Obama’s visit to India: Governor sees diplomatic failure of Pakistan
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LAHORE: Governor Chaudhry Sarwar says the US president’s visit to India ignoring Pakistan in the region as its partner is a diplomatic failure of Islamabad.
“It’s the diplomatic failure of Pakistan that US President Obama visited India and signed all-important civil nuclear deal with it that included some condition even against American and international laws,” Mr Sarwar said at the Tehrik Istehkam-i-Pakistan ceremony on Tuesday.
He said Washington should have given an equal importance to New Delhi and Islamabad while making its policies for the region.
He said Obama should have used the opportunity to normalise tensions in the Indo-Pak relations.
The governor was also critical of the civil bureaucracy, saying they enjoyed each and every perk and privilege in the country but had contributed nothing to the nation in the last 68 years.
He said polite methods to make them realised their duty had failed and now the only option left to teach them was use of “baton”.
Earlier, talking to US Consul General Zack Harkinrider, Mr Sarwar said the UN was not listening to the viewpoint of over 1.5 billion Muslims, who rightfully questioned the world powers why their views were not being heard by the world.
He said it is a matter of concern for the Muslim world that no Muslim country held a permanent status in the UN Security Council.
About the sacrifices Pakistan offered in the war on terror, he said no other country could match its sacrifices with that of Pakistan, where political and military leaders were unanimous on eliminating terrorism and extremism without making any distinction between good and bad Taliban.
Mr Harkinrider welcomed the consensus on terrorism and assured that Washington would always stand by Islamabad for the cause.
The governor also appreciated the Al-Khidmat Foundation for its relief activities at a ceremony held here about the welfare of orphans and destitute children.
Published in Dawn, January 28th, 2015
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Comments (28) Closed
Jan 28, 2015 01:01pm
India has always been a peace loving nation irrespective of culture, language and religion. Whole world knows that. That's why America has chosen India as an ambassador of peace in south Asia region. Its only possible if Indian neighbours really want to cooperate with India.
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Jan 28, 2015 01:15pm
Mr. Governer...so you do not see any failure due to poverty, corruption, racism etc. to name a few...
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Jan 28, 2015 01:23pm
I had a lot of expectations from NS government because they had a lot of experience of failures which is essential for a new start. But, unfortunately they are still repeating the same old mistakes. They created a history of keeping so many family members on top posts many not on merit. There is no good relationship among the cabinet ministers. Wasting most of their time on giving illogical statements. Model Town episode cannot be forgotten and so is that of Faisalabad.
On the Foreign Ministry side , Mr. Tariq Fatmi is a career Diplomat , but Mr, Sartaj Aziz is a great spoiler.(remember his idea to convert all foreign currency account to Pak. Rupees was a big blunder after Atomic Explosion. Many people has a view that prior to the explosion, all PML leaders remitted their dollars to foreign countries because they knew there will be a natural devaluation of our currency. And still he spoiled by giving very irresponsible statement on Taliban etc. etc. So Mr. Sarwar in your capacity as an old friend of NZ,please tell him to rule with sincerity. What is the sense of going to Murree for holding meetings in this type of season; just to enjoy the weather; he should rather had gone to Karachi or Quetta ;at least to show his concern about the law and order situation . It is a very sorrowful and dangerous situation because India has started attacking us on all fronts.
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Jan 28, 2015 01:36pm
I agree with his statement. Instead of poking something here though, I'd really like to see our neighbor parting its ways with persisted problems such as terrorism, corruption, lack of religious freedom etc. We separated not too long ago but since then both countries followed their own ways and look now, we look as if we were never together.
Sadly most things happening in your country throws off negative aura. I may be biased a bit here but at least I try a lot to keep my emotions or nationalism aside and think neutrally. Hoping for the best.
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Jan 28, 2015 02:13pm
Let's be honest. Pakistan has proven to be a poor ally of the United States beginning with selling atomic secrets to North Korea, hiding the international criminal Osama bin Laden for ten years. The people of Pakistan consider the United States their enemy, and Washington is aware it can make more traction with the people of India. Obama realizes Pakistan has problems the government cannot solve. Obama cleared out of Afghanistan and no longer has a reason to fight Pakistan's battles.
Obama feels frustration towards Pakistan's leadership, not about any alleged human rights violations. When President Zardari went to the White House he was snubbed by Obama. Obama can only can feel sorry about the recalcitrant Pakistani citizens who refuse to immunize their own children against polio. No Americans can understand that.
He is signaling Americans have given up on Pakistan. It should not take a genius to recon why Obama offered his hand to Modi.
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Jan 28, 2015 02:16pm
@Ahmed USA The problem with us Pakistanis is that we always look for conspiracy theories and ignore what is in front of our eyes. How does poverty and racism contribute to our diplomatic failure?. Your name suggests that you are in the USA. What a shame that you didn't learn anything from living in the USA.
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Jan 28, 2015 02:18pm
This governor is probably the ONLY person in the government who can speak the truth. The fact that he left a comfortable life in Britain to come to Pakistan perhaps is way better than our PMLN leaders. Keep doing it Mr. Sarwar. We are proud of you.
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Jan 28, 2015 02:31pm
Please believe me the people and businessmen of the USA are very close with China. The USA has been very welcoming to Indian immigration. India, China, USA, Eastern and Western European allies, the Philippine Islands and Latin America are friends of America. Russian and American people like each other. The second largest Polish city in the world is Chicago.
Four Billion non-Muslim people back up the USA. Four Billion equals One and One half Billion?
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Jan 28, 2015 02:37pm
'He said Washington should have given an equal importance to New Delhi and Islamabad'.
Typical Pakistani ranting devoid of logical thinking in context of global politics. Why should USA give equal treatment? Look at the mess we are in, which is increasing by day. We need to get our house in order frist before making such demands. No body takes us seriously and for good reasons.
As far as diplomatic effort is concerned, we still do not have a foreign minister two years into NS's reign.That pretty much sums up the situation.
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Jan 28, 2015 03:05pm
Are Pakistani politicians and establishment doing enough at their end to bring country out of the current crisis. In case not, they must become more serious in building the nation. No one in the world supports poor regardless the reason(s).
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Jan 28, 2015 03:10pm
Chaudhury Sarwar should lead the party, as the present leader is only looking after his own personal business interest.
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Jan 28, 2015 03:45pm
@Naseem I think they are all looking after their own interests period .
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Jan 28, 2015 05:42pm
I am amazed whenever I hear this argument that a Muslim country should be a permanent member of UN Security Council because there are 1.5 billion Muslims. The world is not divided by religions anymore, when will you understand that?Why does everything has to revolve around a religion? Any religion? Don't you still see how flawed an idea was it to create a state on the basis of religion?
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Jan 28, 2015 06:17pm
UNSC seats are not given on the basis of religion. Its on the basis of overall strength of the nations- economic, military, cultural, educational etc.
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Jan 28, 2015 06:24pm
I don't agree with you Mr Governor. Obama had a business in India so he went there. He had nothing to do in Pakistan so why should he visit here. Do all the world leaders visit Canada being neighboring country of US after attending UN meetings? Raise level of your country so high that people wish to visit Pakistan
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Jan 28, 2015 06:35pm
This may be a political statement but fact is that visit by any foreign leader is not going to fix nations problem. Problem is that 'almost all' politicians who are supposed to serve people of Pakistan, have become 'aristrocrate rich elites' acting like royals. Most Pakistani citizens find themselves to be helpless, getting ripped off year after year. Now it looks like Pakistan was created for benefit of few wealthy politicians, their family and close friends. So much for dream of better life for what remains of Pakistan.
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Jan 28, 2015 08:03pm
Don't make Pakistan people fool they know the reason.. First try to solve and give peaceful environment to them ..
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Jan 28, 2015 11:01pm
A very rational and straightforward analysis by the governor. Appreciate his candid comments.
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Jan 29, 2015 01:26am
This is the price we paid for not having a proper Foreign Minister.
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Jan 29, 2015 04:46am
Chaudry Sarwar you mean failure of PML N lead government? But are you not in it? So why not blame yourself as a part an parcel? Oh I forgot, you are Provincial and that is Federal. But same flock of sheep though a little better you are so you have a right to criticize.
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Jan 29, 2015 06:02am
Mr. Sarwar should go back to Glasgow and run his "Cash and Carry" business. Giving policy statements and undermining the Prime Ministers office( whether right or wrong)
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Jan 29, 2015 06:41am
It is a failure of Army who is running the Pakistan since Ayub Khan with brief periods of civilian rules without any power. Country will change when civilian government has full powers and Army is under civilian control.
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Jan 29, 2015 07:50am
You have had 4-year renewable friendly status for long time just like many other south East Asian countries enjoyed once upon a time. You shouldn't feel bad since it is a changing world as if Pakistan did enjoy alliance of SEATO and CENTO too!
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Jan 29, 2015 08:16am
There we go again playing the muslim card. Even our chinese friends are scared to visit these days, how will Obama come? Failure is of security, not diplomacy. We have been lumped into AfPak because of the line Musharraf decided to toe.
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Jan 29, 2015 08:18am
There is no diplomatic error on any Pakistani government. Whether you bend backward or forward, American policy will never be pro-pak. American policy makers are right wing religious fanatics who believe and apply 2000 years old book word for word and in this book China is enemy and Pakistan in no where to be found.
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Jan 29, 2015 02:57pm
I am glade Mr Sarwar resigned from such a big post in Pakistan. I was surprised when he joined hands with the Shariffs family whom Mr Sarwar helped in everything during their exile. Its never too late.
Good for you Mr Sarwar, at least aap ka zameer jag giya. England ke osool parast log kis tarah Paktareen loogo ke saat waqt guzar saktay hen.
Well done Mr Sarwar, I am proud of you.
Best regards, N.A
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Jan 29, 2015 04:49pm
Look who is talking the guy just resigned for be incompetent...what is his credibility...
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Jan 30, 2015 03:08am
The fundamental problem is that pakistan has a flawed ideology. Secularism is superior to any religious dogma as it is the only ideology that can provide the framework for equality and justice to all its people.
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