PAKISTAN WANTS A RELATIONSHIP WITH THE UNITED STATES BASED ON PARTNERSHIP: MOEED YUSUF
Posted by
Muhammad Bilal | Jan 23, 2021 |
Pakistan |
0 |
Moeed Yusuf, Pakistan’s National Security Adviser – Twitter
Moeed Yusuf, Pakistan’s National Security Adviser, says that instead of looking at Pakistan-US relations in the context of Afghanistan, it is time for the United States and Pakistan to move forward based on mutual interests and cooperation. Now is a real opportunity for Pakistan and the United States to make a fresh start.
Speaking online at the Wilson Center, a think tank based in Washington DC, on Thursday, Dr. Moeed Yusuf, Pakistan’s national security adviser, said Islamabad and Washington could cooperate on several other vital issues besides Afghanistan.
Moeed Yusuf said that Pakistan-US relations’ primary objective should be to work together on a relationship with no other perspective. It should be based on a Pakistan-US relationship that is clear and realistic.
According to him, Pakistan now wants an investment partnership with the United States instead of aid. He said that in the past, Pakistan-US relations were viewed only in the context of Afghanistan, which created a difficult situation in the relations. Pakistan’s national security adviser said this when peace in Afghanistan would be a matter of Washington’s foreign policy for the Biden administration in the United States to achieve a political settlement in Afghanistan through inter-Afghan dialogue. This is a prelude to lasting peace so that the withdrawal of foreign forces from Afghanistan is possible through the US-Taliban agreement.
Some observers say that Afghanistan will remain important in US-Pakistan relations even during the Joe Biden administration.
Moeed Yusaf, Pakistan’s national security adviser, said that progress had been made in the Afghan process, which has been very significant. Pakistan’s efforts had led to the start of inter-Afghan talks, and the United States has acknowledged that.
According to him, the Afghan peace process is now under Afghan leadership and patronage.
Pakistan’s National Security Adviser clarified that US investment companies could invest in Pakistan in the economic zone reserved for them despite the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor project.
He said that Pakistan wanted to strengthen economic ties in the region. China and the United States could also invest in joint ventures in this regard that could be extended to Afghanistan.
He said that special product manufacturing zones could be set up in both the countries, from where exports could be sent with tax exemption.
Referring to Afghanistan, Moeed Yusuf said that Pakistan wanted peace and stability in its western neighbor as it was in Islamabad’s interest. It would help build peace in Afghanistan and trade and economic corridors between the regions.
Moeed Yusuf said that at the beginning of President Biden’s presidency, the United States and Pakistan have an opportunity to build bilateral relations in a better way than in the past.
He said it would be unfortunate if Afghanistan remained the focus of Pakistan-US relations.
Analysts say it has been a long-standing desire of Pakistan not to view Pakistan in the context of Afghanistan. Pakistan would expect that relations with Pakistan would not be linked to Afghanistan during the Biden administration.
International affairs analyst Najam Rafique says that after the Biden administration came, it was important for Pakistan to clarify that now Pakistan and the United States should be seen only in terms of bilateral relations for the future and the areas Pakistan and the United States can work together.
According to him, of course, Afghanistan’s issue will be important, but Pakistan should not be seen only in the context of Afghanistan.
According to Najam Rafique, Pakistan expects that Biden has many issues with Pakistan besides Afghanistan in which the two countries can cooperate.
Rahim Yousafzai, an Afghan affairs analyst, says this may not be possible as long as the Afghan conflict continues. However, Pakistan will continue to try that the United States keeps its policy on Pakistan separate from that of Afghanistan. Still, according to him, the United States will make decisions according to its needs and interests.
Moeed Yusuf, Pakistan’s national security adviser, says Pakistan is ready to continue its role in Afghanistan’s peace process. According to him, Pakistan is against any kind of violence and terrorism in its region.
According to him, this situation is by no means acceptable where it is assumed that Pakistan has the solution to all possible problems and should be held responsible for them.
Although some observers believe that Pakistan’s importance may diminish once the Afghanistan issue is resolved. Still, analyst Rahimullah Yousafzai says the United States will never be able to ignore Pakistan as it is a key country in the region.
According to Rahimullah, although India is a big country, Pakistan can still not be ignored as it has a vital role in China. Thus, the importance of Pakistan increases, but according to him, it will be necessary to keep in mind that the United States will make decisions in its interests.
Moeed Yusuf, Pakistan’s national security adviser, says Pakistan is now ready to provide the world an economic zone instead of a military base where global economic interests will be considered.
Referring to Pakistan’s relations with China and the United States, Yusuf clarified that Pakistan does not believe in the politics of going to one camp or another. “We are not doing camp politics. It is not in our interest to do so, and it is not sensible to do so,” he said.
Moeed Yousuf said that no country had asked Pakistan to do so. On the contrary, he said, Pakistan is one of the few countries that can help bring China and the United States closer to each other in matters of mutual interest in the region.
According to Moeed Yusuf, it is time for the United States and Pakistan to move forward based on mutual interests and cooperation
pakistanigazette.com
.
