WASHINGTON, Jan 19: Ambassador to the United States Ashraf Jehangir Qazi, in the first of a series of planned meetings and outreach efforts, exchanged views here on Saturday with the US Pakistanis as well as leaders of their various organizations.

The envoy told the expatriates that the purpose of the meeting was to make the community aware of Pakistan’s stand on various issues, and to enable them to seek clarifications on any issue, which they felt required elaboration.

Speaking to the Pakistanis, the ambassador gave an overview of US-Pakistan relations and said that Islamabad was in a positive phase of the ties.

He also said that Pakistan had rendered over 400 suspected terrorists, and clarified the reports that the country had surrendered its sovereignty and had allowed foreign troops on its soil. Nothing of the sort happened, he said.

The envoy emphasized that the primary thrust of security operations inside the country against the suspected terrorists was undertaken by the Pakistani security and intelligence agencies.

While discussing the process of democracy in Pakistan, the ambassador said that the newly-elected parliament would provide critical and open discussion of foreign policy as well as other important issues affecting the nation.

The ambassador also addressed issues such as the special registration process started by the INS, and gave the details of his meeting with the Attorney General John Ashcroft and other efforts undertaken by the embassy in this context, US-Indo-Pakistan relations and the reconstruction efforts in Afghanistan.

Mr Ashraf reiterated that not a single Pakistani in the country or in the US had ever been either indicted or convicted of any act of terrorism.

He emphasized that the special registration drive by the INS would have a negative impact on public perceptions and public opinion in Pakistan.

Speaking on the Indo-US-Pakistan relations, he said that Pakistan wanted India to recognize the existence of the Kashmir dispute which was the primary contentious issue that needed to be addressed and ultimately resolved.

During a discussion session on the occasion, the community members raised queries and gave suggestions on the specifics of the embassy’s interaction with the Congress, departments of state and justice, National Security Council, White House and other US government institutions.

There was a productive and interactive dialogue with the audience on Pakistan’s overall foreign policy, economic reforms, Indo-Pakistan relations, regional geo-politics, Afghanistan and democracy in the country.

The US Pakistanis emphasized and underscored the need for community-based organizations undertaking outreach efforts in a sustained and concerted manner so as to positively impact the state and society in the US.—APP