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War on terror
Pakistan success soon: Clinton
Kashmir solution to normalize Pak, India ties: Nawaz
Salim Ahmed
Lahore—US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, presently on a visit
to Pakistan, spent a busy day in Lahore on the second leg of her
visit, held interaction, with students, civil society, senior
journalists besides meeting PML-N Quaid Nawaz Sharif and business
leaders here on Thursday amid stringent security measures adopted by
the security agencies.
These meetings proved fruitful, as the US Secretary of State has
been able to present US point of view on different issues, which
helped in clearing some misconceptions about America.
In an interaction with students at Government College University,
Hillary Clinton said, “If peace was restored between Pakistan and
India and their mutual disputes were resolved, Pakistan would take
off as a rocket in terms of economic development.” She said the US
was a friend of Pakistan and India alike, adding that Pakistan was a
close ally of America, which had always maintained consistent
relations with it.
To another question, she said the Kerry-Lugar Bill was not meant to
challenge Pakistan’s sovereignty and independence or micro-manage
any matter by any way. “This law was aimed at helping Pakistan
strengthen its democratic institutions, its people and economy
through human security and economic opportunities,” she said.
The US Secretary of State said her country could help create jobs to
boost Pakistan’s economy and explore and nurture the women potential
for their contribution to national development.
She said the Pakistan Government and its armed forces are moving in
the right direction to eliminate terrorists and America will
continue its support in this regard. She hoped that Pakistan would
soon achieve a rock-solid success in the war on terror.
She said that Obama administration was committed to Pakistan’s
success against terrorism and militant elements who want to
destabilise the county, saying that “The US is confident about
Pakistan’s success.” She said Pakistan and the US have common and
serious challenges to face in this region from militancy and
terrorism.
Hillary Clinton said US will provide $45 million for the Higher
Education in Pakistan aimed at supporting young generation in
technical and university education.
She also committed 85 million dollars to countering poverty and 125
million dollars to improving Pakistan’s woefully inadequate
electricity supply in this country of 167 million people. She said,
“Though the terror war is being fought on your (Pakistan) land, yet
it is not Pakistan’s war alone; Pakistan is fighting on the front
and the US stands by it.”
Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi, US Ambassador in
Pakistan Anne W. Patterson, Punjab Education Minister Mian Mujtaba
Shujaur Rehman and Punjab Assembly Deputy Speaker Rana Mashhood
Ahmed were also present.
Later, PML-N Quaid Nawaz Sharif held a meeting with the US Secretary
of State. Talking to Hillary Clinton, Nawaz stressed the need for
the United States to establish relationship with Pakistan based on
mutual trust and mutual interest.
Nawaz recalled that President Obama had stressed during the election
campaign that the US should work towards promoting normalization
between Pakistan and India and facilitating resolution of the issue
of Jammu and Kashmir. This was a most positive concept that now
needs to be given official shape, he said. Any US initiative towards
achieving this objective would be welcomed by the people of Pakistan
as resolution of the Kashmir issue would make a meaningful
contribution to establishing peace and stability in the region, he
maintained.
He recalled that Pakistan had been an important friend and ally of
the United States and the two countries had cooperated on many
important global issues. He expressed his appreciation for President
Obama’s policy of dialogue and engagement with all countries
especially the Muslim world, which he believed would help foster
understandings, reduce tensions and facilitate the resolution of
regional and global differences.
Nawaz also expressed his appreciation to the US Secretary of State
for her encouragement to greater American investment in Pakistan
especially in the power and energy sectors, as these would not only
strengthen the country’s economy, but also foster a closer
relationship between the two countries.
Nawaz Sharif was accompanied by Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad
Shahbaz Sharif, Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly
Ch. Nisar Ali Khan, Leader of the Parliamentary Party in Senate,
Senator Ishaq Dar, MNA Khawaja Asif and former Ambassador Tariq
Fatmi. The US Secretary of State was accompanied by Richard
Holbrooke, US Ambassador Anne Patterson; Assistant Secretary of
State, P.G. Crowel and others.
The US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton visited historic Badshahi
Mosque during her day-long visit to the provincial metropolis.
Khateeb Badshahi Mosque Maulana Abdul Khabir Azad and Director
General Walled City Project Oriya Maqbool Jan briefed her about the
history of the Badshahi Mosque which was built during the reign of
Mughal Emporer Aurangzeb Alamgir in 17th century.
Hillary Clinton saw various sections of this grand mosque, including
one which displays important relics of the Islamic period.
Earlier, the Secretary of State visited mausoleum of Poet of the
East and Thinker Allama Muhammad Iqbal. She laid a floral wreath at
the grave of Allama Iqbal. |
