KARACHI: The Karachi Council for Foreign Affairs (KCFR) hosted a webinar on restoring US-Pakistan relations, while KCFR member Board of Governors Moin Foda moderated the event.
Mohammad Yousuf, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on National Security and Strategic Planning, noted that the two countries were in a critical relationship due to the changing dynamics, while focusing on partnership rather than economic cooperation in Afghanistan. Is being given. He said that for the Afghan peace process, it was necessary to reach a conclusion to overcome the mutual losses, noting that as long as there were objections and no denials from India, So far, Pakistan has no problem with the US-India partnership.
Cameron Munter, the former US ambassador to Pakistan, said that Pakistan would soon have to involve the administration of President-elect Biden to create a positive impression, focusing on the economic and diplomatic fronts. The US administration staff will be willing to address a wide range of issues related to US and other foreign policy issues, and there is a need to explore new business sectors such as IT through private sector engagement.
Dr. Daniel Markey, a senior research professor at Johns Hopkins University in the United States, stressed the need to develop a two-way mechanism and adopt new approaches. Dr. Markey said the areas of opportunity include epidemic response, climate change, clean energy and nuclear diplomacy (Iran), while highlighting US-India relations, including India’s approach to minority protection and China’s Will also be derived from strategic competition. He further said that only responsible approach can save India / Pakistan from future crisis and business relations need to visit new business destinations through liberating youth power in Pakistan and maintaining partnership and connectivity.
IBA Karachi’s Professor Huma Baqai said in his analysis that President-elect Joe Biden will have to walk hard because he has to overcome the damage caused by the recent events under Trump’s presidency. Specific steps need to be taken to establish a ‘new relationship’ and China should not form alliances with China. There are similarities between the United States and Pakistan on some strategic issues that need to be addressed and Pakistan should not be seen as an ’emergency partner’.
In his concluding remarks, Chairman KCFR, Ikram Sehgal said that Pakistan wanted to take a neutral position on both the SA and Iran issues and did not consider the Sunni-Shia differences as a matter of dispute. He emphasized that the US private sector could make a lot of money in Pakistan as there was a dearth of potential in the south along the coast from Karachi to Gwadar, which offered a golden opportunity. He emphasized Pakistan’s current position of being not only a geographical gateway but also an economic hub due to Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and CPEC projects. He mentioned that Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has severed ties with all neighboring countries, which is positive for Pakistan. Commenting on the Afghan peace process, he said it was important for Biden, who has a reputation for being a good man, and that Pakistan could play a key role in resolving the issue.
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