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PrimeMinistersaddressatUnitedStatesInstituteofPeace,Washington,D.C.,onPakistansVisionforRegional
PeaceandDevelopment

CONTACTUS

October22,2013

CongressmanJimMarshall,PresidentUSIP,
Mr.StephenHadley,
DistinguishedGuests,
LadiesandGentlemen,

IamhonouredtospeakatthisprestigiousForum,onPakistansVisionforRegionalPeaceandDevelopment.
WeappreciateUSIPsnoblemissionofpromotingpeaceandunderstandingamongstnationsandIdeeplyvalueyourkindinvitation.
LadiesandGentlemen,
IhavecomehereastheelectedleaderofPakistan,alandofancientcivilizationsandrichculturaltraditions,butastatestillyoungand
aspiringtobeamodern,moderateandprogressivecountryof180millionenterprising,hardworkingpeople,dreamingofabettertomorrow,
inarapidlychangingworld.
Theyalsoyearnforpeace,securityandwellbeingthathaveeludedthemforthepastmanydecades.
ItistheirhopesandaspirationsthatIhavecomeheretovoicebeforethislearnedgathering.

LadiesandGentlemen,
Thishasbeenamomentousyearinourhistory.Notonlyhavewehadafree,fairandtransparentgeneralelections,butapeaceful,dignified
transferofpowerfromoneelectedgovernmenttoanother.
AlsoanelectedPresidentsucceededanotherelectedPresident,inagracefulceremonythattheentirenationwitnessed,withasenseofdeep
satisfaction.
Theseeventswould,ofcourse,beofaroutinenaturetoyou,butforustheyrepresentaremarkabletransformationofourdemocraticculture,
signifyingpoliticalmaturitynotonlyfortheelectorate,butforthemainstreampartiesaswell.Theywillsurelystrengthenthedemocratic
institutionsandtheruleoflawinPakistan.

LadiesandGentlemen,
WeviewthemandategiventoourPartyasatrustofthenation,whichweshallendeavourtoprotectandpromoteinamannerthat
strengthensthedemocraticinstitutionsandenhancesthewelfareofthepeople.

ThisisanewandconfidentPakistan,butIamnotobliviousofthedauntingchallengesthatwehaveinherited.

Mygovernmentisfullyawareoftheenormouseconomicandsecuritychallengesthatfaceustoday.Wearealsoconsciousthatpeopleof
Pakistanhavehighexpectationsfromus,giventhefactthatinourearlierabortedtermsinoffice,weintroducedmanyfarreachingreformsto
liberalizetheeconomy,strengthentheprivatesector,facilitateforeigninvestmentandcreateabusinessfriendlyclimateinthecountry.These
enabledustocompletemajorinfrastructureprojects,suchasmodernmotorways,ports,airportsanddams.
WeintendtoresumeourjourneywhereitwasinterruptedbythemilitarycoupinOctober1999,bothintermsofreformsathomeandanew
directioninourforeignpolicy.Wewanttocreateasocietybasedonsocialjusticeandwellbeingofallourpeople,withoutanydiscrimination.

LadiesandGentlemen,
Wealsorecognizethattherealizationofthisambitiousagendarequiresinternalpeaceandsecurity,aswellaspeaceandstabilityinthe
neighbourhood,whichiswhywearedeterminedtotransformourrelationswithfriendsaroundtheworld,butmoreimportantly,withour
immediateneighbours.

Iamhowever,awarethatthegreatestchallengetoPakistancomesfromterrorismandextremism.ButPakistanisneitherasourceof,northe
epicentreofterrorism,asissometimesalleged.
Infact,Pakistanitselfhasbeenamajorvictimofthisscourge,foroveradecade.
Pakistanssacrificesinthestruggleagainstterrorismandextremismarewellknown.
Wehavefacedhundredsofsuicideattacksinthepastdecade,losingover7000ofourbravesoldiers,securitypersonnelandpolicemen,
whileourciviliancasualtiesexceed40,000.Oursacrificesareimmeasurable,bothintermsofthelossofhumanlivesandthedamagecaused
toourinfrastructure.
Mygovernmentisfirmlyresolvedtobringingthiscycleofbloodshedandviolencetoanend,butitcannotbedoneovernight,norcanitbe
donebyunleashingsenselessforceagainstourcitizens,withoutfirstmakingeveryefforttobringthemisguidedandconfusedelementsof
society,backtothemainstream.Wealsohavetoensurethatthepoliticalpartiesandcivicsocietyareonthesamepage,soastocreatethe
enablingenvironmentnecessarytotacklethismenace.
Itwastothisendthatinanextraordinaryexpressionofnationalunityandcohesion,theAllPartiesConference(APC)underlinedthe
imperativeneedofgivingpeaceachance.
LadiesandGentlemen,
Mygovernmentisalsodeterminedtoaddressthechallengeposedbyaweakeconomy,whilerecognizingtheurgencyoffocusingonthe
energysector,whichhashamperedournationalgrowthandcreatedhugesocialunrest.
Majorreformshavealreadybeenintroducedtoensuresoundmacroeconomicpoliciestoreducebudgetarydeficits,ensurebalanceof
payment,curbinflationarypressureandreducethecountrysdependenceonforeignloansandassistance.Wearealsoengagedineffortsto

bringhalfamillionnewtaxpayersintothetaxnet.ThesemeasuresshouldenhancethetaxtoGDPratiofromthecurrentlowof9percentto
15percentby2018.

IthasalsobeendecidedtoprivatisethemajorStateOwnedEnterprises,includingentitiessuchasthenationalairlines,thesteelmillandthe
nationaloilandgascompanies.

LadiesandGentlemen,
Turningtoforeignrelations,Iwishtostatethatwefirmlybelievethatapeaceful,stableandunitedAfghanistanisinPakistansvitalinterest.
Oureffortsare,therefore,focusedonhelpingthestabilizationofAfghanistan,whichisgoingthroughavitallyimportantphase,withsecurity
andpoliticaltransitionunderway.Pakistanwishestheselandmarktransitionstobecompletedpeacefullyandsmoothly.

WealsowishtheinternationalcommunitytoremainengagedinsupportingAfghanistansreconstructionandeconomicdevelopment.We
hopeforanAfghanistanthatisfirmlyonthepathofstabilityandprosperity.
Asanessentialelementofourpolicy,westronglysupportaninclusive,AfghanledandAfghanownedpeaceandreconciliationprocess.
DuringPresidentKarzaisrecentvisittoPakistan,wereaffirmedoursolidaritywithAfghanistananditspeople.

IalsoassuredPresidentKarzaithatwewishneithertointerfereinAfghanistansinternalaffairs,nordowehaveanyfavourites.Infact,itis
ourearnesthopetoseetheAfghansthemselvesuniteforpeace,prosperityanddevelopmentoftheircountry.
Simultaneously,wearemakingeffortstoupgradeourbilateralrelationswithAfghanistan,inallspheres.Myownvisionisthatitshouldbe
definedbyastrongtradeandeconomicpartnership.

InadditiontohostingmillionsofAfghanrefugeesfordecades,Pakistanisextendingassistanceworthmorethan450milliondollarsfor
Afghanistansreconstructionandcapacitybuilding,withspecialfocusoninfrastructure,healthandeducationsectors.
WehavealsodecidedtoextendtheKarachiPeshawarhighwayuptoKabul.ThisisourmodestcontributiontobringingAfghanistanintothe
regionaleconomichub.

WebelievethatwecanworkwithAfghanistanforenhancedregionalandeconomiccooperationthatwouldestablishandreinforceregional
trade,energyandcommunicationcorridors.
Thetwocountriesareparticipatinginmegaenergyprojects,namelyTurkmenistanAfghanistanPakistanIndia(TAPI)andCentralAsiaSouth
AsiaElectricityTransmissionandTradeProject(CASA1000).Thiswouldundoubtedlyhelpstrengtheneffortsforpeaceandstabilityand
advanceourcommonobjectivesofprogressandprosperity.
LadiesandGentlemen,
OurotherimportantneighbourisIndia,withwhichweshareacommonhistory,aswellasacommondestiny.Ourpastandourfutureare
intertwined.PakistanishappytoseethepeopleofIndialiveinpeaceandsecurity.

ThepeopleofPakistanwanttoresolvealloutstandingissueswithIndia,throughdialogueandnegotiations.

Weareconfidentthatthereareareaswherewecanmakequickprogress.Wealsowishtoputourselvesonthepathfornormalizingtrade
relationswithIndia.

MymeetingwithPrimeMinisterManmohanSinghlastmonthinNewYorkreflectedthisdesireandIamconfidentthatwecanovercome
challengesandfindsolutionstoallissues,aslongaswestayengaged.Inanycase,wedonotwantisolatedincidentstointerruptour
dialogue.

Ourmessageissimple.FutureprosperityandeconomicdevelopmentinSouthAsiadependonpeaceandsecurityintheregion.Therefore,
allofushaveastakeinworkingforthesenobleobjectives,forourownsake,aswellasforthesakeofourfuturegenerations.Itisabouttime
thatthetwosidesaddressedtheirbilateralissueswithutmostseriousness,inordertoavailthemselvesofthehistoricopportunityofdevoting
theirenergiesandresources,todevelopmentandbettermentoftheirteemingmillions.
MayIaddhere,thathadourtwocountriesnotwastedtheirpreciousresourcesinaneverendingarmsrace,wewouldnotonlyhaveavoided
thefutileconflicts,butalsoemergedasstableandprosperousnations.

IwishtoassurethisaugustaudiencethatPakistandesirestoliveinpeacewithitsneighbour.Wewouldnotbefoundwantinginwalkingthe
extramile.
Ourdreamistorealizethepotentialofmutuallybeneficialeconomiccooperation,atthebilaterallevel,aswellasatthebroaderregionallevel,
underSAARC.

Evenmorepromisingaretheprospectsofinterregionalcooperation.Asapopulous,energydeficitbuttechnologicallyadvancedfastgrowing
region,SouthAsiastandstobenefittremendouslyfromtheenergyrichCentralAsiaandWestAsia.Thereisahugepotentialforinter
regionaltrade,transitandconnectivity.
PakistanprovidesCentralAsiawiththeshortestaccesstothewarmwatersoftheArabianSea.

LadiesandGentlemen,
Contrarytothecommonperception,PakistanUSrelationshavestoodthetestoftime.Despitetheoccasionalhiccups,thesolidfoundations
ofthisvitalrelationshiphavealwaysweatheredtheoccasionalstormandturbulence.

AsdemocracytakesrootsinPakistan,thereisscopeforbuildingastrongandstablepartnershipbetweenthetwocountries.Theyshouldbe
basedonmutualinterestandmutualrespect,assoclearlyarticulatedbyPresidentObama,inhisCairospeech.

Ourtwocountriesshareperceptionsandinterestsonawiderangeofissues.TheseincludeAfghanistan,peaceandstabilityinSouthAsia
andintheMiddleEast,aswellasextremismandterrorism.

Moreover,despitetheplanneddrawdown,therewouldbecontinuingneedforclosecooperationbetweenourtwocountries,especiallyon
Afghanistan.Otherkeyissuesofmutualconcernincludeterrorism,theUNreform,internationaleconomiccooperationandenvironment.
PakistanappreciatestheconstructiveroletheUShashistoricallyplayedindefusingtensionsbetweenPakistanandIndia.
WithitsgrowinginfluenceinIndia,theUSnowhasthecapacitytodomore,tohelpthetwosidesresolvetheircoredisputes,including
Kashmir,andinpromotingacultureofcooperation.
Thereis,however,thematterofdronestrikes,whichhavedeeplydisturbedandagitatedourpeople.InmyveryfirststatementtoParliament,
Ihadreiteratedourstrongcommitmenttoensuringanendtothedroneattacks.
Morerecentlyourpoliticalparties,inanationalconference,haddeclaredthattheuseofdronesisnotonlyacontinuedviolationofour
territorialintegrity,butalsodetrimentaltoourresolveandeffortsateliminatingterrorismfromourcountry.Thisissuehasbecomeamajor
irritantinourbilateralrelationshipaswell.Iwould,therefore,stresstheneedforanendtodroneattacks.
LadiesandGentlemen,
Itismyendeavourtoapproachthisimportantrelationshipwithanopenandfreshmind,leavingbehindthebaggageoftrustdeficitand
mutualsuspicions.Instead,cooperationinkeyareasincludingtrade,investment,energy,technology,educationandagricultureunderthe
rubricofStrategicDialogue,shouldbethemainplankofourpartnership.
Aslargedemocracies,thereshouldbegreaterinteractionbetweenourtwocountries,notonlyattheparliamentarylevel,butthrough
exchangeofbusinessmen,students,opinionmakersandtourism,asthesewouldhelpremovemanyofourmisperceptions.

Moreover,thetraditionallystrongtiesatthemilitarylevelshouldbereinvigorated.
ThevibrantcommunityofPakistaniAmericansisplayinganimportantroleinbringingourtwonationscloser.Iamthankfultothem,asthey
constituteapermanentlinkbetweenourtwocountries,thatcanandshouldplayanimportantroleineliminatingthenegativeperceptions.
LadiesandGentlemen,
Asaresponsiblenuclearpowerandamajordevelopingcountry,Pakistanisdestinedtoplayakeyroleinregionalstabilityandworldpeace
andsecurity.

Pakistanremainsfullyalivetoprotectingitssovereignty,territorialintegrityandindependence.Withoutengaginginanarmsrace,Pakistanwill
maintaincredibleminimumdeterrencetoensureregionalsecurityandstability.Wewouldnevertheless,consistentlypursuethegoalsof
disarmament,onanondiscriminatorybasis.
ItisourhopethattheUnitedStateswouldfollowanevenhandedandnondiscriminatoryapproach,infieldslikecivilnuclearcooperation.
LadiesandGentlemen,
Asyouwouldbeaware,Pakistanisacountryblessedwithenormoushumanandmaterialresources.Itisstrategicallylocatedatthecross
roadsofthevastregionsofSouthandEastAsiaononeside,andCentralandWestAsiaontheother.

Pakistanisanaturallandbridgeconnectingthesevastregions,andthushasthepotentialofbecomingahuboftransitandtradeamong
theseregions.

Withavibrantcivilsociety,acriticalmedia,anindependentjudiciary,ahugereservoirofeducatedyoungpopulationandthephenomenal
expansionofITnetwork,Pakistanisemergingasamodern,knowledgebasedsociety.

Withfastdevelopingphysicalinfrastructure,abundantskilledlabourandattractiveinvestmentincentives,Pakistanispoisedtoattractitsdue
sharefromtheprocessofglobalization.

ThehistoricdemocratictransitionaftertheMay11electionshasbeenhailedbytheinternationalcommunity.Ithasalsoinstilledconfidence
amongtheinvestorcommunity,withinthecountryandabroad.

IavailmyselfofthisopportunitytoinvitetheUSprivatesectortojoinus,ineffortsforsustainedeconomicgrowthanddevelopment.

Therevivaloftheeconomyisthekeytoprogressacrosstheentirespectrumofthechallengesthatwearefacingtoday,fromterrorismand
extremismtodevelopmentofthesocialsector.Itisalsoanessentialprerequisiteforstrengtheningdemocracyandtheruleoflaw.Thisis
whatwehavelearntfromourownexperience.
AndthisiswhatIrecallPresidentFranklinRooseveltemphasizinginoneofhisspeeches:Trueindividualfreedomcannotexistwithout
economicsecurityandindependence.Peoplewhoarehungryandoutofjobarethestuffofwhichdictatorshipsaremade.
LadiesandGentlemen,
IamawareofthefactthatthedrivingmotivationoftheFoundingFathersofthisgreatnationwastheirintensedesiretoliveinacountry
wherereligiousfreedomandeconomicopportunitieswouldbeavailabletoall.OurFoundingFatherstoo,soughttoestablishahomelandwith
similargoals.Thereistherefore,anaturalaffinitybetweenourpeoples,theoverwhelmingmajorityofwhombelieveinthesamejustand
mercifulGod,whichremindsmeofJesusChristsSermonontheMount,whenhehaddeclaredBlessedarethepeacemakers.Somesix
centurieslater,whentheHolyQuranwasrevealedtoourHolyProphetMohammad(PBUH),wewereremindedoftheeternaltruth:We
madeyouintonationsandtribes,sothatyoumayknoweachother.Verily,themosthonouredofyouinthesightofGodishewhoismost
righteousofyou.Letustherefore,endeavourtoknoweachotherbetter,sothatwecanallmakeourmodestcontributiontomakingthe
worldabetterplace.
Ithankyou.

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