stakeholders’ to seize the new opportunity.

He said ending terrorist safe havens on both sides of border would require sustained dialogue between Islamabad and Kabul through all channels, including military and intelligence.

He laid stress on solidifying the commitment to the principle of non-interference in internal affairs of Afghanistan.

He did not expect Pakistan and Afghanistan to take major steps for removing irritants in the relationship, but said that modest beginning could be made through setting procedures for border coordination which could later become vehicle for forward movement.

Mr Feldman welcomed Pakistan Army’s commitment to eliminate terrorists for all shades in North Waziristan, but looked sceptical if that was actually happening. “It is in the process of being done and more has to be done,” he said when asked if the US was convinced that all militant groups were being even-handedly targeted.

To another question, he said, the US was concerned about the violations of ceasefire on the Line of Control. America’s Kashmir policy, he added, remained unchanged.

Published in Dawn, October 29th , 2014