Institute of Strategic Studies Islamabad (ISSI) invited a public talk on Thursday on "Pakistan: Internal Dynamics and External Challenges". Former Foreign Minister Inam-ul-Haq was the speaker on the occasion. Inam-ul-Haq said that Pakistan has been facing seven kinds of scarcities, which require immediate attention of the decision-makers.
These scarcities include water, food, energy, environment, geographical space, material and infrastructure. He said Pakistan is capable of controlling shortages in these sectors if the ever-growing population would come under control. He explained that the population has mismatched the internal resources of Pakistan. "If one percent of population is above the resources, it would create chaos", he remarked. According to a study, he said 65 percent population is under the age of 25. Unavailability of quality education and skill led to increase in unemployment. "Around two million fresh educated youth apply in public and private sector for employment but government failed to accommodate each of them", he said. Unemployed youth is dangerous for the society, he added.
He said the cultivated land of the country is diminishing as urbanisation is spreading. Presently, developed countries were purchasing land in other countries to grow food. He recalled reports where Saudi Arabia and UAE took land on lease in Pakistan for agriculture farming for their consumption.
He also criticised the three tiers of education, which are not matching with each other. The worse tier is Madrasas. He alleged that Madrasas are producing anti-state elements. Inam-ul-Haq further said that Pakistan must shift its strategy from counter insurgency to anti-terrorism. He suggested that government should emphasis on its own internal security rather to worry about US presence in Afghanistan after withdrawal of its forces from Afghanistan by 2014. He said, "Let the Russia, China and Iran worry about setting up airbases in Afghanistan by US as their presence also irritate them".
The former foreign minister said that the trust deficit between Pakistan and US is due to the delay in taking action against Haqqani network in North Waziristan and presence of Taliban Quetta Shura and Gul Badin Hikmatyar Group. He suggested that tense ties with US led to cutting off relations with EU countries, Japan and other countries of world. "We must think where we stand before discontinuation of co-operation with US in war on terror", he added. He also mentioned the transit facilities provided by Pakistan to Nato/ISAF, which have been engaged in Afghanistan. He said the size of leverage has been reduced as US is gradually diverting its supply from Northern Routes. According to a report, the supply to Nato/ISAF would be reduced to only 15 percent by the end of 2011, he said.
Talking about the relationship with India, he said US could not do much in resolution of Kashmir issue except bringing all the parties on table for dialogue. He said US encouraged the good relationship between two countries as it wants Pakistan to remove armed forces from Eastern borders and deputed it against the terrorist on Pak-Afghan borders.
Earlier, in his welcome address, Director General ISSI, Ashraf Jehangir Qazi predicted that Pakistan might meet some critical challenges in 2011 if they did not set the right direction. He said stiffness in Pak-US relationship might further encourage India to discontinue dialogue with Pakistan as already fingers are raised towards Pakistan.
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