Going beyond the repeated assertions of "do more" by the West and the United States in the war against terrorism, President Asif Ali Zardari on Sunday said it was time to get together and strengthen each other to be able to achieve more.
"It is time to bring to their attention that let us get together and strengthen each other to able to achieve more...., Do more is not the answer. Achievement is the answer. Do more is just a statement", the President said in an interview with PTV telecast on Sunday night.
President Zardari said during his forthcoming visit to the United States he will talk to the US leadership on this issue and ask them "let us get together and talk about achieving more".
The President said his dialogue with the US leadership will focus on the point that what was their progress in Afghanistan during the last eight years. President Zardari said he will tell the US leadership that Pakistan has been with the US during the last eight years, supported them and still wanted to be with them. "What we have done, see your weaknesses as well as ours", he added.
He said Pakistan has suffered a lot due to war on terror, which has its roots in the cold war era as well as the campaign launched against the occupation of Afghanistan by the Soviet Union in early 1980s. The President said all this situation created the heroine and Kalashnikov culture, which badly affected Pakistan socially and economically.
"We have law, institutions, courts, but we have also weaknesses. Our population was growing at 3.6 percent. And if we would not have had this war on terror, our exports would have been at $ 80 billion per annum", he added. President Zardari in response to a question said the recent statement of US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton that the US was also responsible for the problems currently being faced by Pakistan was an acceptance of Pakistan's viewpoint on the issue.
He said Pakistan has been advocating for a regional approach to tackle all the challenges including terrorism and militancy, adding, Pakistan, Iran, Afghanistan, India, China, Turkey and the Central Asian States can grow and prosper by mutual co-operation and through integrated efforts. The President said that the Pakistan People's Party government was following and gaining strength by following the philosophy of Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto, adding, "that is why we want to bring China - with which we have over five decades old relations - more close to us."
President Zardari said the Friends of Democratic Pakistan (FODP) initiative, which he launched in New York in September last year, was aimed at bringing the world together and support Pakistan in tackling the challenges including fight against terrorism. He referred to the successful holding of recent FODP meeting in Tokyo and said the FODP forum was a vehicle to get the regional countries as well as the world community together to face the challenges.
Similarly, the President said, he also took up the issue of terrorism and militancy at the recent BOAO Forum in China and told the participants "unless we succeed in the war against terrorism, we cannot achieve economic progress." About Swat peace deal, President Zardari said as the agreement was reached between the provincial government and the local religion leaders in Swat, they should be given time (to achieve peace).
"The situation deteriorates, but it takes time to correct the situation. But they should be given time," he added. The President admitted there was criticism on the matter. "There are negative affects of the situation. But the positive effect is that now there was a growing sense of realisation among the people that something will have to be done".
Asked about the Nizam-e-Adl Regulation with condition of peace in Swat, he said, any decision to this effect will be taken by the Parliament. When the people of Swat feel there was no peace even after the regulation, then the provincial government, assembly and the parliament can give their opinion on this issue, he added. President Zardari said the aid from Friends of Democratic Pakistan (FODP) will help strengthen the country's institutions and provide economic relief to the people.
He said Pakistan needs further help of the international friends to meet its challenges. Explaining vision of the PPP government, he said they wanted to strengthen people and make the country self-sufficient by not relying on aid and by seeking more trade opportunities especially with the neighbouring countries.
Zardari said he sees opportunities of enhanced trade with China and India and Pakistan wants more access to their markets on reciprocal basis.
He said he is optimistic about Pakistan's future and in line with the philosophy of PPP, the government has set its sight on providing food, clothing and home to the masses. Zulfikar Ali Bhutto gave the slogan of "roti, kapra and makan" which has been the enduring philosophy of the PPP, he said adding Zulfikar Bhutto and Benazir Bhutto had the ability to achieve more than they had the opportunity to do so.
Despite recession in the world and other economic issues, the government is determined to serve and work for benefit of the people, he said adding the government took the tough decision of getting financial aid from the World Bank and the leadership will steer the country out of the present crisis. The President called agriculture the backbone of economy on which future of the country still depends.
He referred to the Chinese technical expertise to boost agriculture and gave details of the projects being initiated to improve water conservation and double per acre yield by adopting better irrigation methods and by securing high quality seeds. The President talked about the plans of public private partnership to cultivate barren lands in Balochistan.
He said the government targetted poverty by ensuring direct cash transfers to women under the Benazir Income Support Programme. Under another plan, women will be allotted land which will help empower the female population. He said he has personal experience and can feel the distress caused by power shortages as he spent eight years in jail where one has to spend time without electricity when loadshedding occurs. The President said it was the Benazir Bhutto led government which undertook projects through independent power producers to save the country from electricity shortages.
The same will be done this time as work is continuing on more power projects to meet the demand, he added. The President said the situation in troubled areas will be put under control through the strategy of dialogue along with deterrence.
"Use of force alone is counterproductive. Police and civil forces will be strengthened and the army will be used as a last resort," he added. President Zardari spoke of his incarceration in jail and said despite having the choice to walk free he suffered imprisonment so as not to let go waste the sacrifices rendered by the founder of PPP and his children understand why he decided to take on the challenges being faced by Pakistan.
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