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Sharif to Obama ,a frank discussion
By Barrister Amjad Malik
Prime minister of Pakistan deserves
applause on a very successful on target Presidential meeting with Barrack Obama
on 22 October 2015. Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's meeting with President Obama
as civilian chief executive of Pakistan in itself is a big event and joining
with interior , finance, foreign and defence minister is further to strengthen
civilian rule in Pakistan. Joint communiqué is self evident of his success
furthering the cause of Pakistan avoiding any damage to its interests and
advancing on economic defence and social cooperation as an added mile.
President Obama and
Prime Minister Sharif held wide-ranging discussions at the White House on 22
October 2015. The two leaders expressed their conviction that a resilient
U.S.-Pakistan partnership is vital to regional and global peace and security
and reaffirmed their commitment to address evolving threats in South Asia. It’s
a partial victory to civilian rule when President Obama and Prime Minister
Sharif expressed their desire to expand the bilateral relationship in areas
outside the traditional security realm in recognition of the multifaceted
issues facing both countries, including: trade and investment; education,
science and technology; clean, efficient and affordable energy; efforts to
counter climate change; economic growth; regional integration; rule of law;
people-to-people and cultural ties; and support for democratic principles.
Trade not aid is
the long held mantra of Sharif. The
leaders reaffirmed that the United States and Pakistan have a mutual interest
in expanding bilateral trade and investment. Prime Minister Sharif reiterated
the importance of market access for Pakistan as the most effective, mutually
beneficial, and durable form of bilateral economic partnership. When Both
leaders acknowledged that strengthening Pakistan’s trade and transit ties with
its neighbors is needed to promote prosperity in Pakistan and the region, that
shows Pakistan is heading towards the right direction.
Education and
research in science and technology was not missed. In the near term, the two
governments intend to double joint funding for a new round of research grants
under the U.S.-Pakistan Science and Technology Cooperation Agreement. Building
on important cooperation in basic education to date, the Leaders welcomed the
launch of the Let Girls Learn Initiative in Pakistan, a global effort led by
the United States, which will provide 200,000 Pakistani girls access to
education and the tools they need to succeed in life.
The President Obama
commended Prime Minister Sharif’s doubling of Pakistan’s higher education
budget since 2013 and the government’s goal of doubling expenditures for
education from two percent to four percent of gross domestic product by
2018.
Realizing
Pakistanis energy needs, President Obama reaffirmed the U.S. commitment to
strong cooperation in the energy sector. The leaders announced the formation of
a new U.S.-Pakistan Clean Energy Partnership, based on the initial work of the
April 2015 Energy Working Group under the U.S.-Pakistan Strategic Dialogue.
Through the Partnership, the United States and Pakistan will cooperate to:
attract local and international investment; develop an investment plan for
expanding the role of clean energy systems; expand transmission capacity
through selected infrastructure projects; and mobilize development financing to
help attract private sector investments in hydropower, wind, solar, and natural
gas projects. President Obama expressed support for Pakistan’s efforts to
secure funding for the Diamer Bhasha and Dasu dams to help meet Pakistan’s
energy and water needs. To me, that was a further advancement towards meeting
energy needs and possible civil nuclear assistance in near future. Both leaders
discussed the importance of enhancing measurable capability of Pakistan to
prevent, detect, and respond to infectious diseases.
President Obama
condemned the December 2014 terrorist attack by the Tehrik-e Taliban Pakistan
(TTP) in which 140 school children were killed. The Peshawar attack has set
Pakistan on a new course against terrorism, terrorist organizations, its
financiers, supporters, man hunters and masterminds and its forces are making progress
all across the state of Pakistan.
The leaders
discussed the importance of continued cooperation against terrorists and
violent extremist groups. President Obama affirmed Pakistan’s role as a key
counterterrorism partner and recognized the sacrifices that Pakistani
civilians, military, and law enforcement personnel have made over the years as
they confront terrorism and militant groups. Acknowledging the ongoing critical
counterterrorism efforts that have driven the robust U.S.-Pakistan security cooperation
since September 11, 2001, both leaders affirmed that this security relationship
has been and will continue to be integral to regional stability.
Pakistan is taking enemy head on and
operation Zarab e Azam is succeeding in first phase to physically threaten and
demolish the infrastructure. Its second
phase to end sanctuaries and safe heavens from Fata , Baluchistan , Karachi and
interior Punjab will be crucial part and later final stage of changing the mind
set winning hearts and minds where national action plan truly kicks in through
nectar and reforms legal, social as well as religious by introducing fairness
and preaching tolerance will be the true victory. Both countries renewed their common resolve to promote peace and
stability throughout the region and to counter all forms of extremism and
terrorism. It is a recognition of the work initiated by civil military
cooperation on national action plan and physical output by operation ‘zarab e
azab’.
On India the charge
sheet was long. Pakistan tried to convince that border skirmishes with India
and hostile environment will contribute to divert Pakistan’s focus and
attention against terrorists, and I think Pakistan succeeded in convening the
message that dialogue resumption as soon as possible on all keys issues
including ‘Kashmir’ is the way forward
than ‘tit for tat’ hostile actions and speeches. Both stressed that improvement
in Pakistan-India bilateral relations would greatly enhance prospects for lasting
peace, stability, and prosperity in the region.
Later on, Wonderful handling of premier
with Pak media in Urdu to sell his
success story snatching the prime air time and an opportunity of
criticism which is wise and timely and well advised. It’s always good to talk
to our own people which matters, in the end. Mariam Nawaz Sharif's address on ‘Let Girls Learn Initiative ‘ proved as an icing on the cake at the reception
hosted by First Lady Michelle Obama. In
conclusion, “The two leaders affirmed their common resolve to continue working
together to address the issues of greatest interest to both nations”. Sharif
has successfully managed to convey country’s priorities and issues of
continuing fight against terrorism, spinning the economic wheel and energy
performance is a hall mark of his administration and has successfully avoided
any apprehensions on ‘nukes’ whilst maintaining the threat to India through it,
and offering the dialogue in a carrot and a stick situation. To me, job well
done, though there is always a room for improvement but there is always
next time IA.
Barrister Amjad Malik is a chair of
Association of Pakistani Lawyers UK and has done LLM on national security Law
23 October 2015
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