‘Important To Resolve Difficult Issues While We Open Up Trade’
NISAR AHMED THOKAR/PTI
Islamabad, Mar 17: Backing moves to open up Indo-Pak trade, Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari today said the two countries must also address “difficult issues” like the Kashmir dispute.
Making history by becoming the first elected President to deliver a fifth address to a joint session of Parliament of a country that has been under military boots for most of its existence, Zardari faced a hostile House with the opposition booing and jeering to drown most of his address.
Amidst a din, Zardari told lawmakers that “important steps have been taken to open up trade between India and Pakistan”. “But we must also address difficult issues, including that of the Jammu and Kashmir dispute,” he said in a speech that outlined his government’s policies, including foreign policy priorities, for the final year of its five-year term.
In recent months, India and Pakistan have taken several steps to boost bilateral trade. The Pakistan government recently decided to switch over to a negative list regime for bilateral trade, paving the way for giving India Most Favoured Nation-status by the beginning of next year.
The two countries have also agreed to increase trade to six billion dollars by 2014. Clad in a dark suit and standing beside a photo of his slain wife, former premier Benazir Bhutto, Zardari said that Islamabad was seeking a meaningful engagement with US and was awaiting parliament’s nod. “We seek to engage meaningfully with the US on the basis of mutual interest and mutual respect.
“We are looking forward to (parliament’s) recommendations for re-engaging with the United States,” he said.
Zardari also pledged to continue fighting terrorism and militancy. “Where necessary, we have used force to ensure that the writ of the state is not challenged. We will continue to show resolve on this issue. I believe that our efforts have begun to pay off and the situation has improved,” he said.
Militants and extremists have targeted security forces and civilians and even schools and shrines have not been spared by the terrorists, he said.
“Our bases, police stations, pipelines, railways, hotels (and) schools have been targeted. Even our mosques, churches and religious shrines have not been spared,” the President said.
Pakistan’s image had been “negatively projected” and the economy had to “bear extra burdens”, Zardari noted.
“Even the good name of our great religion – a religion of peace and harmony and love – has been exploited. To deal with the mindset of a small minority, we have mobilised our society and tried to generate a national consensus,” he added.
Zardari also paid tribute to security personnel and civilians killed in terrorist attacks. The Pakistani Taliban have carried out a wave of bombings and suicide attacks across the country over the past four years.
The government has offered to hold talks with militants who give up violence.
Recent reports have suggested that commanders of the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan are divided on the issue of holding peace talks, and hardliners led by commander Hakimullah Mehsud have pledged to continue targeting security forces and the government.
On Afghanistan, the president said, “Pakistan will fully support an Afghan owned and Afghan led peace process to ensure durable and sustainable peace in the war-torn country”. He said that the Pak-Afghan transit trade agreement signed recently will open up trade links with central Asian countries.
He said that Pakistan was enjoying brotherly relations with the European Union, the Russian federation, Islamic countries and China.
Referring to the challenges faced by the PPP led coalition government; he said that when PPP government assumed its charge some four years back, “we had enormous challenges. Pakistan was divided and completely a war-torn country with fragile federation.”
Lauding Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani’s role, he said that the PM deserves appreciation for his political wisdom in handling various challenges with courage and perseverance. He also appreciated the contributions made by coalition partners besides acknowledging the role of the Leader of the Opposition and members of the opposition parties to strengthen democracy in the country. He said that world was witnessing that democracy was taking roots in Pakistan. He said that the incumbent regime’s policy of national reconciliation had helped to overcome various challenges.
He said that restoration of the 1973 constitution, 18th and 20th amendments have led to the supremacy of the parliament and devolution of power from centre to the provinces.
On Balochistan, the president said, “We share the agonies of the people of Balochistan and have apologized for the wrongs done to them in the past”. He said that government was taking concrete steps to address the grievances of the people of the region. He said that much more needs to be done to heal the wounds of the past. “We are willing to go extra mile to engage in dialogue with our Baloch brothers”, he said. “We are seeking to reach common understanding on the development of Balochistan and bring it at par with other provinces”, he said.
Besides the elected representatives of both the Houses, the joint session of parliament was attended by top civil and military leadership including Army Chief General Ashfaq Pervaiz Kiani, whereas Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, CM Punjab Shahbaz Sharif and Sindh Governor did not attend the session.
As Zardari started his speech, the parliament echoed with slogans of “Go Zardari Go” “Loot maar band karo.”
Making history by becoming the first elected President to deliver a fifth address to a joint session of Parliament of a country that has been under military boots for most of its existence, Zardari faced a hostile House with the opposition booing and jeering to drown most of his address.
Amidst a din, Zardari told lawmakers that “important steps have been taken to open up trade between India and Pakistan”. “But we must also address difficult issues, including that of the Jammu and Kashmir dispute,” he said in a speech that outlined his government’s policies, including foreign policy priorities, for the final year of its five-year term.
In recent months, India and Pakistan have taken several steps to boost bilateral trade. The Pakistan government recently decided to switch over to a negative list regime for bilateral trade, paving the way for giving India Most Favoured Nation-status by the beginning of next year.
The two countries have also agreed to increase trade to six billion dollars by 2014. Clad in a dark suit and standing beside a photo of his slain wife, former premier Benazir Bhutto, Zardari said that Islamabad was seeking a meaningful engagement with US and was awaiting parliament’s nod. “We seek to engage meaningfully with the US on the basis of mutual interest and mutual respect.
“We are looking forward to (parliament’s) recommendations for re-engaging with the United States,” he said.
Zardari also pledged to continue fighting terrorism and militancy. “Where necessary, we have used force to ensure that the writ of the state is not challenged. We will continue to show resolve on this issue. I believe that our efforts have begun to pay off and the situation has improved,” he said.
Militants and extremists have targeted security forces and civilians and even schools and shrines have not been spared by the terrorists, he said.
“Our bases, police stations, pipelines, railways, hotels (and) schools have been targeted. Even our mosques, churches and religious shrines have not been spared,” the President said.
Pakistan’s image had been “negatively projected” and the economy had to “bear extra burdens”, Zardari noted.
“Even the good name of our great religion – a religion of peace and harmony and love – has been exploited. To deal with the mindset of a small minority, we have mobilised our society and tried to generate a national consensus,” he added.
Zardari also paid tribute to security personnel and civilians killed in terrorist attacks. The Pakistani Taliban have carried out a wave of bombings and suicide attacks across the country over the past four years.
The government has offered to hold talks with militants who give up violence.
Recent reports have suggested that commanders of the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan are divided on the issue of holding peace talks, and hardliners led by commander Hakimullah Mehsud have pledged to continue targeting security forces and the government.
On Afghanistan, the president said, “Pakistan will fully support an Afghan owned and Afghan led peace process to ensure durable and sustainable peace in the war-torn country”. He said that the Pak-Afghan transit trade agreement signed recently will open up trade links with central Asian countries.
He said that Pakistan was enjoying brotherly relations with the European Union, the Russian federation, Islamic countries and China.
Referring to the challenges faced by the PPP led coalition government; he said that when PPP government assumed its charge some four years back, “we had enormous challenges. Pakistan was divided and completely a war-torn country with fragile federation.”
Lauding Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani’s role, he said that the PM deserves appreciation for his political wisdom in handling various challenges with courage and perseverance. He also appreciated the contributions made by coalition partners besides acknowledging the role of the Leader of the Opposition and members of the opposition parties to strengthen democracy in the country. He said that world was witnessing that democracy was taking roots in Pakistan. He said that the incumbent regime’s policy of national reconciliation had helped to overcome various challenges.
He said that restoration of the 1973 constitution, 18th and 20th amendments have led to the supremacy of the parliament and devolution of power from centre to the provinces.
On Balochistan, the president said, “We share the agonies of the people of Balochistan and have apologized for the wrongs done to them in the past”. He said that government was taking concrete steps to address the grievances of the people of the region. He said that much more needs to be done to heal the wounds of the past. “We are willing to go extra mile to engage in dialogue with our Baloch brothers”, he said. “We are seeking to reach common understanding on the development of Balochistan and bring it at par with other provinces”, he said.
Besides the elected representatives of both the Houses, the joint session of parliament was attended by top civil and military leadership including Army Chief General Ashfaq Pervaiz Kiani, whereas Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, CM Punjab Shahbaz Sharif and Sindh Governor did not attend the session.
As Zardari started his speech, the parliament echoed with slogans of “Go Zardari Go” “Loot maar band karo.”
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