President General Pervez Musharraf on Wednesday expressed the hope that the Congressional Pakistan Caucus would help strengthen long-term and broad-based relationship between Pakistan and the United States to their mutual benefit.
Addressing the formal launching ceremony of the Caucus, the President said the two countries enjoy close partnership in various fields. He described the launch of the bipartisan caucus as a landmark occasion. Around 50 members of the House of Representatives signed up as members of the caucus, a size normally achieved by other countries in a much longer time.
The ceremony was attended by prominent members of the House including Nancy Pelosy, House Minority Leader, key member of the House Appropriation Committee, Nita Louvey and members of the influential International Relations Committee.
The President informed the US legislators in the grand meeting hall of the House International Relations Committee that Pakistan is firmly pursuing the fight against terror in two ways.
"We are taking actions against terrorists to flush foreign extremists out of Pakistan as a short-term strategy - but at the same time we believe that the war against terror must address its root causes - we are arresting poverty and raising the level of literacy in our country, and following a comprehensive strategy for human resource development in Pakistan," he said.
Referring to the streamlining of education system in madressahs, the President said the religious institutions are to introduce education in modern disciplines of science to prepare the graduates for enjoying better and diverse economic opportunities in life.
Musharraf said that although he is a man in uniform but he is the most democratic person in his attitude. He said democracy is functioning fully in Pakistan; a number of steps have been taken and political reforms introduced to strengthen democracy at all levels.
On the state of the economy, the President said Pakistan has been steered out of economic woes that marred the economy a few years back and now the country has a string of upbeat economic indicators, with a fast improving growth rate and investors confidence rising in the country's consistent policies.
On arrival, President Musharraf was received by Congressman Dan Burton (Republicans) and Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee (Democrats), co-chairs of the Caucus. They described the establishment of the Pakistan Caucus as a step forward.
Faiz Rehman, executive director of the Pakistani American Liaison Center (PALC), remarked that it was a historic moment that the head of State of Pakistan was inaugurating the Caucus. He made a mention of the board of directors of PALC who spent their money, time and political capital to build this Caucus.
Information Minister, Sheikh Rashid, Foreign Minister, Khurshid Kasuri, Ambassador-designate of to the United States, General Jehangir Karamat (Retd) were also present on the occasion.
President General Pervez Musharraf said that Pakistan's importance was not because of the ongoing fight against terrorism alone.
"Pakistan is an important country. It is a nuclear power of 150 million people, and it is an important member of the Muslim Ummah, he told a reporter in response to a question after inaugurating congressional Pakistan Caucus.
President Musharraf assailed the impression that the United States would abandon Pakistan once the ongoing fight against terror was over.
On the importance of congressional Pakistan Caucus, he said it would help develop better understanding on different issues and in consolidating Pakistan-US relations.
"It is a good step," he said of the launching of Caucus.
Of his interaction with the US legislators, he said, it had been rewarding and worthy.