Qureshi wonders how ‘serious’ US is in long-term ties with Pakistan

[Neo]

Qureshi wonders how ‘serious’ US is in long-term ties with Pakistan​

* Pakistan’s FM says new govt wants ‘partnership’ with US​

By Khalid Hasan

WASHINGTON: Pakistan wants to know how “serious” the United States is in establishing a long-term and broadened relationship with it, Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi told the Washington Post in an interview published on Saturday.

Talking to the newspaper’s editors and reporters, he said the new government wanted a “partnership” with the United States and was looking for tangible signs that the Bush administration would increase aid and embrace Pakistani democracy.

He said he had received a positive response from the US officials he had met, but adding, “It has to be demonstrated in form.” Asked about President Pervez Musharraf’s future, Qureshi replied, “Our position is that President Musharraf has played an important role. But things have changed significantly, and the message of the people is very clear. That message has to be understood. President Musharraf will stay as long as the parliament thinks he should stay - let the Parliament take that decision.”

He said the Bush administration was “beginning to realise that they have to see beyond President Musharraf”, adding, “Individuals are important - individuals provide leadership. But ultimately you have to rely on institutions.”

On relations with neighbours, Qureshi said the new government was seeking to “build bridges and create goodwill” with Kabul, as well as making a major effort to improve ties with India. He said the US-led war against the Taliban in Afghanistan was problematic “because there are a lot of people in Afghanistan questioning the way things are being governed”.

As for Pakistan-India relations, the foreign minister said he had told Indian officials in New Delhi that “an opportunity has come and if they do not grab, it will go”. He said the response from Indian officials was positive. “I see a desire on both sides for normalisation,” said Qureshi, adding, “My feeling is that people have outpaced the governments. This region has suffered because of our acrimony and hostility, and the world is moving on and we are lagging behind. Nobody is going to wait for us.”

A press release issued by the Foreign Office staff said that in a meeting with Qureshi, US National Security Adviser Stephen Hadley had conveyed “full support of President Bush and the US government for Pakistan’s democratic government and expressed commitment to work with the civilian leadership to further strengthen the relationship between Pakistan the United States.”

The press release said the two officials had discussed their current state relations and “the challenges in the relationship” in a “candid and constructive manner”. The word “candid” is an established diplomatic parlance for a tough meeting, often devoid of agreement.

Daily Times - Leading News Resource of Pakistan

 

[Zyxius]

If Qureshi wants to know if the US is serious....look at the friggin newspapers where they keep threatening us!! That we even consider a "partnership" with the Americans is insane. Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me. Fool me three times and we have the makings of a Pakistani government.

 

[Tiki Tam Tam]

No country, except those who have ideological affinity, supports any other if it clashes with its own interest.

An unfortunate commentary in the world of black and white, but not so if one understands geo politics and geo strategy. Emotions and dripping sentiments have no place in international affairs.

Therefore, the partnership is so long as there is no clash of interest. That is so obvious!

 

[Majnun]

Whenever I have seen Qureshi on TV, I have been singularly unimpressed with him, especially his way of talking. No eloquence for someone who spends so much time with the media.

But here, I was surprised. What he said is very well said. Look at Gilani and you see someone who talks about everything like one of the lower members of the party, not the prime minister.
What Qureshi said sounds like what a prime minister or a top member of a country's government would say.
I'm impressed.

 

[AgNoStiC MuSliM]

Qureshi is like a crazy guy with an AK47 firing in all directions. Obviously, sometimes he will hit the target...but mostly he'll just look stupid.

Why do you say that?

 

[dr.umer]

Qureshi is like a crazy guy with an AK47 firing in all directions. Obviously, sometimes he will hit the target...but mostly he'll just look stupid.

The Pakistani diplomatic team and military are no fools.

They understand that any US/NATO incursion into Pakistani territory is not about catching Osama Bin Laden, it is about using that as a pretext in order to establish US/NATO troop presence on the ground in Pakistan to open up a potential Western front against Iran, should there be a US/Israeli strike against that country.

 

[AgNoStiC MuSliM]

I have read between 10-15 articles written by him. Only a couple of them fell in the realm of "objectivel" reporting.

The rest seem to be highly personal "gonzo" and emotional pieces which have little weight behind him and seem to be manifestation of his own frustration.

He seems to invent one conspiracy theory after another based on his own "inside" information.

Flintlock and SM Moiz - this is foreign minister Shah Mehmood Qureishi, not Ahmed Qureishi the commentator.

Now can we address the contents of the article, which the two of you have apparently ignored in your tirade over Ahmed Qureshi.

 

[Flintlock]

Flintlock and SM Moiz - this is foreign minister Shah Mehmood Qureishi, not Ahmed Qureishi the commentator.

Now can we address the contents of the article, which the two of you have apparently ignored in your tirade over Ahmed Qureshi.

Wow. Lend me a shovel. I'd like to bury myself now.

 

[AgNoStiC MuSliM]

My opinion, SM Qureshi's point is an extremely valid one.

Many analysts have said that the Pakistan Military maintains some connections with the Taliban because it does not believe the US will stay, nor that the US is going to be a long term partner with Pakistan.

Moving the relationship beyond the transactional, military supplies based one to a broader relationship encompassing trade, investment, social sector and civil society cooperation is crucial to remove this distrust.

 

[AgNoStiC MuSliM]

Wow. Lend me a shovel. I'd like to bury myself now.

lol


Done it myself a few times...

 

[araz]

My opinion, SM Qureshi's point is an extremely valid one.

Many analysts have said that the Pakistan Military maintains some connections with the Taliban because it does not believe the US will stay, nor that the US is going to be a long term partner with Pakistan.

Moving the relationship beyond the transactional, military supplies based one to a broader relationship encompassing trade, investment, social sector and civil society cooperation is crucial to remove this distrust.

Avery good post. A wise and probing statement. As Salim has said there are no permanent friendships, just emerging/persistent interests. US has done it before and will do it again. What Quraishi has asked fairly openly is for a tangible sign of this lasting interest, not just empty words up front and a bullet from behind. In short "put your money where your mouth is".Even if it backfires it would cause no harm as abandonment is expected. If they realize the government means business, they will want to talk not just dictate.
The problem for Pakistan is would it be able to comply with the American wishes and yet propose a face saving solution? At the moment it seems not.
WaSalam
Araz

 

[AgNoStiC MuSliM]

Avery good post. A wise and probing statement. As Salim has said there are no permanent friendships, just emerging/persistent interests. US has done it before and will do it again. What Quraishi has asked fairly openly is for a tangible sign of this lasting interest, not just empty words up front and a bullet from behind. In short "put your money where your mouth is".Even if it backfires it would cause no harm as abandonment is expected. If they realize the government means business, they will want to talk not just dictate.
The problem for Pakistan is would it be able to comply with the American wishes and yet propose a face saving solution? At the moment it seems not.
WaSalam
Araz

I don't see a long term, broad based relationship being attempted by this administration.

Pakistan might have better luck with the next administration, but I am not certain.

In the long term the US is looking at India as a partner, and bolstering India is its priority. In such a situation, tying Pakistan down to free India's hands vis a vis China would be part of the strategy, and therefore any broad based partnership with Pakistan, that would strengthen it, would not be part of US goals in the region.

That does not mean that the US is out to destroy Pakistan, in fact it will most likely continue marginal military supplies that do not affect the balance of power WRT India, and let it retain some influence with Pakistan, but it is not going to go out of its way to develop a partnership with Pakistan that would annoy India.

 

[Cheetah786]

I don't see a long term, broad based relationship being attempted by this administration.

Pakistan might have better luck with the next administration, but I am not certain.

In the long term the US is looking at India as a partner, and bolstering India is its priority. In such a situation, tying Pakistan down to free India's hands vis a vis China would be part of the strategy, and therefore any broad based partnership with Pakistan, that would strengthen it, would not be part of US goals in the region.

That does not mean that the US is out to destroy Pakistan, in fact it will most likely continue marginal military supplies that do not affect the balance of power WRT India, and let it retain some influence with Pakistan, but it is not going to go out of its way to develop a partnership with Pakistan that would annoy India.

Next administration in USA is most likely to be democrats and democratic governments never been good to Pakistan.
I personally don't see Americans doing any thing for Pakistan now or in the future.

 

[muse]

"Next administration in USA is most likely to be democrats and democratic governments never been good to Pakistan"


If the goct in Pakistan is good for Pakistan, it won't matter whether democract or republican - can't argue with success.

 

[AgNoStiC MuSliM]

If the goct in Pakistan is good for Pakistan, it won't matter whether democract or republican - can't argue with success.

Indeed.

I hope that the GoP (and military establishment, if it is indeed holding on to the Taliban in the hopes of thwarting Indian/US/Afghan designs on Pakistan) realizes soon that the Taliban are no "buffer" of any sort, and a greater evil than the Baloch militancy could ever hope to be.