United States is eying a positive outcome of the upcoming visit of Afghan President Ashraf Ghani later this week to Islamabad to move from a relationship marred by distrust to one characterised by pragmatism and mutual respect.
"We have a special chance, now, to set future events on a positive course and seize the opportunity in Afghanistan. Pakistan and Afghanistan share a long history and we recognise that there have been challenges in the past," said Richard Olson, US Ambassador to Pakistan, while addressing students at National University of Science and Technology (NUST) during a discussion on "Seize the Opportunity" with Afghanistan".
He stated that Afghan President Ashraf Ghani and CEO Abdullah are demonstrating a commitment to opening a new chapter in the Afghanistan-Pakistan relationship. "From my conversation with Pakistan's leaders, whether civilian or military, I know that Pakistan wants to strengthen its relationships with Afghanistan....There is much work to be done together on security, trade and economic ties, reconstruction and rehabilitation, and regional co-operation," he said.
Olson said that Pakistan's leadership has already taken steps to move from a relationship hindered by distrust to one characterised by pragmatism and mutual respect, adding that Adviser on National Security and Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz's trip to Kabul last month was an important first step.
He said that US recognises Pakistan's security is linked to Afghanistan's success. "We recognise there will be challenges ahead and the situation on the border areas is fluid and problematic for both sides. Communication will be essential to success," he pointed out, adding that US supports Pakistani and Afghan efforts to open the channels of communication to address border incidents as soon as they happen - through appropriate channels.
About Pak-India relations, he said that better Pakistan-India relations will improve the lives of citizens on both sides of the eastern border, and will pay dividends to the region - including Afghanistan, where co-operation is paramount. "The United States is not a participant in talks between the two neighbours, but we encourage India and Pakistan to resume a formal dialogue soon. This will help build official ties between the two countries and create a space for resolving outstanding bilateral issues," he added.
Referring to Pak-US relations, he said that the relationship between the United States and Pakistan is on a positive track. "While we have endured past challenges, both sides believe a strong relationship between our two countries is of great importance to regional stability and to achieving a more prosperous future for our citizens," he said.
He said that the two countries have revitalised strategic dialogue, have exchanged high-level visits, and moved forward on the basis of mutual respect and mutual interests. One of the most critical ingredients for achieving regional stability and prosperity is creating a peaceful and stable future for Afghanistan, he added.
He said that US assistance to Pakistan will continue. "It may change. It may take a different form. We've talked for quite a while about moving from an assistance-based relationship to one based more on trade and investment, which is what the Pakistani people and the Pakistani government seek," he said, adding that we will continue to look for ways to ensure that our assistance is aligned with the interests and needs of the Pakistani people.
About the Kerry-Lugar-Berman authorisation, which concluded in September, he said that the US government committed over $5 billion in civilian assistance to Pakistan. As a result, the United States was able to respond to humanitarian emergencies in Pakistan and requests for assistance in the energy sector to add 1400 megawatts to the grid, he said.
He said that the US also helped Pakistan build over 1,000 kilometers of roads, improved access to health services for millions of women and children, and equipped thousands of law enforcement officers to better investigate crimes. He said that many of the projects funded under the KLB are in early stages of implementation and will continue for years to come and yield benefits for more years still. "We have achieved great momentum, and I am confident the KLB legacy will be sustained through continued US partnership with Pakistan," he added.
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