International relations: Pakistan helped strengthen US-China relations, says Olson

700 students and 500 professionals to go to US on exchange programmes this year

LAHORE:

Some people and political analysts believed that the US considered China an enemy, US Ambassador Richard G Olson said at an interactive session with students at the Lahore University of Management Sciences on Thursday. “This perception is incorrect. In fact, Pakistan has helped strengthen America’s relations with China.”

The ambassador spoke about Pakistan’s role in the War on Terror and its relations with India.

He said Pakistan had suffered more than any other country in the War on Terror.

Pakistan was a warm and hospitable country and the US was trying to reach a large segment of its population through social networking websites, Olson said.

He said bilateral trade between India and Pakistan was the need of the hour. “Good relations between the two would spell prosperity for the entire region,” he said. “It is in the interest of both countries to work together.”

He said the US supported the TAPI pipeline project as well as others that could help overcome the energy crisis in Pakistan.

Pakistan’s relations with the US have seen high and low points. “But both countries have made tremendous efforts to settle their differences and are moving forward.”

To a question on drone strikes, the ambassador said, “We carry out drone strikes only when we feel that our country and people are being threatened.” Speaking about the current political crisis and sit-ins in Islamabad and Karachi, Olson said, “We are not party to it but we believe that the issue must be resolved through dialogue.” Democracy must be strengthened in Pakistan, he said. The challenge for Pakistan was to develop institutions that would help strengthen democracy, said Olson.

To a question regarding the ban on YouTube website in Pakistan, the ambassador said that the US believed in freedom of expression. “We believe this is the best way to organise a society.”

He said the matter was for Google and the government of Pakistan to work on. “We hope they will reach a settlement soon.”

He said he had the privilege to attend the inauguration of a Network Operations Centre in Lahore on Thursday. He said the centre would help the city in overcoming load shedding.

“This year, the US will host 700 students and 500 professionals from Pakistan this year. They will have the opportunity to study in top ranking universities in America under various exchange programmes,” he said. LUMS VC  Dr Suhail Naqvi presented a souvenir to the ambassador and lauded the US for its help in promoting education initiatives in Pakistan.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 3^rd, 2014.