Second round of strategic dialogue

All is set for holding the second round of the Pak-US strategic dialogue in Islamabad. President Obama's special envoy Richard Holbrooke is already in the capital and has met President Zardari. Secretary Clinton, who is to head the US team, is scheduled to reach Pakistan today. A meeting of the senior officials of the Friends of Democratic Pakistan is taking place ahead of the dialogue.
Soon after meeting Holbrooke, Zardari said that the government is determined to fight terrorism to the bitter end. Meanwhile, after a meeting of the corps commanders, General Kayani has said that terrorism has to be wiped out, indicating that there is unanimity in the military high command on the issue. Civil and military leaders have thus made it known that they are on the same page on the issue of eliminating the scourge of militancy. During the last week, a countrywide campaign has been conducted to round up terrorists belonging to various militant groups.
Hundreds of militants were nabbed all over the country, the highest number belonging to Punjab. A series of meetings have been held over the last few weeks, between Pakistani and American officials, to identify areas for co-operation. In the light of these deliberations, Pakistan has reprioritised the issues it wants to take up during the dialogue.
The water dispute with India, market access for Pakistani goods, energy, agriculture and human capital development have been identified as five major areas where Pakistan would seek US help. Pakistan is likely to ask the US authorities to increase the $7.5 billion aid, under the Kerry-Lugar Act, to $50 billion if it really wants the country to succeed in the war against terrorism and improve US image in Pakistan. Islamabad would also ask the US to help Pakistan acquire nuclear technology and assist it in the generation of hydel power. Other areas where US assistance would be sought include development of mineral resources and expanding skill development facilities, especially in the war-affected areas.
While an agreement to hold strategic dialogue between the two countries was brokered in the Musharraf era, not much could be achieved during the period. It was only in March, this year, that the dialogue was elevated to the ministerial level, thus making it really worthwhile. The elevation took place in view of the importance of Pakistan's role in eliminating terrorism from the region. The first round of talks was held in Washington on March 24-25, 2010 and was led by secretary of state Clinton and foreign minister Quresh. That General Kayani, too, was a member of the Pakistani team indicated the importance of the role of the Pakistan army. Over the last few months, the army's clout has further increased, partly because of its vital role in eliminating terrorists from Fata and partly because of weak civilian structures, which allow the army to extend its turf. The army has reportedly done most of the paperwork related to the strategic dialogue, defining the issues considered vital by Pakistan to win the war against extremism and militancy.
Reportedly, the GHQ has put the economy, rather than security concerns or demands for military hardware, at the top of the listed priorities. This explains the inclusion of finance minister Hafeez Sheikh in the team. Resolving the water dispute between Pakistan and India is high on the agenda. Pakistan will request the US to use its clout with New Delhi to help resolve the issue, which has great importance for the country's agriculture.
Another important event, which is simultaneously taking place in the region, is the international conference on Afghanistan, which will be a follow-up of the London conference held earlier this year. Hillary Clinton and Shah Mehmood Qureshi would both visit Kabul on July 20 to attend the moot. Equally important would be the signing, on July 22, of the transit trade agreement between Pakistan and Afghanistan. In internal meetings with Afghanistan, Islamabad has reportedly shown willingness to facilitate exports from Afghanistan through Pakistan.
Similarly, under the transit trade treaty, Pakistan will be allowed to send goods to the Central Asian republics through Afghanistan. While Pakistan would like to see Afghan goods being exported to India, through Wahgah, New Delhi would not be a part of the agreement on transit trade. Indian goods will not use Pakistani territory to reach Afghanistan and Central Asia, something India yearns for. It is for the US to make India realise that a resolution of its disputes with Pakistan would immensely benefit New Delhi, while it would also put the region in a win-win position.