Islamabad is ready to move forward. What about Kyiv?

Pakistan has recently been in the spotlight of global news because of the devastating flood, which affected one-third of the country’s area and caused huge damages. Lately this country is also being mentioned in the context of combating terrorism and it is viewed as a player that may help to stabilize the situation in neighboring Afghanistan. Many Ukrainians associate Pakistan with the many-million tank contract that Ukraine managed to sign during the difficult times of the mid-1990s. Does not Pakistan feel abandoned by the international community after the ruinous flood? How does the country manage to deal with its two big neighbors? What are the prospects for development of relations between our two countries? You will find the answers to these and other questions below, in The Day’s exclusive interview with the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan to Ukraine Ahmad Nawaz Saleem MELA.

“The floods were a national calamity and no one could have foreseen or anticipated them. The magnitude and scale of the tragedy were enormous and unprecedented. To start with, the relief operation is primarily the responsibility of the country itself, which must mobilize its resources and cope with the situation, and the government is carrying it out in a befitting manner. Having said that, the international community did respond to our call. Though it was initially a bit slow to respond, with better understanding of the situation, aid in cash and kind started reaching us and is continuing to do so. The UN Secretary General visited Pakistan and said that it was the worst ever tragedy he had witnessed in his life. The US Secretary of State also declared that the tragedy caused more devastation than the combined damage caused by the tsunami and the earthquakes in Haiti and Pakistan in 2005. The UN made the biggest appeal for donations for the flood victims (gathering 2.1 billion dollars — major donors include the United States, Saudi Arabia, Germany, Japan and the Gulf States). So it is evident that the international community did not abandon us.”

How then should one understand the headline in dawn.com, “Pakistan feels US let it down”?

“Let me give you a balanced view on this matter. Like elsewhere we have all sorts of opinions in Pakistan regarding major issues. The report you have mentioned is maybe an extreme one. The fair view is that we are being helped by the international community as I elaborated before. However, the help may not be as substantial as was warranted by the situation or expected by us. In what regards the US, it has helped us probably more than any other country, and is continuing to mobilize the international community. Recently, President Barack Obama personally met with the Pakistani Delegation and assured it of [the US’] strong support to Pakistan in all major areas, including rehabilitation efforts related to the floods.”

What concerns the fight against terrorism, Ex-President Pervez Musharraf recently said that having a moderate approach to this problem, the US would no longer need to pursue bin Laden, who is said to be hiding in your country by some experts. How you may comment this? Is Musharraf right?

“Regarding Osama bin Laden no one has been able categorically point out where exactly he is. His presence in Pakistan is a mere speculation of some vested interests.”

What about the moderate approach…

“Ex-President Musharraf may be in a better position to elaborate his point of view. We realize that within the Taliban there are hardliners with whom there can’t be any compromise, there are those who have been forced to join them by the circumstances, and yet another category are people who may only have a soft inclination for the Taliban — all together this is a small number. Logically speaking, the fight against terrorism must continue to be directed against hardliners, while people “under the influence of the Taliban” should be segregated and efforts made to bring them back into the main stream. No military solution alone would be successful unless it is effectively backed by diplomatic efforts and financial measures. And that is what the government of Pakistan is doing.”

I have seen reports that the US is proposing for your country to play some role in Afghanistan. What kind of role can it be?

“Being a neighboring country of Afghanistan with common challenges and interests, the role of Pakistan to stabilize the situation in Afghanistan remains vital. Pakistan can play a role in many ways. For instance, Pakistani armed forces can train Afghanistan armed forces, civil forces and law enforcement agencies. They are continuing to share intelligence in the war against terrorism. Pakistan can also play a significant role in the rehabilitation and reconstruction of the infrastructure in Afghanistan. Pakistan, in any case, is providing the transit trade facilities to Afghanistan, which are so vital for it.”

I know that your country is the biggest contributor of troops to UN peacekeeping missions. Is it possible that your country will in some way become a contributor of troops to Afghanistan to help stabilize that country?

“I think you are absolutely right. Pakistan has probably been the number-one contributor of peacekeeping forces in the world. And that speaks volumes of the professionalism and reputation of the armed forces of Pakistan. However, Pakistan is already fighting the war against terrorism in unison with the international community, including in Afghanistan on the Pakistani-Afghan border, therefore a contribution of troops inside Afghanistan may not be relevant.”

Mr. Ambassador, Afghanistan is just one of your neighbors. You have two other, very big ones. How does your country succeed in keeping friendly relations with them?

“As for Iran, traditionally we have very close ties with it and we keep interacting with each other regularly on various issues, including the situation in Afghanistan. We have very cordial relations and these will continue.

“Another big neighbor we have is India. With India we have some disputes and I do not need to go into those details. Those disputes are on record and Kashmir is on top of the list. We periodically have talks. Now negotiations have partially resumed. Our stance is that we want a peaceful settlement of issues with India, including the main issue of Kashmir. And I hope India will be sensitive to our stance and soon resume comprehensive dialogue.”

Does the fact that your country has nuclear weapons help pursue your vision how this conflict should be solved?

“Nuclear weapons are primarily designed for strategic deterrence. Others have nuclear weapons too. India also has them. We are a responsible nation and have taken all the safeguards to protect and secure our nuclear weapons. The United States and even India have acknowledged our safety measures. Like other nuclear countries, nuclear capability has made Pakistan more conscious and sensitive to our international obligations.”

So can one say that Iran may become more responsible when it acquires nuclear weapons?

“I think Iran should be asked about its point of view. I have no reasons to doubt their intentions if they declare that they are not going to be a nuclear power and that they would like to follow the international norms.”

Let’s talk about relations between our countries. Can we expect that in the near future Pakistan and Ukraine will have a contract of the magnitude of the famous tank deal signed in the mid-1990s?

“Pakistan and Ukraine have very cordial and friendly relations. We are very eager to enhance our trade with Ukraine. We surely need to diversify our relations and give them impetus. And there is so much scope and promise for expansion of trade relations between our two countries. There is tremendous goodwill prevalent between Pakistan and Ukraine, and both need to make special efforts to expand trade between the two countries — maybe within mutually agreed timelines.”

Do you see any Ukrainian companies that are interested in doing business with or investing in your country, since the change of government?

“Frankly, investments by Ukrainian friends in Pakistan so far have not been significant. We would greatly welcome Ukrainian businessmen investing in Pakistan and will do our best to support them in their ventures.”

Does the problem stem from lack of interests or rather opportunities to make profits?

“Pakistan offers very favorable terms for investments with impressive prospects of profit and guaranteed security of the investors’ capital. We are there to provide all the necessary information and there is a lot of desire on the part of the government and people of Pakistan for Ukrainian businessmen to come and invest. Well, if you can also assist me, please do that. Tell me what else is to be done and I would go to any lengths to promote the investment in Pakistan.”

Do you think that Ukraine’s intention to develop better relations with India, with its huge market, may in some way influence cooperation between our countries?

“We do not have such reservations or feelings. Every country is entitled to pursue its own national objectives, its own foreign policy, its own trade and commercial interests. As mentioned before, tremendous potential and goodwill exists to expand trade relations between Ukraine and Pakistan, and we would surely like to translate this goodwill and potential into tangible results in the near future.”

When you were presenting your credentials to our president, he said that Ukraine is interested in more active cooperation with Pakistan on energy, metallurgy, transport and industrial infrastructure. Does your country agree?

“We are greatly appreciative of the president’s desire and expect to receive the composition of the delegation of the four sectors mentioned by the president. We are in touch with our government and are keenly looking forward for this important visit of the Ukrainian Delegation in the near future. I am also grateful to the president of Ukraine for expressing his sympathies for the flood victims in his speech and conveying his intentions to provide aid to them.”

Has Pakistan received aid from the Ukrainian government?

“They have promised to send some. And I think something is being worked out. We realize the constraints on financial resources. We know there is goodwill and whatever the government of Ukraine can do, it will surely do it.”

Can you say what kind of Ukraine have you discovered upon arriving in our country?

“I came only recently and presented my credentials less than two months back. Ukraine is a beautiful country and I am happy to be here. My experience so far has been pleasant and encouraging. I have interacted with cross-sections of society and was pleased and impressed with their desire to expand relations between our two counties. I am very optimistic and looking forward to a very successful tenure.”