Maleeha warns US against support to regional domination

From Afzal Khan 

WASHINGTON June 27^th:–Underlining the importance of a balanced US policy critical to peace, stability and long-term economic development of South Asia, Pakistan Ambassador Dr Maleeha Lodhi cautioned that "encouraging regional domination is likely to accentuate political tensions, increase diplomatic intransigence, perpetuate regional conflicts and intensify instability in the region."

Speaking at a seminar organised by Pakistani American Congress in which senior officials of the State Department and National Security participated, Lodhi called for a new security architecture for South Asia, adding it had become a global imperative because of the dangerous situation prevailing in the region.

"South Asia today faces a " combustible mix of religious antagonisms, political disputes, especially Kashmir, large armies deployed along long borders, and now the overt possession and impending deployment of nuclear weapons. She said the new security structure could be built on four pillars -nuclear restraint; a balance in the conventional forces and capabilities of the two countries; the maintenance of deterrence at a "minimum" level and the creation of stability in the nuclearised environment of South Asia that must include resolution of Kashmir dispute and finally the promotion of economic and social development in the region.

Referring to the upcoming Musharraf-Vajpayee summit, Lodhi said the president was going with an open mind and looking to the summit with hope. She said durable peace between Pakistan and India obviously required an equitable solution to the Kashmir dispute, responsive to the aspirations of its people. " We shall continue to look for fair and friendly intercession of the United States to help in resolving the Kashmir dispute and in overcoming the legacy of antagonism and distrust," she added.

She underscored the fact that the issue of sanctions continued to cast a shadow on Pak-US bilateral relationship which cannot achieve their full potential as long as the multi-layered, unilateral, discriminatory sanctions on Pakistan remain in place. Pakistan has welcomed the sanctions review initiated by the Bush Administration and carefully noted the statements made by key officials on the relevance and usefulness of sanctions as a policy instrument.
Emphasising that it is time to remove all nuclear-related sanctions on Pakistan, Lodhi said fairness demands that measures for sanctions relief treat both South Asian countries in a similar fashion, because these sanctions were triggered by a similar action. "A differentiated approach, either in terms of timing or scope, would strengthen perceptions of discrimination against Pakistan and impede our progress towards a more productive relationship, "she observed.

Referring to the history of Pakistan-US relationship, the ambassador said their partnership was pivotal at critical moments in the Cold War and also towards promoting stability in South Asia. She said bilateral ties now need be rebuilt. "Inevitably, the future relationship between Pakistan and the US must be based on facts and not myth, on interests and not emotions on mutual understanding and tolerance, not distorted images of each other," she said hoping that the trust evident during the difficult days of the Cold War will not be undermined by the temporary difficulties they encounter.

Dr Lodhi underscored Pak-US convergence of interests and objectives not only in South Asia but also in the adjacent regions of Central Asia and the Gulf. "Today, more than ever, our countries continue to share vital common interests and strategic objectives, especially in South Asia, Central Asia and the Gulf," she said, adding that a new and sustainable relationship could be built on the principles of mutual respect, non-discrimination, positive engagement, and a strategic long-term vision.

She believed that the new Bush Administration sought such a relationship with Pakistan which was fully reciprocated by Pakistan. A good beginning has been made with Foreign Minister Sattar's visit to Washington last week. 
She also recounted areas where both countries were cooperating fruitfully like international peacekeeping, counter-narcotics, and counter-terrorism. 

"Pakistan is now in the process of deploying over 4,000 peacekeepers in Sierra Leone which will make it one of the world's largest contributors to international peacekeeping forces. The cooperation in the elimination of illegal narcotics production has led to dramatic results making Pakistan almost poppy-free in 2001."

The ambassador said there was scope for further engagement in the nuclear and missile fields, as Pakistan shared the objectives of non-proliferation and acted with restraint and responsibility. "Regionally our two countries have a shared interest in the maintenance of peace and stability, promotion of a peaceful solution of Kashmir, prevention of a nuclear and conventional arms race, and preservation of a united, stable, pluralist, and economically reconstructed Afghanistan. Beyond that there is convergence in our strategic economic objectives in the region and beyond," she said Referring to Sattar's visit, Dr Lodhi said both countries had begun a process of thinking together of ways and means to address various facets of the Afghanistan problem: addressing terrorism, providing humanitarian relief and economic reconstruction, and creating an environment in which political reconciliation and peace can be realised.

"The consultations on strategic issues have helped Pakistan to understand more fully the rationale and nature of the new security framework which President Bush has outlined. Our main concern is, of course, to preserve the credibility of minimum deterrence in our region. To this end, India and Pakistan should promote nuclear and conventional restraint."

The Pakistani ambassador lauded the services of outgoing president Dr Riaz Ahmad for the community for his able stewardship of the Pakistani-American Congress in the last two years and his leadership role in the community over the past many decades. She also welcomed the new PAC president Dr Nisar Chaudhry and hoped he would further strengthen the organisation.

She said Pakistani-American community was a highly educated and enterprising community which was growing in size, becoming increasingly diverse. "Today, it comprises physicians, scientists, engineers, academics, economists, Wall Street financial analysts, IT professionals and entrepreneurs, small business owners, and also limousine owners and cab drivers and. it is influencing political, economic and cultural life in the US as also their homeland," she said.