BRUSSELS, Feb 4: The European Union must use its experience in forging cooperation between former enemies to facilitate a comprehensive Pakistan-India dialogue on Kashmir and other key issues, Foreign Minister Abdul Sattar said on Monday.
In an interview with Dawn here, Mr Sattar said his message to EU policymakers was simple: Pakistan wanted to “foster, intensify and accelerate trends of cooperation with the EU.”
The minister is on a visit to Brussels to meet his Belgian counterpart Louis Michael, European External Relations Commissioner Chris Patten and European Union security chief Javier Solana.
Relations between the EU and Pakistan had been “transformed” in the last five months following Islamabad’s decision to join international anti-terror alliance, said Mr Sattar.
“We are embarked on a good road. We now need to ensure that cooperation is sustained and intensified,” he said.
The focus must be on establishing “long-term cooperation to accelerate Pakistan’s efforts to alleviate poverty.”
Mr Sattar, who is also set to meet French Foreign Minister Hubert Vedrine and had already held discussions with German Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer in Berlin, said his contacts with top EU officials would help redefine Pakistan as a “moderate, dynamic and modern Islamic state.”
The EU could play a key role in Pakistan’s efforts to halting and reversing the trend of extremism by investing in social action schemes, especially in the education sector, Mr Sattar said.
He pointed out that the EU aid could be particularly important to help Pakistan reform the madressah system, including efforts to enlarge the curriculum.
Mr Sattar said that EU aid to Pakistan, totalling around 50 million euros a year, was welcome but Pakistan also wanted Europe to “show a more sympathetic understanding of the environment in Pakistan and pay greater attention to Pakistan’s needs and priorities.”
EU aid should fit in with Pakistan’s own priorities for development and modernization, Mr Sattar said, adding that Japan, for example, was paying close attention to the social sector and had earmarked $300 million in aid for Pakistan.
Helping the social sector in Pakistan would also help fight obscurantism, extremism and militancy, which were also European priorities, he said.
Mr Sattar said he wanted Europeans to know that while heightened tensions between India and Pakistan had been “psychologically defused,” the situation on the ground remained “very tense.”
“The possibility of unintended conflict cannot be eliminated,” the minister warned. “We need to prevent this fear of accidental conflict.”
Europe with its experience of making peace between foes must use its experience in “reversing history” to promote peace in South Asia. “The EU is today very influential and well-informed. It is in a position to make a contribution in the interest of peace and the settlement of disputes.”
Pakistan and India needed to be “more responsible and focus not on adding to tension but reducing it,” Mr Sattar said.
Pakistan was ready to start a dialogue process in which Kashmir and all other issues were addressed, the minister underlined, adding: “We should not be allergic to the assistance of friends in favour of compromise solutions.”
Europe could, therefore, be helpful in engaging and facilitating a comprehensive India-Pakistan dialogue on Kashmir as well as other issues such as security, elimination of weapons of mass destruction, terrorism, drug-trafficking and others.
On Afghanistan Mr Sattar said his advice to Europe was to focus on implementing recent commitments to build a new Afghanistan. “We see disturbing news of the rise of warlords in Afghanistan. This can be constructively addressed by implementing an adequate international security assistance force.”
“Peace, unity and reconstruction in Afghanistan is a blessing for Pakistan,” he said. “Our message to the world is please bring consistency and durability to your commitment to help Afghanistan.”
Mr Sattar also reiterated government’s commitment to holding elections before Oct 12, saying his government would welcome European and other international observers to monitor polls.