Daily Times

WASHINGTON: Ambassador Jaleel Abbas Jilani just smirked when asked how difficult the so-called anti-US sentiments in Pakistan make his job difficult in America.

He laughed with a tinge of confidence when asked to explain his strategy to deal with certain lobbies in Washington which are trying to isolate Pakistan among the comity of nations.

Though operating from a rather quite corner, in Cleveland Park area, he remains one of the most sought-after foreign envoys, simultaneously, looking after diplomatic interests of Pakistan and Iran.

His two successors – Husain Haqqani and Sherry Rehman – were the political appointees, while Jilani has been a career diplomat throughout his professional life. He was once declared persona-non-grata by the Indian government.

“I don’t describe it as anti-American sentiments in Pakistan. Most Pakistanis appreciate American democracy and their economic assistance to Pakistan,” he told Daily Times, in his neatly designed office.

He admitted that most Americans specifically asked him about the so-called anti-American sentiments among the Pakistanis. He said it was imperative to build a certain narrative in Pakistan to maintain good relations with the Americans.

Against the general perception that relations between the two countries were touching the low ebb, the ambassador said Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif had two official visits to the United States. “It shows the seriousness of the American administration to engage Pakistan,” he observed.

He said the US government was helping Pakistan in various energy related projects and doling out millions of dollars. He said the two countries formed eight different working groups ranging from education to nuclear proliferation.

Asked to comment on the issue of delivery of F-16 jet fighters to Pakistan, he said Pakistan would take up the issue with the new administration. He explained the American administration had principally decided to sell the F-16 to Pakistan, however getting them under Foreign Military Funding on concessional price needs to be taken up.

He noted with disappointment that the Pakistani media berated the entire foreign policy on one single issue of the F-16s.

Jilani brushed aside the claims that India has managed to isolate Pakistan in the world.

“This is absolutely incorrect. For instance, I am taking care of Iran’s diplomatic affairs here (in the United States). Are the isolated countries trusted like this,” he snapped.

Washington has been a hub of anti-Pakistan lobbies for years. They cultivate hawkish Congressmen like Dana Rohrabacher Ted Poe to further their designs against Pakistan. They never miss any opportunity to defame Pakistan. Recently, both moved a bill in the US Congress to declare Pakistan a state that was sponsoring terrorism.

The ambassador refused to name any individual or institution, yet he agreed that strong lobbies were at work to damage the interests of Pakistan. He said majority of American lawmakers had favourable opinion of Pakistan. “Recently, the US Senate rejected a bill with thumping majority that was moved by Senator Ted Poe to block the sale of F-16 to Pakistan,” he said.

Jilani revealed the Pakistani diplomats had given various briefings to the teams of both Hilary Clinton and Donald Trump, the Democratic and Republican presidential candidates, respectively. To a question, he said the perception that Republicans were more pro-Pakistan than Democrats had become obsolete.