Evidence of India’s terror sponsorship shared with US

Nawaz says Islamabad wants normalisation of ties with New Delhi

WASHINGTON:

Pakistan has shared with the United States three dossiers containing evidence of India’s involvement in terrorism activities in the country’s volatile regions – including Balochistan, Karachi and tribal regions – as it renewed a commitment to normalisation with New Delhi.

The dossiers were handed by Adviser to the Prime Minister on National Security and Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz to a US State Department delegation, led by Secretary of State John Kerry, which met Premier Nawaz Sharif and his cabinet members at the Blair House on Wednesday.



Informing the US delegation about a peace roadmap he had spelt out in his speech at the recent session of the UN General Assembly, the prime minister underlined his commitment to contributing towards promoting a peaceful South Asian region.

He apprised Kerry of Pakistan’s efforts to improve relations with Afghanistan, and reiterated his commitment to seeking normalisation with India. Kerry was briefed about the destabilising role of Indian agencies in Fata, Balochistan and Karachi.

Islamabad has long accused Indian spy agency Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) of fuelling terrorism in Pakistan. On the margins of the UN General Assembly session, the dossiers containing evidence of India’s involvement in stoking unrest in Pakistan were also handed over to UN Secretary General ban Ki-moon.





Kerry emphasised that Pakistan’s role in taking the reconciliation forward was critical to stabilising Afghanistan. Recalling their long and cordial interaction over the years, they took stock of recent developments in the relationship and stressed the need for continued high-level engagements on all issues of mutual interest.

The prime minister also highlighted how the 15-month long military operation in North Waziristan Agency, codenamed Zarb-e-Azb, had helped improve the internal security situation in Pakistan. Kerry appreciated the gains achieved by the operation, particularly the decimation of terror organisations operating in the border regions.

Secretary Kerry also reaffirmed that the US would work with Pakistan on promoting peace and security in the region. He assured premier Nawaz of continued US cooperation to enhance economic engagement between the two countries including in meeting Pakistan’s energy needs.



Earlier, Premier Nawaz met US Secretary for Treasury Jacob Lew to discuss economic cooperation. He also met US Trade Representative Ambassador Mike Froman who said the next phase of US-Pakistan energy cooperation will be announced this week, with a strong private sector and the aim of adding 300 megawatt of clean power over the next five years.

Nawaz also met with International Monetary Fund (IMF) Managing Director Christine Lagarde and apprised her on the reforms and development agenda undertaken by his government.

Resolving Kashmir key to regional peace

Separately, Premier Nawaz said resolving the longstanding Kashmir dispute was central to lasting regional peace as he lamented India’s response to his peace overtures.



“The entire world knows that Kashmir is the root cause of tension in the region,” he told a gathering of Pakistani-Americans at the Pakistani Embassy in Washington on Tuesday.

He added that Pakistan wanted good relations with all of its neighbours, including India. But the latter’s response to efforts for peace had not been encouraging. “If we sincerely want to bring peace to the region, we will have to resolve the Kashmir issue.”

The government tried to resolve the issue through peaceful means but it did not work, but it brought the whole nation on one page with regard to action against terrorists.

US entrepreneurs invited to invest in Pakistan

The prime minister invited US entrepreneurs to invest in Pakistan and take advantage of the lucrative investment-friendly policies on offer.

Addressing businessmen at a lunch organised by the US-Pakistan Business Council and US Chamber of Commerce & Industries in Washington, Nawaz said Pakistan was much safer today than in 2007.

Further, he pointed out how international rating agencies had positively assessed the country’s economy on the back of a market turnaround, higher tax revenues and plummeting inflation.


Published in The Express Tribune, October 22^nd, 2015.