NEW YORK:
While the spectre of the Haqqani network haunted Sunday night’s talks between Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar and her American counterpart Hillary Clinton, the US ambassador to Pakistan predicted that relations between the war partners will remain rocky.
But at the same time, Cameron Munter pledged greater effort to ensure that ordinary Pakistanis feel the fruits of US aid. In blunt remarks during a visit to New York, Ambassador Munter insisted that Pakistan has made progress in some areas – such as improving relations with India – but acknowledged shortcomings.
“I want to be straightforward about this. This has been a rough year for our time with Pakistan and the difficulties that we’ve faced, the difficulties in the relationship, are going to continue,” Munter said at the Asia Society.
“If I give myself a report card for the last year, C or D,” he said.
Munter pointed to the Pakistani decision to throw out US trainers after US forces conducted a top-secret raid in May that killed Osama bin Laden in Abbottabad.
Munter also noted the tensions over CIA employee Raymond Davis, who was arrested for shooting dead two men in Lahore.
(Read: Ties with America)
The US Congress in 2009 approved a five-year, $7.5 billion aid package for Pakistan, hoping to fight anti-American sentiment by investing in civilian institutions instead of just the military.
But Munter said that much of the assistance has been “invisible” to Pakistanis as it involved small projects and grants.
Munter said the United States will now put a priority on boosting Pakistan’s energy supply, a major concern in a country with frequent blackouts and a rapidly growing population.
(Read: Energy assistance - US asks Pakistan for ‘realistic wish list’)
“We’re going to push hard in energy and it’s going to cost a fair amount of American money, but it’s an investment in something that everyone in that country is going to feel,” he said.
Appearing next to Munter, Rajiv Shah, head of the US Agency for International Development, said assistance has supported 170,000 “employment opportunities” and construction of 1,500 sites such as schools and clinics.
“We don’t always talk about these results, but we need to because the programs can work and they make a big difference,” he said.
Opinion polls show that the overwhelming majority of Pakistanis hold negative views of the United States.
The aid has also drawn criticism in the United States, with several lawmakers trying unsuccessfully to cut off civilian assistance after bin Laden’s discovery in Pakistan.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 20th, 2011.
COMMENTS (9)
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Time foe U.S to vacate Afghanistan.......for good of everyone
The US AID has to become “VISIBLE” and people know who the provider is. The projects and handouts should clearly show the friendship handshaking logo or stating that this is gift from the people of USA. On “US asks Pakistan for realistic wish list” – THAR and hydel power are the only solution! Thar has the potential to generate over 10,000 MW and not Block 1 producing 900 MW, coal gasification project of 100MW. Request US Geological Survey to do the same gravity survey that was conducted in Afghanistan to find the largest lithium mine, substantial copper and gold deposits etc. This survey can provide us with an inventory of our natural resources. A suitable coal mine spot that can give us 80 million or so tons a year. Then find a reputable coal mine operator to manage this huge coal mine. Once coal supply is available then power producers should be invited to build power plants around this mine.
“We’re going to push hard in energy and it’s going to cost a fair amount of American money, but it’s an investment in something that everyone in that country is going to feel,” That is what MUNTER said but on the other hand USA has refused to give aid or any help for BAHSHA DAM!!
no matter what US aids to Pakistan, it will make no impact unless it is controlled directly by their organizations. Some programs that are directed by US organizations are very successful. Moreover, US can do this job better if it channels fund to universities and promote youth to come in front. Pakistan has got much talent and giving opportunity to these students will be a positive step for reaching out to general public directly. I think Youth of Pakistan and general public are very different from the government agencies, so they might use these kind of funds wisely.
Pakistani citizens have suffered immeasurable losses and tragedies in this relationship. The American do more mantra has done nothing good for this country but infact we are facing the backlash from Talibans the Barbarians and if Pakistan continues to follow the American dictates a day is not far away when it will turn in to a banana republic,with chaos the order of the day.and Talibans ruling its cities.
Most Pakistanis do not see any benefits of billions of US money given to Pakistan. Unless US govt makes sure, the public gets the intended benefits the negative image of USA would not improve. The US has tried military aid for decades but still they found OBL in an army garrison. Let us try poor people of Pakistan and spend billions on them and infrastructure to change the lives of people.
To make Pakistanis appreciate the US, the US should stop all visas to Pakistanis for one year