Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz on Friday pointing at threats of terrorism, proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and "clash of civilisations" called for "collective response", more tolerance and understanding of each other's political and social systems, cultures and values.
Delivering a talk here at the Sichuan University, one of the earliest institutes of higher learning in China, the Prime Minister stressed the need for conducting inter-state relations on the basis of international law and the principles of independence, territorial integrity, non-interference, and sovereign equality.
Aziz said all outstanding conflicts and disputes between states must be settled through pacific means, on the basis of equity and justice while calling for a just and equitable economic order, tolerance and understanding of other political and social systems and of cultures and values.
He said no single country or a group of nations alone Could address and resolve the threats to international peace and security. "Common threats and challenges call for collective responses "to work to build a peaceful, prosperous and harmonious world," he added.
Attended by a large number of members of the faculty and students, the talk on "Pakistan's perspective on Contemporary Issues of Peace, Security and Development" covered wide-ranging issues including relations with neighbours, country's role at the global level and issues confronting the world including terrorism and extremism.
Terming terrorism as the most formidable threat to the world he said, "Terrorism must be fought resolutely, in all its forms and manifestations. The global response must be robust, but multidimensional. Military means provide only part of the answer," he said and informed the students about Pakistan's key role in this regard.
"Our resolve to fight terrorism is firm and consistent with our own national interest. We believe an effective counter-terrorism strategy must be military, political, economic and social dimensions.
Eventually it is about winning the hearts and minds of people. He however, also called for recognising and addressing the root causes and said the conditions of poverty, deprivation, under-development and longstanding disputes resulting in desperation and hopelessness need to be resolved for sustainable success.
Stressing harmony and understanding between civilisations, Aziz recalled President Musharraf's concept of Enlightened Moderation, that emphasises internal reform in the Muslim world and Western role in resolving long-standing political disputes and the imperative need for an interfaith dialogue.
About the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, he said it was an equally serious threat to international peace and security and reiterated Pakistan's supports to the global non-proliferation objectives.
He said Pakistan's policy centres on maintaining a minimum credible nuclear deterrent and the establishment of a Strategic Restraint Regime between India and Pakistan and mentioned the two countries have recently signed an agreement on 'Reducing the Risk from Accidents relating to Nuclear Weapons.' He said the United States has announced the lifting of the three-decade old embargo on India on cooperation in civilian nuclear technology.
He said Pakistan favours non-discriminatory criteria-based approach, which will offer equal opportunity to both Pakistan and India to access civilian nuclear technology by meeting the relevant benchmarks.
"We hope that the NSG countries will adopt an objective criteria based approach in this respect. There should be a level playing field for access to civilian nuclear technology," he added. Aziz welcomed the agreement reached during the six-party talks to resolve the Korean nuclear issue and appreciated China's role in addressing this problem.
"We hope that the Iranian nuclear issue would also be handled with caution. Pakistan favours a peaceful, negotiated solution. We are opposed to the use of force, which would further destabilise an already volatile part of the world," he added. He said by virtue of geography, Pakistan was destined to play a pivotal role in this part of the world.
"Our geo-strategic environment is currently marked by turmoil on the one hand and vast untapped economic potential on the other. Peace and stability are indispensable conditions for our continued economic growth and national development," he added.
He, however, said that Pakistan has suffered the most from continuing state and instability in Afghanistan following the Soviet invasion in 1979 our society was deeply affected by the influx of over 3 million refugees, narcotics production and trafficking, gun-running, and recruitment and training of Mujahideen for Afghan jihad.
"We see terrorism, extremism and Talibanisation as an equal threat to Pakistan. We are thus resolved not to allow anyone to use our territory for any cross-border activity," the Prime Minister said.
He said nearly 90,000 troops have been deployed on the 2,400km long border and military operations conduced against terrorists and militant International arrangements were in place for information and intelligence sharing as well as coordination for military action.
The Prime Minister said securing this long and porous border was not the responsibility of Pakistan alone. "It is a responsibility also of Nato, ISAF, US and the Afghan government to take effective steps to prevent cross-border flows on the Afghan side.
Pakistan will continue to do all it can strengthen security along the border. Others must also do their full part," he added. The Prime Minister said the real factors of instability lie inside Afghanistan including "a weak state structure, nexus between narcotics and terrorism, warlords, corruption and inefficiency, and slow pace of reconstruction."
Aziz calling for a broad-based solution called for adopting a comprehensive approach - comprising military, political and economic strands. "Peace and stability in Afghanistan will eventually result from national reconciliation and reconstruction that brings about a genuine change in the lives of the people."
About Pakistan-India dispute, he said his country was pursuing the peace process with India with renewed vigour for settlement of all disputes including Kashmir; Restraint and Security Balance in South Asia; and cooperation for economic development of the region.
He said since early 2004, Pakistan was engaged in a multi-track process with India encompassing confidence building measures and a composite dialogue. "The improved relations between the two countries and conducive international environment provide a unique opportunity that must be seized to resolve Kashmir and ensure a bright future of cooperation, understanding and prosperity in South Asia," he stressed. He also spoke of Pakistan's relations with the regional organisations including SCO, Asean, Saarc.
He termed friendship with China as the cornerstone of Pakistan's foreign policy. Pakistan firmly believes in "One China" policy and recognises the People's Republic of China as the sole legal government representing the whole of China. "We support all efforts China is making to achieve national unification and safeguard its sovereignty and territorial integrity.'
The Prime Minister said Pakistan believes that its friendship and cooperation will only gain in strength, fortified by our common resolve to intensify and expand mutually beneficial cooperation.
He said China today is the flag-bearer of peace, development, and cooperation. The principle of "peaceful development" at the core of China's foreign policy is inspiring and worthy of emulation. He said Sichuan is one of the vital economic and cultural centres of China and as the centre of Ghana's Western development strategy occupies an important position in efforts to further solidify the strong friendship.
He informed the students about the desire to establish a Pakistan Study Centre in this University to serve as a repository of knowledge on Pakistan and play its due role in strengthening people-to-people contacts.
At present the SCU has the widest coverage of disciplines and the largest scale of operation in West China with 15 key disciplines at national level, 14 key construction disciplines, 29 key disciplines at the provincial and ministerial level, 4 national bases for personnel training in basic disciplines and scientific research, and a teaching base for engineering courses.
Besides, it has 12 first-class disciplines to grant Doctor's degree and Master's degree, 111 second-class disciplines to grant Doctor's degree, 178 Master programs, 6 specialised degree programmes, and 16 post-doctor stations.
The 109 bachelor programmes cover the major fields in liberal arts, sciences, engineering, medicine and agriculture. Currently over 70,000 students are studying her and since the birth of New China, it has cultivated over 200,000 students.