DATE=6/16/2000
TYPE=BACKGROUND REPORT
TITLE=PAKISTAN'S PLEDGE
NUMBER=5-46513
BYLINE=ED WARNER
DATELINE=WASHINGTON
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: With occasional protests and interruptions,
Pakistan's Foreign Minister Abdul Sattar gave a press
briefing in Washington (Friday)defending his nation's
military government, which he said will make the
reforms necessary for restoring democracy and
curtailing terrorism. VOA's Ed Warner reports his
remarks, the response of skeptics in the audience and
some thoughts of a longtime American analyst.
TEXT: Under intense pressure from the United States,
Pakistan's military government has promised to crack
down on many of the religious schools thought to
encourage terrorism. It has also urged the Taleban in
Afghanistan to expel Pakistanis and others accused of
terrorist acts.
Whether Pakistan will really do this remains an open
question, says Karl Inderfurth, U-S Assistant
Secretary of State for South Asia.
It will, insists Pakistan Foreign Minister Abdul
Sattar, who came to Washington for talks at the U-S
State Department. In a press briefing at the National
Press Club, he said his government, which came to
power in a coup last October, wants to root out
corruption in order to restore democracy in the
parliamentary elections of 2002.
He stressed his government's determination to shut
down any potential terrorist camps in Pakistan and to
urge the Taleban to do the same in Afghanistan. But he
added that extremism flourishes in a country laid
waste by decades of war and further damaged by
economic sanctions:
// Sattar act //
We understand U-S concerns relating to
Afghanistan and what is described as Islamic
militancy. Pakistan's own influence with the
Afghans, who are fiercely independent people, is
limited. But whatever influence we have, we will
use it with the Afghans to ensure that the
Afghan territory is not used against the
interests of the United States or any other
friendly country.
// end act //
Some members of the audience took strong exception to
that statement. Reflecting a considerable body of
opinion, they said Pakistan is a principal supporter
of the Taleban and should own up to it.
Outside, a group of protestors made the same point,
including an Afghan woman who had been removed from
the press briefing for waving an anti-Taleban placard:
// protestor on street //
Afghanistan is occupied by Pakistan and maybe
other forces. We are here to tell the world and
the Pakistanis to get out of Afghanistan and let
Afghanistan live in peace as an independent
country. We want Afghanistan to be independent
and void of occupation and invasion by foreign
forces.
// end act //
Pakistan has problems of terrorism, says Milt Bearden,
a former senior CIA official with experience in South
Asia. But it has also responded to them:
// Bearden act //
If you had to list countries that have been the
most helpful with the United States in combating
international terrorism, you would probably come
up with Pakistan first and either Egypt or
Jordan second. In fact, we would not have many
people in jail, either convicted or awaiting
trial, if it were not for Pakistan.
// end act //
Mr. Bearden says Pakistan gets little credit for this
help, a point emphasized by Foreign Minister Sattar:
// Sattar act //
Pakistan desires strong positive relations with
the United States. Our national sentiment
overwhelmingly favors social and economic
progress, development and integration with the
world. However, sanctions and relentless U-S
pressures and negative images in the media are
not helpful to those who advance an agenda for
modernization.
// end act //
Critics say the best way for Pakistan to acquire a
better image is to earn it by making the reforms the
military government has promised. (signed)
NEB/EW/PT
16-Jun-2000 18:47 PM EDT (16-Jun-2000 2247 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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