Omar1984
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Pakistani-American organizations urge Obama to halt drone attacks, pursue peace partnership
WASHINGTON, Jan 27 (APP): A group of Pakistani-American organizations urged U.S. President Barack Obama to pursue a partnership of peace with Pakistan that should begin with respect for statehood and sovereignty of its longtime South Asian ally.
Speaking ahead of a lobbying campaign Tuesday by Indian-American bodies that seek to condition U.S. assistance for Pakistan to Islamabads anti-terror cooperation with New Delhi, the Pakistan-American National Alliance appealed to both the Obama Administration and Congress to shun the notion of coercive diplomacy in dealing with Pakistan.
Representing PANA, Dr Agha Saeed, founder of the alliance, Saghir Tahir, Member of New Hampshire State Assembly, Dr Fawzia Afzal Khan, an eminent professor of English Literature and Dr Muahmmad Ashraf Toor, advocated that Washingtons policies towards Pakistan must be geared toward serving interests of both nations.
On continued drone attacks against suspected militant targets on the Pakistani territory, they said such actions in no way serve the long-term interests of the United States, rather they help fuel fanaticism as extremist elements exploit these kinds of aggressive actions to their advantage.
Secondly, they argued, the use of military actions is very limited in its objectives while the problem of violent extremism is a complex issue and requires a multi-faceted approach. Therefore, unilateral actions into tribal areas should be halted immediately and the democratic Pakistani government be allowed full opportunity to address the complex problems of extremism and militancy, they stressed at a Press Conference at the National Press Club.
Instead, they called upon the Barack Obama administration to adopt a comprehensive approach that may address the root-causes of extremist violence through economic development, educational advancement and regional peace and stability initiatives. The PANA leadership contends that this anti-Pakistan campaign by the Indian Task Force will revive old hostilities, re-polarize Indian and Pakistani communities, jeopardize US interests, undermine prospects for peace in South Asia and weaken the centrist force while strengthening the extremists, they said The alliance will write letters to senior Obama Administration officials, interact with lawmakers on the Capitol Hill and seek audience with Secretary of State to suggest ways for advancing U.S.-Pakistan relations.
In a news release, PANA said Pakistan is a victim of terrorism and appreciated Islamabads cooperative efforts in investigating the Mumbai attacks despite Indian war drum beating.
As part of its peace initiative suggestion for South Asia, PANA asked Washington to support Pakistans economic development, stop India from assisting terrorist organizations working against Pakistan and appoint a special mediator to resolve the lingering Jammu and Kashmir conflict.
According to Congressional Quarterly, a Capitol Hill newspaper, the coalition of Indian-American groups will urge lawmakers to make U.S. military aid to Pakistan conditional on cooperation with investigations of Novembers terrorist attack in Mumbai.
Meanwhile, the Pakistani-Americans plan a similar lobbying day on the Hill next month to urge U.S. lawmakers to enact a proposal that would triple economic aid to the country - a measure that Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr. introduced when he was a senator. The Pakistani American Leadership Center says several Pakistani-American organizations will participate in a National Pakistani American Community Advocacy Day on the Hill. The PAL-C has asked Pakistani-Americans to write to their respective congressional leaders about the facts since Mumbai attacks and Pakistans cooperative efforts.
http://www.app.com.pk/en_/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=66217&Itemid=2
WASHINGTON, Jan 27 (APP): A group of Pakistani-American organizations urged U.S. President Barack Obama to pursue a partnership of peace with Pakistan that should begin with respect for statehood and sovereignty of its longtime South Asian ally.
Speaking ahead of a lobbying campaign Tuesday by Indian-American bodies that seek to condition U.S. assistance for Pakistan to Islamabads anti-terror cooperation with New Delhi, the Pakistan-American National Alliance appealed to both the Obama Administration and Congress to shun the notion of coercive diplomacy in dealing with Pakistan.
Representing PANA, Dr Agha Saeed, founder of the alliance, Saghir Tahir, Member of New Hampshire State Assembly, Dr Fawzia Afzal Khan, an eminent professor of English Literature and Dr Muahmmad Ashraf Toor, advocated that Washingtons policies towards Pakistan must be geared toward serving interests of both nations.
On continued drone attacks against suspected militant targets on the Pakistani territory, they said such actions in no way serve the long-term interests of the United States, rather they help fuel fanaticism as extremist elements exploit these kinds of aggressive actions to their advantage.
Secondly, they argued, the use of military actions is very limited in its objectives while the problem of violent extremism is a complex issue and requires a multi-faceted approach. Therefore, unilateral actions into tribal areas should be halted immediately and the democratic Pakistani government be allowed full opportunity to address the complex problems of extremism and militancy, they stressed at a Press Conference at the National Press Club.
Instead, they called upon the Barack Obama administration to adopt a comprehensive approach that may address the root-causes of extremist violence through economic development, educational advancement and regional peace and stability initiatives. The PANA leadership contends that this anti-Pakistan campaign by the Indian Task Force will revive old hostilities, re-polarize Indian and Pakistani communities, jeopardize US interests, undermine prospects for peace in South Asia and weaken the centrist force while strengthening the extremists, they said The alliance will write letters to senior Obama Administration officials, interact with lawmakers on the Capitol Hill and seek audience with Secretary of State to suggest ways for advancing U.S.-Pakistan relations.
In a news release, PANA said Pakistan is a victim of terrorism and appreciated Islamabads cooperative efforts in investigating the Mumbai attacks despite Indian war drum beating.
As part of its peace initiative suggestion for South Asia, PANA asked Washington to support Pakistans economic development, stop India from assisting terrorist organizations working against Pakistan and appoint a special mediator to resolve the lingering Jammu and Kashmir conflict.
According to Congressional Quarterly, a Capitol Hill newspaper, the coalition of Indian-American groups will urge lawmakers to make U.S. military aid to Pakistan conditional on cooperation with investigations of Novembers terrorist attack in Mumbai.
Meanwhile, the Pakistani-Americans plan a similar lobbying day on the Hill next month to urge U.S. lawmakers to enact a proposal that would triple economic aid to the country - a measure that Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr. introduced when he was a senator. The Pakistani American Leadership Center says several Pakistani-American organizations will participate in a National Pakistani American Community Advocacy Day on the Hill. The PAL-C has asked Pakistani-Americans to write to their respective congressional leaders about the facts since Mumbai attacks and Pakistans cooperative efforts.
http://www.app.com.pk/en_/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=66217&Itemid=2
