Tariq Fatemi, a top diplomat, has wrapped up his US visit during which he met with senior Obama administration officials, key legislators and think-tanks members, saying there is appreciation for the way Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif is tackling the energy crisis and confronting the scourge of extremism and militancy.
Fatemi, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs, also paid, in the course of his week-long trip, a flying visit to New York where he addressed the United Nations Security Council and held a series of meetings at which he underscored the urgent need to end Israeli attacks against the Gaza Strip. About his talks in Washington, which began on July 21, he said there was now better appreciation of each others' point of view on issues of concern to the two countries.
"My visit was timely, productive and comprehensive- it took place when important developments are talking place on our eastern and western borders," Fatemi said in an interview with APP. He was obviously referring to the emergence of new leadership in India and the process of political transition in Afghanistan.
"I was able to brief my interlocutors on the priorities of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's government - both as regard to domestic policies as well as foreign policy objectives," he said. On the energy issue, he said, they assured him that the Obama administration would continue to remain engaged with Pakistan as a resolution of this crisis would help strengthen the country's economy.
The ongoing military operation against militants in North Waziristan, Fatemi said, was seen in Washington as the outcome of a national consensus resulting from the Prime Minister's efforts to first engage with the militants in a dialogue, and undertake military operations only when it becomes inevitable. As regard the Prime Minister's foreign policy goals, he said, there was acknowledgement that the Prime Minister was assiduously promoting policies that would create a peaceful neighbourhood.
In this regard, he pointed out Nawaz Sharif's outreach to Afghan President Hamid Karzai and Pakistan's quiet assistance in ensuring peaceful, orderly presidential polls in Afghanistan by sealing the borders. This was seen as an evidence of as major shift from the earlier years when Islamabad was perceived to be interfering in the Afghan domestic affairs. Prime Minister Nawaz's repeated public declarations that Pakistan wished to see Afghanistan as an independent, sovereign and united country was also noted.
The Americans, Fatemi said, appeared confident that Prime Minister Sharif's sincere endeavours to promote the normalisation process with India. He said they regarded it as the right policy, which would not only reduce tensions between the two countries, but also create the ground for meaningful economic and commercial engagement between them.
"My mission in Washington was to keep American officials both in the State Department and other departments fully briefed on all aspects of our bilateral ties," the special assistant said, adding that, in turn, he was able to get a better feel of how Washington sees the development in the region. He said there was mutual desire to promote peace and stability in the region.
Replying to a question, Fatemi said he discussed at length the ongoing military operation, emphasising that it was focused, objective-oriented, and most importantly directed at all militant and extremists who are equally treated. The special assistant said Pakistani military's well-planned operation would be far more successful and yield greater results should the US, Nato, ISAF and Afghan forces undertake similar operations on the other side of the border. "I was assured there was great merit in my plea for a reciprocal action."
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