Pakistan has welcomed President Barack Obama’s comment that terrorism is not linked to any religion with Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan saying that the American president’s clear-cut stance would help the fight against terror.
“It was corroboration with Pakistan’s stand and a significant step in terms of clarity, as well as towards forming a united front against militancy – we believe terrorists should be known by their misdeeds, and not by their religious affiliation,” Khan said while representing Pakistan at the White House Summit on Countering Violent Extremism.
The interior minister, flanked by Pakistan’s ambassador to the United States Jalil Abbas Jilani, was briefing journalists at the end of his three-day visit to Washington.
Khan’s comments followed Obama’s categorical articulation that militants, like those within al Qaeda and ISIS, do not represent Islam and that the United States is not at war with Islam.
During the visit, the interior minister also had the opportunity to discuss cooperative Pakistan-US ties and present Islamabad’s views, and concerns, about the region in meetings held with the US National Security Advisor Susan Rice, Secretary of State John Kerry and Special Representative Daniel Feldman.
Khan said leaders at the summit also shared Pakistan’s view that the underlying causes of terror – including political disputes – needed to be addressed. Terrorism cannot be wiped out through military action alone.
The interior minister particularly referred to the Palestine and Kashmir disputes to highlight how such issues breed extremism and militancy.
As a vital international player in counterterrorism, Pakistan meaningfully participated in the White House summit. He also reminded participants of the high cost that Pakistan has paid in terms of not just economic terms, but also in the social context.
The minister said that on his return to Islamabad he would propose that a regional conference be held where South Asian and other regional countries could come together to discuss ways to combat violent extremism through a compressive approach.
During the meetings, the minister highlighted how Pakistan has been trying to tackle the multiple challenges facing the country.
Nisar Khan also said that a country in the region did not want to see improvement in Pakistan and that there was evidence that it played a role in the augmentation of terrorism.
The US focuses on its prerogative to develop relations with members of the international community, but there is a fallout for Pakistan when the US advances relations with India. Certain agreements made between the two countries have created a strategic misbalance in the region.
During the meetings, the interior minister also underlined the importance of clarity and coordination with regards to Afghanistan.
US officials were positive towards Pakistan and recognized the country’s critical role and sacrifices in the fight against terror.
Citing US attention to Pakistani concerns, Nisar said that President Obama had called Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif twice, once before his visit to New Delhi, and once after the tour concluded; the calls were meant to take the Pakistani leader into confidence.
“The US acknowledges that Pakistan has a vital role and that Pakistan is a very important strategic partner within the international community,” he said.
When asked why India needs to highlight that there are threats presenting themselves from the Pakistani soil, the minister responded that India had an infatuation to link Pakistan to terror but Pakistan liked talking about solutions to problems instead.
He expressed hope that the Indian foreign secretary’s planned visit to Pakistan would lead to its logical conclusion for peace.
“We will meet the Indian foreign secretary with an open mind – instead of indulging in a blame game we will meet with an open mind.”
He hoped that New Delhi would also demonstrate a positive spirit towards forging peace.
“We believe in peace and would like to have good relations but it take two to tango – I hope India will respond in the same manner,” he said.
It does not matter what Obama thinks but what those who elected him think -the American people. Already he has been accused of not having any love for America. There are other influential voices who says Obama is blind to what is obvious and clear to others – that all Islamic militants are fighting in the name of Islam and Islam only. May be in his subconscious mind he is influenced by his Muslim Daddy!
Comments are closed.