Daily Times

Hosted by the National Assembly of Pakistan, a three-day Speakers’ Conference on ‘the challenges of terrorism and inter-regional connectivity’ commenced on December 24, 2017 with an objective to focus on parliamentary cooperation for peace, connectivity and prosperity in the region.

In his address to the participants from six countries, including Afghanistan, Iran, Turkey, Russia, Pakistan and China, Speaker National Assembly Ayaz Sadiq said the post cold-war world had proved to be more dangerous and insecure than the bipolar era, pointing to the fact that half of the terror attacks, which claimed over two hundred thousand lives, happened in ‘our region’. The rise of the populist right and sanctioning of oppression, from Middle East to Kashmir had added fuel to the mayhem. Linked with terrorism was an unchecked rise in the illicit drug trade. He said the religious fundamentalism was not the only culprit. Ayaz Sadiq said, the Speakers’ Conference was an opportunity for the countries represented in the moot to take a big initiative to meet the aspirations of our people to live together in respect, trust and friendship. He also expressed the need for ending state oppression.

The colossal damage to global economy can be measured from the fact that since 9/11, Pakistan alone has suffered a loss of nearly 123 billion US dollars to its economy because of cowardly attacks on our territory targeting peaceful citizens, he added.

President Mamnoon Hussain said foreign interference had created the monster of terrorism. Root-causes of terrorism must be identified to fix the problem which is now an international issue.

To some, it may not auger well, what you think and what you say in spite of your status and stature and excellent reputation. PPP disowned Senate Chairman Mian Raza Rabbani’s statement in which he lashed out at the US. What Rabbani had said in his address to Speakers’ Conference was that Pakistan is a sovereign country and it will not ‘take notices’ from any foreign country. “Two days ago, US Vice President Mike Pence had the audacity to say that President Trump has put Pakistan on ‘notice’. Let the word ring out in clear terms that Pakistan is a sovereign state and is not in the habit of taking notices from anyone, let alone the US.”

The colossal damage to global economy can be measured from the fact that since 9/11, Pakistan alone has suffered a loss of nearly $123 billion to its economy because of cowardly attacks on our territory targeting peaceful citizens

The senate chairman said America was apparently trying to shift the blame for its defeat in Afghanistan on to Pakistan, and it consistently refuses to recognise the sacrifices of the people of Pakistan in the war on terror.

Rabbani further criticising the US, said it seemed the United States has pursued a policy of ‘regime change’ and ‘bringing about instability in Muslim countries’, particularly in the Middle East. Raza Rabbani further said, “a new coalition between US, Israel and India was in the making. That means reducing chances of peace”.

The United States veto does not let the United Nations do Justice. The UN fails to implement its own resolutions on Kashmir. Political analysts are of the view that US foreign policy promotes not peace but wars. Wars are America’s profitable business. “Time has come for Asia to make its own decisions, or else the history will never forgive us,” they say.

It is significant to note that recently 128 countries in the UN General Assembly rejected the American move on the issue of Jerusalem. This is a reflection on the unjust world order. National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq also spoke about the fateful vote in the security  council, where 14 countries could not convince one country [the US] to show respect to the humanity and democratic values.

There is a need to understand the reality of politics and national interests of countries that may not be aware of the circumstances of other countries. In spite of ‘make and break’ in the United States’, politics and policies Pakistan-US relations have been cordial. Hopefully, the Trump administration will think of maintaining the spirit of trust and respect that has always been there. Extending the field of friendship does not mean that you part ways with old friends. In fact, old friends can help build new bridges of cordiality and strong bonds to meet new challenges. People in government and opposition have to understand that passion and fashion go together. Betrayal is different from innocent small misunderstandings and mis-perceptions.

Situation of state terrorism in Kashmir and plight of the Palestinian people reminds us that the world needs more just and equitable order.

Speaker Ayaz Sadiq proposed that the forum should be given permanent footings and the conference should become an annual feature. The National Assembly of Pakistan would be pleased to act as its secretariat till permanent Secretariat and rules of the forum were jointly agreed.

Parliamentary diplomacy could help negotiate peaceful settlements of all outstanding disputes, and this should be the spirit of the current conference as well. Regional connectivity had remained at the lowest and the real representatives of the people could improve conditions after deliberation on real issues. Similarly, there was a need to improve the overall mutual trade volume of six countries gathered here. The current status was just 366 billion dollars for the year 2016, which was merely 2 per cent of the entire global trade volume. Participating countries could benefit from Pakistan’s experience of effectively managing military operations to curb terrorism and extremism.

The heads of the parliaments from six regional countries at the first Speakers’ conference called for establishing a joint mechanism to cope with the challenges of terrorism and security besides promoting the inter-regional connectivity. The conference adopted 29-point ‘Islamabad Declaration’ of partnership for regional peace, development and connectivity. The guests, enriching the discussions, appreciated Speaker Ayaz Sadiq for convening the conference to discuss vital issues, currently confronting the whole world. China’s Zhang Ping, in his address said, “no country alone can address the challenges being faced by the mankind. We will have to work together to tackle them”. He said China is working with the international community to combat terrorism and stressed the need for joint efforts to defeat this menace. China’s one Belt one Road (OBOR) project to connect the whole world will be beneficial for all.

Iranian Speaker Dr Ali Ardeshir Larijani said “we have to see the root-causes of the terrorism while fighting against it.” Russian Duma Chairman called for “choking funding for terrorism and strengthening legislative measures in this regard”. “We can only effectively fight against jointly”, he said. The moot desired to maintain the momentum of high level exchanges and consultations, providing impetus for deepening of ties among the countries, reaffirming the sovereignty, territorial integrity, political independence and unity among the participating states.

Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi took personal interest and made the exercise meaningful through interaction with the conference participants. He said Pakistan had been abiding by the interest in peace and stability in Afghanistan and believed that there was no military solution to the conflict in the neighbouring country.

The write is former Director National Institute of Public Administration (NIPA), Government of Pakistan, a political analyst, a public policy expert and an author. His book post 9/11 Pakistan was published in the United States

Published in Daily Times, December 30^th 2017.