NEW YORK, July 7: A top Republican Senator said here on Saturday he had asked President Bush to remain engaged as active partner in Pakistan, Afghanistan and “in seeking a lasting solution to the Kashmir dispute.”
Speaking at a Pakistan-American Public Affairs Committee (PAK-PAC), Senator George Allen, a member of US Senate’s Foreign Relations Committee, said that he had “outlined a three-phase plan to the US President which could help form basis of a lasting peace for the Kashmiri people and all those in South Asia.”
Underscoring that the principle of right to self-determination was enshrined in the US declaration of independence and in the UN resolutions, Senator Allen said “the people of Kashmir should be able to peacefully decide their future without coercion.”
“It should be the policy of the United States to allow the self-determination of free people to construct, form or establish their government that reflects the will of the people and is created to protect their individual rights, property and security,” he emphasized.
While observing that the recent standoff between India and Pakistan was defused due to the efforts made by the United States, Senator Allen hoped that “India will eventually agree to a process facilitated by a third party, such as the UN, in the spirit of the recent peace mission by the US Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage.”
Saying that a potential of a nuclear war hangs “frighteningly in the air” he said that it was in the interest of all the people of the world that such a devastating outcome should never be brought to fruition.”
Recognizing that “Pakistan has been a key, most crucial and strategic partner in the defeat of barbaric Taliban and al Qaeda organization in Afghanistan,” Senator Allen held out an assurance that he would work with his colleagues in the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and the appreciative Bush Administration “to provide tangible boost to help improve economic and educational institutions in Pakistan.”
While observing that “times have been tough for all Pakistanis. The economy of Pakistan faces crisis as it pursues operations against Taliban and Al-Qaeda terrorists,” Allen recognized that the need for financial support for Pakistan is urgent.
Commending President Musharraf for his steady resolve in the face of radical militant threats from within his own country to fight terrorism with the US and its allies he said that escalation of tensions along the border with India could complicate his efforts.
“A stable Pakistan is important to our positive and constructive long-term strategy for Afghanistan and most importantly for the people of Pakistan,” Allen said.
Earlier in her speech on the occasion, Pakistan Ambassador to US Maleeha Lodhi noted that at this point in time India was against bilateral as well as multilateral initiatives to resolve the Kashmir dispute.
She underscored that the United States should not only play a role of a crisis manager but adopt a role of a peacemaker in resolving the Kashmir dispute.
The meeting was also addressed by Lord Nazir Ahmed who flew in here from London for the occasion.