LONDON: Foreign Minister Khurshid Mahmood Kasuri has said Pakistan has endeavoured to promote peace and stability regionally and internationally on the basis of sovereign equality of all countries, non-interference in the internal affairs of other states, respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all states, non-aggression and peaceful resolution of all disputes.
"It is a great pleasure and privilege to be at Europe’s premier Think Tank, the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) at this gathering of scholars and experts of international relations. There cannot be a better forum to share my views and thoughts on "Pakistan: Anchor for Peace and Stability". "I would also take this opportunity to express my appreciation of the significant role played by IISS to promote an understanding on issues of peace, security and stability," Kasuri while speaking on the occasion noted.
Peace and Stability are indispensable to the progress, development and prosperity of my country. A country of 150 million people living in the age of globalisation can only realize their key domestic goals in an enabling environment of peace and stability. The foreign policy of Pakistan reflects the hopes and aspirations of our people. The guiding principles of Pakistan’s foreign policy are based on the internationally recognized norms of interstate relations as enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations.
As a strong, dynamic, democratic and progressive Muslim country, Pakistan has always sought to promote regional and global harmony. Pakistan’s historical and active role in international and regional organizations testifies to our contribution to global efforts for peace and prosperity.
Peace and Stability cannot be achieved in a vacuum. To attain these objectives partnerships are necessary. To build bridges of peace and to walk on the road to security and stability, your first partners are your neighbours.
In recognition of this reality, the foremost and cardinal objective of Pakistan’s leadership has been the peaceful resolution of all outstanding disputes with India including the core dispute of Jammu and Kashmir. This is imperative for the achievement of strategic stability in South Asia.
In South Asia today, the great challenge is rapid economic development to eradicate poverty, illiteracy and disease. We have a responsibility to channel all our energies and resources for the welfare of our people who constitute one fifth of all mankind.
Our topmost priority to promote peace and security in and around Pakistan stems from our conviction that a peaceful and secure environment, regionally as well as globally, would contribute immeasurably to high sustainable economic growth and development which would lead to reduction in poverty and thus help to enhance the welfare of our people.
With these objectives in view, our approach toward peace and development in South Asia includes: First, dialogue for settlement of all disputes in particular Kashmir; Second, Restraint and Security Balance in South Asia; and Third cooperation for economic development of the region.
We believe that the governments of Pakistan and India should work together to achieve peace and stability in South Asia. To extricate our relations from the troubled past and to take them into a peaceful future, bold and visionary leadership is required from both the countries.
President Musharraf has shown the way by suggesting a flexible approach for resolution of all disputes including the core issue of Jammu and Kashmir. His proposals of demilitarization and self-governance of Kashmir manifest our sincere desire to constructively engage with India to find a peaceful and durable solution of the Kashmir issue. However, any solution of Kashmir must be in accordance with the aspirations and will of the Kashmiri people.
Two Rounds of ’Composite Dialogue’ have been completed and the Third Round was initiated this month on January 17-18. The dialogue has simultaneously moved on two tracks i.e. Confidence Building and Dispute Resolution. While I am happy to state that there have been positive developments in Confidence Building Measures (CBMs), there is as yet little to report on Dispute Resolution since the dialogue process resumed in January 2004.
The decision to start Muzaffarabad-Srinagar bus service and open five crossing points across the Line of Control (LOC) demonstrates that if the political will is there, the two governments can achieve concrete and meaningful results on the ground. A similar approach must be adopted if progress is to be made on the core issue of Kashmir and other important issues such as Siachen and Sir Creek. Lack of progress on these issues can cast a shadow on the ongoing dialogue process.
We are against any arms race in the region whether conventional or nuclear. We have tabled proposals for Conventional and Nuclear CBMs. Some progress has been made with the signing of Agreement on Pre-Notification of Flight Testing of Ballistic Missiles and the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on Establishment of a Communication Link between the Pakistan Maritime Security Agency and the Indian Coast Guards.
But clearly we need to make more progress on a range of proposals on conventional and nuclear CBMs now under discussion.
To strengthen our efforts for peace we seek to actively promote projects that are vital to the economic development of the region. The Iran-Pakistan-India Gas Pipeline is such a project that is of utmost importance to the growing energy needs of both Pakistan and India. We are committed to taking this forward
The Pakistan-India Joint Working Group on the Pipeline project has held a series of meetings. There were discussions on the project’s structure and transit fee. Both sides have agreed to set up a Joint Technical Sub-Group that will meet at least once a month alternately in Islamabad and New Delhi. The next meeting of the Working Group is expected to be held in Islamabad this March. A tripartite meeting of Iran, Pakistan and India is also expected to be held to discuss matters relating to feasibility study, project structure and a tripartite framework agreement.
I will now invite your attention to the challenge of terrorism. Terrorism has indiscriminately threatened peace across the world. This scourge has affected people of all nations irrespective of their religion, creed or nationality.
Pakistan is on the frontlines in the global war on terror. Because of our efforts, the terrorists are on the run. They find no safe bases anywhere in Pakistan. 75,000 Pakistani soldiers have conducted successful counter-terrorism operations, and continue do so in the Pakistan-Afghan border regions. The 2400 KM long border with Afghanistan is rugged and difficult terrain. Over 800 border posts have been established, and we monitor this border to check cross-border movement of terrorists and militants.
Hundreds of militants have been arrested and many killed. But all this has come at a heavy price as many of our brave soldiers and innocent civilians have lost their lives in the war against terror. We are, however, committed to fighting terror and will not be deterred by even the sacrifices we have had to make. However, with record production of opium in Afghanistan, it is not easy to strike at the sources of terrorist financing.
We are fulfilling our obligations under the UN Security Council resolutions on terrorism. Pakistan works closely with the UN 1267 Sanctions Committee to freeze the assets of individuals and groups identified as terrorists entities linked to Al-Qaida and the Taliban.
We are a party to the Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC) and South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) Conventions on Combating International Terrorism. Pakistan has signed extradition treaties with 29 countries. We are also cooperating at different levels with 50 countries of the world to curb terrorism. Pakistan’s contribution to the cause of exterminating terror has been recognized by the international community including the United States, United Kingdom and European Union.
Pakistan has direct stakes in Afghanistan’s peace, progress, stability and prosperity as over three million Afghan refugees continue to live on our soil. A peaceful and stable Afghanistan is a pre-requisite for regional peace and development. My presence here to participate in the London Conference on Afghanistan, tomorrow, signifies the high priority Pakistan attaches to its relations with our neighbour.
To facilitate the successful completion of the Bonn process, Pakistan has extended its fullest cooperation to the government of President Hamid Karzai. Our relations have shown great progress in diverse sectors. These are characterized by record levels of trade exceeding US$ 1.2 billion, growing people-to-people contact, frequent exchanges of high level visits - the most recent by President Karzai to Pakistan on 24 October 2005, and Pakistan’s active participation in the reconstruction of Afghanistan.
Pakistan on its part has pledged a grant of US$200 million for the reconstruction of Afghanistan of which a substantial amount has already been utilized on various projects in infrastructure, health and education as well as for capacity building. We are also working on the TAP Pipeline project for import of gas from Turkmenistan via Afghanistan. We are building closer communication linkages with Afghanistan. We hope to compete the Torkham-Jalalabad road in the coming months.
Pakistan has welcomed political developments in Afghanistan. The successful adoption of the new Afghan Constitution in January 2004, the Presidential Election in October 2004 and eventually the Parliamentary Elections in October 2005 were landmark developments. We are hopeful that they will lead to a durable peace and stability in Afghanistan. Pakistan on its part has extended all possible assistance to the Afghan Government and this has been appreciated by them. A Pakistani parliamentary delegation headed by the Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly represented Pakistan at the inaugural ceremony of the Afghan parliament.
Our desire to promote peace is also reflected in our adherence to the objective of nuclear non-proliferation. Even if Pakistan is not a party to the NPT, we adhere to the objective of non-proliferation and would like to work with the international community to promote this objective.
Let me reiterate that the Government of Pakistan has never and will never proliferate. Robust legislative and administrative structures are in place and functioning to ensure non-proliferation from our territory.
Comprehensive national legislation entitled "Export Control on Goods, Technologies, Material and Equipment related to Nuclear and Biological Weapons and their Delivery System Act, 2004" was passed by the Parliament in September, 2004.
Pakistan formally established the National Command Authority (NCA) in 2000 headed by the President, which is responsible for policy formulation, and exercises control over the employment and deployment of strategic nuclear forces and strategic organizations.
Pakistan was not responsible for nuclear proliferation in South Asia. We were forced to respond in May, 1998 to ensure credible deterrence. We remain committed to the doctrine of minimum credible deterrence and support nuclear stabilization and restraint in South Asia.
The reality of Pakistan’s nuclear capability has to be accepted. The IAEA Director General has on several occasions suggested such an approach. Foreign Secretary Jack Straw, during his visit to Islamabad in March 2004, said that Pakistan, India and Israel needed to be taken out of nuclear netherworld.
Pakistan merits the support of the international community to acquire nuclear technology for peaceful purposes. Given the scarcity of fossil fuel reserves, Pakistan needs to generate 8,800 megawatts of nuclear power by 2020 to cater to its growing energy needs. The present generation capacity of approximately 500 megawatts is far below the international average share of nuclear energy in the total energy output figures as well as Pakistan’s domestic energy needs. The US has announced the lifting of three-decade old embargo on India on cooperation in civilian nuclear technology. We expect that a non-discriminatory approach will be adopted by the US and EU towards Pakistan in this respect.
In conclusion, I would like to reiterate Pakistan’s firm commitment to promote peace and stability by continuing to be a frontline state against terrorism; constructive engagement with India to find peaceful and durable solution to all disputes including the core issue of Jammu & Kashmir; working with the international community to achieve the objectives of nuclear non-proliferation; and pursuance of friendly and cordial relations with all states on the basis of sovereign equality.
Let me end by saying that peace and stability will continue to be the central and overriding theme of Pakistan’s foreign policy.
