In light of the current deteriorating relations between the United States (US) and Pakistan, the Pak-American Initiative (PAI) has announced its mission to improve the situation.
The PAI is a non-governmental effort which aims to build mutual confidence between the two countries to bring peace and harmony to the region. PAI Convener Syed Jawaid Iqbal said that the prime purpose of the PAI was to resolve differences between the two countries. “This is all the more important as Pakistan is a frontline state fighting terrorism in the region. We realise that it is vital to keep this organisation purely a non-governmental effort so that it is not perceived as being biased by either the US or the Pakistan side and is considered a neutral platform which is free from the influence of any bias,” he said.
Iqbal said that it was significant that while governments kept coming and going, the people were constant. “Therefore, steps need to be taken on an urgent basis to resolve issues such as the NATO supply deadlock, apology on the Salala check-post incident, shelter allegedly provided to Osama bin Laden, backing of Haqqani network and imprisonment of Dr Shakil Afridi,” he said.
He added: “We accept that this will not be an easy; nonetheless, we are committed to this effort and wish to provide a public space for the people of both the US and Pakistan. In addition, the PAI will address and resolve conflicts associated with the respective countries, create awareness about positive developments in both countries and highlight the current developments taking place to improve relations between the US and Pakistan.”
Iqbal will be leaving shortly on a two-week visit to the US and is scheduled to meet and discuss the idea with people from the US Congress, academia, community leaders, political, economic and defense analysts, NGOs, think tanks and other key opinion-makers. He will also be talking to influential Pakistani-Americans about opening chapters at various locations across the US.
Haven’t we had enough of US already
Ameer Jamaat-ud-Dawa (JuD) Hafiz Muhammad Saeed said on Monday that Pakistan’s decision of strategic partnership with US was wrong and the country had to pay a high price for this partnership by sacrificing its own men.
Addressing a convention of the Difa-e-Pakistan Council (DPC) leaders, Hafiz Saeed blamed the current leadership for its limited political interests and their inability to restore the country’s stability and sovereignty.
“Politicians are relying only on issuing statements to protect personal and party interests,” he said.
He said that Pakistan had already suffered a lot by taking part in America’s war and it could not afford more damages.
Hafiz Saeed said that DPC would resist any steps by the government regarding reopening of the NATO supply route.
Maulana Samiul Haq, Asad Ullah Bhutto and other leaders of DPC also addressed the convention.
