ANP seeks friendly ties with Afghanistan, India
Adeel terms McChrystals statement detrimental to regional economic integration
Friday, September 25, 2009
By Riaz Khan Daudzai
PESHAWAR: The Awami National Party (ANP) on Thursday said it sought friendly economic and political relations with both Afghanistan and India and asked the government to avail the economic and investment opportunities being offered by the reconstruction process in the war-shattered country.
Responding to a question about a report submitted by the US commander General Stanley McChrystal warning against the destabilising effects of the increasing economic influence of India in Afghanistan, which may escalate tension in the region, Senator Haji Muhammad Adeel, acting president of the ANP, termed the viewpoint of the US general detrimental to the economic integration of the region.
He said Pakistan should revisit its economic ties with both India and Afghanistan and other countries of the region to strengthen its economic condition instead of isolating itself economically.
He said that he did not attach any importance to the report submitted to the Pentagon by McChrystal and termed it a mere feeler and said that it would not augur well for the political and economic ties of the three important countries of the region.
Haji Adeel was of the view that the report may create an atmosphere of misunderstanding, adding that it was not a pro-Pakistan report. It will rather increase difficulties for Pakistan, he added.
He said with regard to relations with India and Afghanistan, Pakistan would have to reconsider its role in the regional perspective and the fast changing economic scenario. The ANP senator said his party will be pleased to be a part of any forum and mechanism aimed at enhancing and strengthening economic and political ties with Afghanistan and India.
The ANP leader said that there were numerous economic opportunities in Afghanistan for Pakistan and it should avail them. The same could be made possible through friendly political ties, he said.
He also sought an active role of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (Saarc) in the region to work for the economic integration in the region.He also underlined the need for more active role of the Pak-Afghan ministerial committee for the purpose.
Haji Adeel said food items of billions of dollars were informally being exchanged among the three countries that needed to be formalised so that it could benefit their national economies.Similarly, Professor Dr Ijaz Khattak, chairman of the Department of International Relations, University of Peshawar, said the geography and economics should be given a chance in the region.
About the tension in the region, he said that economic integration was the only way to ease the political tension. He also advocated enhanced economic ties with India and Afghanistan and said nobody would come to fix the problems being faced by the three countries of the region and therefore, they will have to rectify the situation themselves.
Adeel terms McChrystals statement detrimental to regional economic integration
Friday, September 25, 2009
By Riaz Khan Daudzai
PESHAWAR: The Awami National Party (ANP) on Thursday said it sought friendly economic and political relations with both Afghanistan and India and asked the government to avail the economic and investment opportunities being offered by the reconstruction process in the war-shattered country.
Responding to a question about a report submitted by the US commander General Stanley McChrystal warning against the destabilising effects of the increasing economic influence of India in Afghanistan, which may escalate tension in the region, Senator Haji Muhammad Adeel, acting president of the ANP, termed the viewpoint of the US general detrimental to the economic integration of the region.
He said Pakistan should revisit its economic ties with both India and Afghanistan and other countries of the region to strengthen its economic condition instead of isolating itself economically.
He said that he did not attach any importance to the report submitted to the Pentagon by McChrystal and termed it a mere feeler and said that it would not augur well for the political and economic ties of the three important countries of the region.
Haji Adeel was of the view that the report may create an atmosphere of misunderstanding, adding that it was not a pro-Pakistan report. It will rather increase difficulties for Pakistan, he added.
He said with regard to relations with India and Afghanistan, Pakistan would have to reconsider its role in the regional perspective and the fast changing economic scenario. The ANP senator said his party will be pleased to be a part of any forum and mechanism aimed at enhancing and strengthening economic and political ties with Afghanistan and India.
The ANP leader said that there were numerous economic opportunities in Afghanistan for Pakistan and it should avail them. The same could be made possible through friendly political ties, he said.
He also sought an active role of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (Saarc) in the region to work for the economic integration in the region.He also underlined the need for more active role of the Pak-Afghan ministerial committee for the purpose.
Haji Adeel said food items of billions of dollars were informally being exchanged among the three countries that needed to be formalised so that it could benefit their national economies.Similarly, Professor Dr Ijaz Khattak, chairman of the Department of International Relations, University of Peshawar, said the geography and economics should be given a chance in the region.
About the tension in the region, he said that economic integration was the only way to ease the political tension. He also advocated enhanced economic ties with India and Afghanistan and said nobody would come to fix the problems being faced by the three countries of the region and therefore, they will have to rectify the situation themselves.
