Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi on Thursday concluded Pakistan's participation in the three-way consultative talks with the United States and Afghanistan with an upbeat assessment, saying the anti-terrorism allies took a "significant leap in bridging the trust deficit."
Shah Mehmood Qureshi also came with the positive message that the United States is disposed to expand assistance to help Islamabad tide over economic difficulties facing the country. "We have identified in our discourse that we have a common enemy, so to defeat this common enemy we require a common strategy. And that is what we were here to discuss."
"Our discussions were to build this partnership and I can say that we have taken a significant leap forward in the last three days in bridging the trust deficit," he told Washington-based Pakistani journalists. Pakistan's envoy in Washington Hussain Haqqani was also present. The noted difference in this interaction was that he found this administration keen to listen, Qureshi stated.
"They were frank. The discussions were candid. And they admitted that they did not have a magic formula, it is a huge challenge, ambassador Holbrooke himself has said so, but collectively, we feel that can overcome the challenge." On Swat peace deal reached last week, Qureshi said he informed the US officials about the logic behind it.
"We discussed the Swat peace agreement. And the explanation and raison given by myself on the Swat agreement and its history, I think to a great extent we have been able to allay their concerns." Focusing on Pakistan-US bilateral relations, the foreign minister said Pakistan is interested in building a long-term broad-based partnership with the United States, based on common ideals, values and principles.
During his interface with the Obama administration officials and top lawmakers, he found indications for expansion in economic assistance for Pakistan. "I found that this administration is keen, eager and I could see the willingness to increase economic assistance for Pakistan and also to enhance capacity of Pakistan armed and the law enforcement agencies to fight terrorism."
"I am going back to Pakistan with a lot of hope and with the message that this administration wants to support a democratic order and democratic institutions of Pakistan and they are willing to help Pakistan overcome its economic difficulties."
In discussions with Secretary Clinton, he said they both agreed that the progress made in the strategic dialogue was not satisfactory. The strategic dialogue aims at consolidating co-operation in areas like energy, education, agriculture and science and technology.
"But we have both come to the conclusion that to make that dialogue result-oriented, we need more frequent meetings, and we should lay down certain benchmarks to make progress. And we need to develop a mechanism to help Pakistan."
He said Clinton is willing to collectively develop a vehicle in order to mobilise the American citizens of Pakistani origin so that they can help in stabilising Pakistan's economy. "The consensus that emerged was that we are collectively going to write a new chapter in US-Pakistan relations."
Qureshi also received the impression that Kerry-Lugar legislation that seeks to enhance economic annual aid for Pakistan to $1.5 billion may see a further increase the size of assistance. Besides, the Obama administration has indicated an increase in foreign assistance in the coming budget, and obviously Pakistan would be a beneficiary.
It has also been decided that a measure on allowing dedicated reconstruction opportunity zones for duty-free access of certain products to the US market would be reintroduced in the House of Representatives shortly, he said.
The foreign minister, who was accompanied in the talks by top level military officials, said the uniqueness of the Pakistani delegation is that for the first time it comprised of political leadership, military leadership and the foreign office, "all together speaking from the same page." "It reflects a new civil military relationship developing in Pakistan, which is very important to establishing democratic institutions and norms in the country."
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