While news media focused widely on Admiral Michael Mullen’s recent statements that the Pakistan Army had been supporting the Haqqani network, the Council on Pakistan Relations drew attention to his call for continued engagement between the United States and Pakistan.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, the Council noted that Admiral Mullen’s congressional testimony stressed the need to address the long-term foundations for Pakistan’s success, including improved trade relations with the United States and economic development. The council said, “Admiral Mullen was absolutely correct in looking beyond terrorism to the long-term issues. It is too bad news reports did not reflect that part of his testimony.”
Quoting from Mullen, the Council reported Mullen had also acknowledged the difficulties the country has had in recent years including mass killings caused by extremist groups, weak government institutions, massive unemployment, a failing economy, devastating floods, and mayhem in Karachi from gang wars and ethnic and political strive. Mullen had emphasised the need for the United States to “move beyond counter-terrorism to address long-term foundations of Pakistan’s success.” He had said these foundations included improved trade relations with the United States, economic development, electricity generation, and water security. He had said actions that better lives will in turn promote internal stability.
It said the Council on Pakistan Relations joined Admiral Mullen to, in the admiral’s words, “reframe U.S.-Pakistan relations.” The pressure Pakistan and the region must be diffused with clear-eyed pragmatism and the country can not allow the violent actions of a small number of terrorists to derail relations between the two countries, or endanger efforts to improve the lives of ordinary Pakistanis.
