West must pay heed to grievances of Muslim world: Maleeha

Pakistan's envoy to the UK, Dr Maleeha Lodhi has said that the West must pay heed to grievances of the Muslim world for a "real" dialogue between civilisations. Addressing the central council of the Royal Overseas League here on late Monday, Dr Maleeha Lodhi said that there is a perception in the Islamic world that the Western nations are not sensitive to the issues that are close to Muslim hearts and minds and that so far only lip service has been paid to the notion of a dialogue between civilisations.
To promote harmony between the Islamic and Western worlds, concerted efforts are needed by both sides to remove mutual misperceptions and mutual misunderstandings.
Pakistan's High Commissioner told the British audience of the contribution Pakistan is making as a nation on the front lines of the war on terror. But she stressed that this war cannot be won without a long-term strategy to address the "root causes" especially the sources of political injustice and economic deprivation. Together these factors constituted an explosive mix that created the conditions or breading grounds for extremism and terrorism.
She also dwelt on Pakistan's contribution to the maintenance of global and regional peace and security. She said today Pakistan is the largest contributor to UN peacekeeping missions in the world, demonstrating by actions, not just words, and its commitment to promoting global peace and security. Pakistani troops, she added, are deployed in peacekeeping missions across the world.
Dr Maleeha said that she agreed with the characterisation of Pakistan as a "pivotal state" which is crucial to determining the fate of the region to which it belongs. Situated at the intersection of South Central and South West Asia, Pakistan's geostrategic location gave it a pivotal position and role in all the three regions it straddles.
Pakistan's envoy also briefed the members of the Royal Overseas League of the confidence building measures undertaken between Pakistan and India. She said that while these CBMs had created an environment of hope and opportunity, only a resolution of the Indian occupied Kashmir dispute could yield a lasting peace in the region.
She said Pakistan was not interested in an arms race with India and instead advocated a regime of strategic restraint and stability. Nevertheless it had noted with concern the recent escalation in defence spending by India and would take whatever steps it deemed appropriate to ensure its security.