Daily Times

Pakistan desired peace and stability in its neighbourhood, but any misadventure from across the border will be given a befitting response, Ambassador Jalil Abbas Jilani has said.

Speaking at the inaugural sub-convention of the Pakistani-American Community, at Chicago’s East-West University, on Sunday, he said Pakistan’s defence had become impregnable over the year, according to a press release.

At the session, Ambassador Jilani briefed over 140 participants on the outcome of a successful visit of Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif to the United Nations where he delivered a landmark speech on the heroic struggle by Kashmiris for their right of self-determination and called for the end to the grave violation of human rights in Indian Occupied Kashmir.

He also apprised the community leaders of latest developments in Pakistan-US relations and urged them to get themselves and their children involved in local civic and political affairs to further strengthen those ties. Pakistani-Americans should move into the American mainstream, especially in media, entertainment, politics and academia.

Referring to the recent developments in South Asia, Ambassador Jilani shared his experience in handling similar situations with India between 2001 and 2003 and said that Pakistan’s defence had become impregnable over the years.

He said that Pakistan had successfully conducted counterinsurgency operations and had reversed the tide of extremism. He dispelled the impression that Pakistan had been isolated in the international community and referred to recent meetings of the Prime Minister in New York with his counterparts from UK, China, New Zealand, Iran and the US.

Ambassador Jilani delivered a detailed and insightful account of Pakistan’s social, political and economic landscape in his address, as also of the challenge the country faces.

He encouraged the community to play their due role in dispelling the negative stereotypes often attached to Pakistan and to use their influence in their local political and social communities.

The ambassador underscored the largely positive economic indicators and stressed the need for enhancing foreign investment in Pakistan.

The initiative of annual conventions of Pakistani-American community in Washington was taken by Ambassador Jilani in 2014 with an aim of enhancing interaction between the Embassy and the community. The third meeting of the Pakistani-American Community in Washington will be held on Oct. 8.

In his welcoming remarks, Consul General Faisal Niaz Tirmizi thanked the participants. He also thanked the Ambassador for providing the opportunity to the leaders of Pakistani-American diaspora for direct interaction with him.

The consul General briefed the participants about the initiatives taken by the Consulate in providing efficient consular services to the community as well as their efforts to better project Pakistan’s economic potential to major think-tanks and universities in Midwest American.

Tirmizi also appreciated the role of Pakistani-American community in enhancing already existing ties between Pakistan and USA.

Especially prepared presentations regarding internal security situation of Pakistan and investment opportunities available in Pakistan were made by Defense Attache in Washington Brig Sarfaraz Ali and Commercial Counselor in Chicago Amer Tareen respectively. A question-answer session followed.