LAHORE - US Ambassador to Pakistan Cameron Munter on Saturday said that only Afghan leadership could resolve the Afghanistan issue and Pakistan and the United States could only give it a helping hand.
The ambassador was talking to media at the second annual dinner of the American Business Forum at Royal Palm Golf and Country Club.
When asked why US was brining Afghan Taliban to Pakistan for talks, because if there was backlash, the Afghan Taliban might resume their contacts with the Pakistani Taliban, which would be dangerous, the ambassador said that Afghanistan issue could not be resolved keeping the Afghans out of talks.
To a question about non-implementation of promised Reconstruction Opportunity Zones (ROZs) in the Tribal Areas, the ambassador said, "I admit this is a failure." He said there was a misconception between Pakistan and the US, however, this could be overcome through negotiations, people-to-people contacts and enhancing economic ties. He said that many senior Americans were coming to Pakistan to discuss various issues, covering economic collaborations, trade relations and security concerns.
Replying to a query regarding announcement of bounty on Jamaatud Dawa chief Hafiz Saeed, Munter said that although Pakistan media was doing a wonderful job, it misreported the facts in this case. He said that actually under the Right to Justice Program, it was announced that anyone who will provide information leading to the arrest of any person involved in terrorist activities in any country or provide information concerning to the United Nations declared terrorists, he would be provided with reward. He said that Hafiz Saeed was a probable suspect of the Mumbai terrorist attack.
About tapping the opportunities of trade between both countries, Munter said that the future of Pakistan lied in trade and the future of US lied in investment.
Earlier, addressing as chief guest of the ceremony, the ambassador said that US was committed to its partnership with Pakistan, a relationship built on a foundation of mutual interests, respect and trust. An important element of that relationship is trade, rather than aid. He said that the US-Pakistan commercial relations were already strong and the two-way trade was a robust $5.4 billion in 2010. In addition, the stock of the US foreign direct investment in Pakistan was $517 million in 2009, however, the stock of Pakistani FDI in the United States was $45 million in 2009.
He said that with a consumer base of more than 180 million people, a young and educated workforce and a culture of entrepreneurship, Pakistan offers countless trade and investment opportunities for US businesses.
A memorandum of understanding was also signed between USAID and American Business Forum (ABF).
In his welcome address, ABF President Salim Ghauri said that the members made this forum healthy strong and visible to the world. (Monitoring Desk)