Eradication of terrorism: 'Pak-US ties need collaborative diplomatic efforts'

Pakistan's strategic ties with the United States are of crucial importance and it needs further collaborative diplomatic efforts to stamp out the menace of terrorism in the region. Addressing a seminar on "Implications of Trump's new policy on South Asia" under the aegis of Pak-US Business Council on Tuesday, President Pak-US Business Council Iftikhar Ali Malik also stressed the need for seeking a settlement to end the war in Afghanistan since improved security situation and the economic reforms could lead to revival of economy in Pakistan.
He said in prevailing odd circumstance, the US cannot ignore Pakistan despite its tense relations with its old ally in war against terrorism. "For too long, the US has viewed the bilateral relationship only through the prism of Afghanistan. To achieve real progress, the US must make clear its enduring commitment to Pakistan's stability and economic growth," he added.
Criticizing the current Trump administration policy on Pakistan and Afghanistan, he said by inviting New Delhi to play a larger role in Afghanistan, the new Trump policy, instead of soothing Islamabad's fears about an Indian presence in Afghanistan, has inflamed Pakistani anxieties. "Ignoring this Pakistani bottom line is guaranteed to negate whatever leverage capabilities US power might otherwise possess," he said.
"The Trump administration ought to have a clear understanding of the reasons behind America's very indifferent record in trying to exert leverage on Pakistan," he added. Malik said the US mission in Afghanistan is the same today as it was in 2001. He said to attain mission of peaceful Afghanistan, it is immeasurably more difficult without Pakistan's cooperation in taking on terrorists that operate across the Afghan-Pakistani border at will.
"That is why enhanced cooperation between Afghanistan and Pakistan is essential," he added. Lieutenant General Ghulam Mustafa (retd) speaking on the occasion said that peace could only be restored in Afghanistan through a negotiated settlement. The immediate challenge for both the US and Pakistan, he said, was to find a common approach to Afghanistan even though both agreed that the stability and security of Afghanistan was a shared interest. He said diplomatic ties to Washington remains one of critical importance to Pakistan despite Pakistan's recent efforts to forge closer diplomatic ties with China and Russia.
He said it is in the interest of the country that we should further strengthen our economic ties with the US. However, threats to withdraw US military aid entirely are not going to have much impact, since the US needs Pakistan for its broader efforts in South Asia, he said. Even if Washington chooses to get tough on Islamabad, Pakistan can survive even without any American assistance.
Senior Faculty Member of Punjab University's Institute of Communication Studies, Dr Waqar Chaudhry, said that amounts paid out to Pakistan under the US coalition support fund have fallen 62 percent from $1.44 billion in 2013 with hundreds of millions blocked in the past year as American officials said Pakistan wasn't doing enough to root out groups like the Haqqanis.
"With more than $60 billion in planned infrastructure projects and strong diplomatic support for its positions, American threats to withdraw billions in military aid are becoming less worrying for Pakistan," he added. Executive member SAARC Chamber of Commerce and Industry Pervez Lala also spoke on the occasion.