Dear Mr Nizami,
I would like to respond to Engineer Waseem Riaz Khan of Kot Addu, who wrote to me in a letter published in the Sunday, 2 October edition of Pakistan Today. In the letter, Engineer Waseem wrote that he wished to better inform me about what ordinary Pakistanis think about Pakistan-US relations. I would like Engineer Waseem to know that I read his letter very closely, and take his comments seriously.
I thank him for his letter and for his effort to encourage greater dialogue between the people of Pakistan and the people of the United States. As US Ambassador to Pakistan, I have no greater goal than to increase the understanding and cooperation between our two countries and our peoples. Engineer Waseem is eloquent in his recitation of the challenges facing Pakistan today. I want to assure him that the United States is committed to working cooperatively with Pakistan to meet these challenges in order to build the stable, secure, and prosperous country that all Pakistanis want and deserve.
Engineer Waseem rightly notes the problems facing the energy sector. Since 2009, the United States has contributed $2.6 billion in civilian assistance to Pakistan. The primary focus of this assistance has been the energy sector. The United States is constructing and rehabilitating six power plants, while also working with the Government of Pakistan to encourage critically-needed structural reforms. Our rehabilitation of various dams such as the Tarbela Dam will deliver approximately 900 additional megawatts to Pakistan by 2012, which is 20 percent of Pakistan’s energy shortfall.
We are also working closely with Pakistan to help those suffering from this year’s floods. In the wake of this year’s devastating flooding, we have supported mobile health clinics that have provided medical care to more than 500,000 people, provided emergency shelter kits that have housed nearly 20,000 families, and provided food to more than 1.5 million flood victims. In addition, we have answered the United Nations Flood Appeal with $19 million dollars in emergency assistance.
The United States understands that the Pakistani people have suffered greatly from violent extremism, and many families have lost loved ones either as victims of terrorism or among those who are fighting to defeat it. We will continue to cooperate with Pakistan to deny terrorist organizations safe haven, and we have made known on numerous occasions our desire to work together against common threats. We will continue to work together with Pakistan at all levels to ensure that we are acting cooperatively and effectively to deal with the threat that terrorists pose to both of our countries and our peoples.
I am grateful to Engineer Waseem for his letter. I look forward to continuing my dialogue not only with him, but also with the rest of the readership of Pakistan Today, as well as every Pakistani.
CAMERON MUNTER
US Ambassador to Pakistan
Islamabad
