PESHAWAR: United States Ambassador in Pakistan, Cameron Munter has said that the attack on Salala check post was unintentional and unfortunate, which must be stopped in future. He said Pak-US relations should be based on mutual interest and respect, saying America wanted long-term ties with Pakistan as key ally in war against terrorism.
He was speaking at Sarhad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) here on Wednesday. SCCI President Afan Aziz, renowned industrialists, businessmen and members of business community were present on the occasion. Munter said people-to-people contact would strengthen relationship between US and Pakistan, and stressed the need to workout for creation of favourable environment for investment in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and rest of region.
Munter said US was keen to invest in energy and other potential sectors in Pakistan, adding they were already extended assistance for Gomal Zam Dam project, which aimed at protecting floods and creating new opportunities for local people. He stressed the need to take steps through bringing reforms and legislation for mitigating the suffering of people of Pakistan instead of looking towards the US. He dispelled the impression about the US aid for Pakistan, saying that US had extended two billion dollars of assistance since a decade to Pakistan. However, he said the assistance wasn't benefited to deserving people of the country. "Pakistan is desperately needed a leadership, which could prove to address the key issues of the country," he stressed.
He said US would continue its support in term of expertise and aid under a firm commitment, but Pakistani government should resolve their internal issues by itself instead of tending toward them. "America believes to continue support and assistance to Pakistan for recovery and rebuilding from post-war and natural disastrous situation", US diplomat said. The Pakistani leadership should focus on business, investment and especially issues of people, he said.
Regarding the fragile economic growth of KP, he said US was committed to extend any possible assistance to revitalise economic activities and businesses in the region. "We are working for rebuilding and revival of different sectors in the KP and Federally Administered Tribal Areas," he informed. He acknowledged that KP and Fata had paid huge economic and infrastructure losses in the war against terrorism.
Regarding the long pending of Reconstruction Opportunities Zone (RoZ) for KP and Balochistan, he said they had struggled to pass it from US-congress but unable to do it yet, he apologised. However, he said US would continue facilitation services and assistance in shape of technical and sharing of expertise for development to the region much affected in war again terrorism.
Commenting on US-Pak relations post-Salala incident, he said that once the ongoing Pakistan sitting parliamentary debate conclude on the issue, then US would decide any future course of action. Munter said American government and Pakistan would joint workout for boosting economic, commercial and social ties, and added that US keen to invest in different potential sectors of Pakistan.
Despite security implications, he said the region had much importance in context of trade linkages and bilateral economic relations, saying Pakistan should adopt regional approaches to improve trade ties and access to EU along with rest of the world. He said US wanted more trade engagement with Pakistan, but there was need to bring reforms and certain legislation for creation of utmost climate of investment in the region. The better trade and investment couldn't be possible in uncertain situation, he maintained. "We want to have good relations with Pakistan government, business community, common people and other members of society to enhance better ties with Pakistan," he stressed.
About the visas problems to business community, he said US visa policy was much restricted and limited, saying they would make ensure maximum visa to the people of Pakistan. Commenting of free-trade agreement between US and Pakistan, he said it was quite difficult to any such accord between the two countries, because there were involving a sort of partnership to sign FTA like treaties. Earlier, SCCI President Afan Aziz in his welcome address said KP as frontline state had suffered a lot in war against terrorism, adding relief package had not much to heel miseries and sacrifices of the region.
APP adds: He said US has always supported and assisted Pakistan government in need of hour. Our response to 2110 flood was very prompt and effective. The US had given dollar two billion assistance to Pakistan since 2009. However, he argued that external assistance cannot resolve domestic problem and for this people of Pakistan have to stand on their own feet. He said we are ready to continue providing assistance in every sector, but the people of Pakistan have to lead these programme.
We can jointly work for development in sectors like energy, water channels, flood control, creating employment opportunities through industrialisation. In response to a question about setting up of ROZs (Reconstructing Opportunity Zones), US Ambassador said the issue has taken a lot of time due to some problems in passage of bill in this regard.
However, he added, US will continue to work in this direction. On one point, when the issue of ROZs was raised again for former President of KPCCI, Ghazanfar Bilour, US Ambassador said if we failed to set up ROZs, Pakistan should approach some other country in this regard.
"Don't look at the US for solving problems, Pakistan should have to show leadership," he remarked and added that US is assisting, but be the leader in relationship and do not fall into mistake. We want to support your talent which you have to show, he went on to say. To a suggestion on signing FTA (Free Trade Agreement) between Pakistan and US as a measure to compensate the earlier for the losses it suffered due to war on terror, Cameron Munter said FTA is signed among countries on mutual benefit basis.
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