The speakers at PINA seminar on "Pak US Dialogue - Challenges and Expectations", held in Lahore felt that the outcome of the dialogue was strategically insignificant. They impressed upon the Prime Minister of Pakistan, on his visit to the US, to gracefully pursue the objective of acquiring civil nuclear co-operation to address the energy crisis.
Emerging people-specific policy of US towards Pakistan and statesman-like role of military leadership at the talks was appreciated. The meeting was chaired by Shamshad Ahmad Khan, former Foreign Secretary and attended by defence strategists, political analysts and media representatives.
In his address, Shamshad Ahmad Khan stated that Pakistan and US had been engaged in secretary level dialogue for many years, which have now been upgraded to the level of foreign ministers. Regarding outcome of the strategic dialogues, Shamshad said Pakistan might not benefit strategically in the long run.
However, he argued that as a nuclear power with a well-established Nuclear Command Authority (NCA) that ensures safety as per international standards and consequent security of our nuclear assets, Pakistan deserves civil nuclear technology as awarded to India.
He however emphasised that our strategic partnership with China can lead to benefits of civil nuclear energy as already being witnessed in the supply of civil nuclear reactors by China in form of Chashma 1, 2, 3 nuclear power plants. The former foreign secretary said new people-specific approach demands that US should come for building a dam, universities of academic excellence, hospitals and infrastructure to have strong people to people relationship.
Brigadier Farooq Hameed Khan (Retd), Editor of Defence Magazine, said Pak-US relations can be best described as a roller coaster, sanctions-oriented, and arm-twisting relationship based on mistrust. However, he added, US made a U-turn after it realised that Pakistan Army had almost won the Indian sponsored proxy war in Fata/ Balochistan. He stated that the 'grand international plan' to destabilise Pakistan and get hold of Pakistan's nuclear assets had been decisively foiled by Pakistan Army with the support of the nation.
He demanded that Pakistan should be compensated for its losses in war on terror and its sizeable foreign debt be written off by the US and international donors. Secretary General PINA Altaf Hassan Qureshi stressed the need for acquisition of civil nuclear energy from US so that Pakistan's energy crisis is addressed on a long term basis. He stated that this strategic dimension of Pak-US relations must be stressed upon the US authorities by Prime Minister Gilani during the Nuclear Safety Summit in Washington D.C.
He pointed that Pakistan is blessed with vast human and natural resources and Pakistani nation must make efforts to rely on its own potential for development. Qayyum Nizami, political analyst was of the view that the US has been 'changing its colours' to maintain the status of world super power.
General Ayub in his book "Friends Not Masters" described US as a cheater, as it failed to honour its commitment to solve Kashmir dispute, he said. Senior Journalist M. Tufail referred to Misaq-e-Madina, which was an initiative to live peacefully with the jews and further stated that we can co-operate with non-Muslims for the betterment of the humanity, but cannot entrust Muslim destiny in their hands.-PR