Bridging growing trust deficit: US must encourage people-to-people contacts

A close interaction at people-to-people level could significantly help bridge the growing trust deficit between Pakistan and the US. The writer was in the US on a 5-6 weeks visit under Professional Partnership Programme for Journalists 2013, which ended last month.
During the period that he spent in one of the biggest democracies of the world and his interaction with a cross section of people representing different ethnic, social and religious groups, he has returned to his country greatly convinced that mixing with the people and talking to them at personal level could yield instant results. That most Americans are not sufficiently aware about Pakistan is a reality that reflects badly on our diplomats posted in D.C.
One does not come across the incidents of discrimination on the basis of gender, religion, race, community and language. The institutions in United States including media appear to work within given parameters. Everything is quite orderly in the US where everybody enjoys his life and freedom which the Americans zealously preserve and protect. At the same time, however, one finds people begging, particularly in the downtown areas in New York City and Washington. May be, the Great Recession is exacting its toll on job opportunities.
In New York City, signboards have been put up, inviting people to identify their ancestors through DNA tests, reflecting that the concept of living together or maintaining physical relations in the absence of legal matrimonial contracts is damaging the US society where youth are confused about their family.
Realising the gravity of the issue, the US government has now started ad-campaigns to motivate its youth to establish legal relations as 90 percent of teen parents don't marry in the country. It would be interesting to note that some US officials told Pakistani journalists that no visiting Pakistani official had so far raised objection on 'Drone attacks' in Pakistan, "though every political party in Pakistan has been openly condemning Drone strikes."