Experts stressed the need for expending time and energies for bolstering cooperation in the fields of environment, economy, technology, and agriculture
Experts Upbeat about Expanding Pakistan-US Ties in Post-Afghan War Era
Washington: Experts and officials dealing with the relations between Pakistan and the United States expressed hope that their future is bright, arguing that ties between the two countries have been topsy-turvy, but this low-key phase, post-Afghan war period allows both Islamabad and Washington to start afresh, de-hyphenate, and pluck low-hanging fruits, with a view to building cooperative mechanisms on issues of common concern like climate change.
They stressed the need for expending time and energizing in bolstering cooperation in the fields of environment, economy, technology and agriculture.
The experts shared these thoughts at a two-day conference organized by the Center for Security, Strategy and Policy Research (CSSPR), University of Lahore, The School of Advanced International Studies, Johns Hopkins University, South Asia Center, Atlantic Council, and Engro Corporation.
The summit brought together Pakistani and American experts and officials to discuss a range of topics critical to the future of Pakistan-US relations.
The conference was opened by a welcome address delivered by CEO and President Atlantic Council Fred Kempe. Lamenting the negative titles associated with Pakistan-US relations, Kempe said that Pakistan is an enormous, resourceful, and important country, and therefore ties must be recalibrated and made even-handed.
The conference featured a keynote address by the Ambassador of Pakistan to the United States, Ambassador Masood Khan who reminded the audience that start-ups have increased exponentially in Pakistan, and, coupled with the tech boom the country is witnessing, the development could prove to be propitiously timed for US investors.
He added that the presence of US business giants in Pakistan, the burgeoning Pakistani-American community in the US, and the increasing trade volume between the two countries add strength, depth, and breadth to their relations.
He talked about the devastation caused by the recent floods in Pakistan, adding that the country is looking to benefit from US technology and expertise in becoming more resilient to climate change.
At the end of his address, Ambassador Masood stressed that both countries must work towards promoting conflict resolution, conflict/crisis management, and strategic stability in the region.
In his remarks, Special Representative for Commercial and Business Affairs, US Department of State, Dilawar
Syed, spoke on the impact of floods in Pakistan. He said that dealing with them is the most compelling challenge for Pakistan. He also argued that this problem provides the US with an ideal opportunity to lend its support to Pakistan, adding that most of what the US is giving will be spent on attenuating food insecurities caused by this raging, climate change-induced disaster.
The two sessions that followed the inaugural session were focused on discussing different perspectives, identifying areas of common concern, and shedding light on the opportunities provided by technology to the Pakistani economy.
The sessions were moderated by Non-Resident Senior Fellow, Atlantic Council Shamila Chaudhary and Director, Pakistan Initiative, Atlantic Council Uzair Younus.
The panelists included Director CSSPR, Dr Rabia Akhtar, Senior Adviser South Asia, United States Institute of Peace, Daniel Markey, former Chief of Naval Staff, Pakistan Navy, Adm. Tahir Afzal, Director China Program Stimson Centre, Yun Sun, former Chairman, Special Technology Zones Authority Amer Hashmi, Co-founder and Managing Partner Quona Monica Brand Engel, CEO EcoEnergy Shazia Khan, and CEO TRG International Mohammed Khaishgi.
In the session entitled "Understanding Perspectives and Finding Commonalities in Theatres of Concern”, Daniel Markey said when the word ‘strategic’ is used in the context of Pakistan-US relations, it includes things and aspects that are important to both countries.
He said that Pakistan’s economic success is not only critical for that country but also for the US, not the least because failure in the said domain has security implications.
Dr Rabia Akhtar said that Pakistan’s foreign policy direction and priorities must not change owing to changes at the helm in the capital. She added that Pakistan must focus on mitigating the deleterious effects of climate change, augmenting economic security, and ensuring regional peace and stability. On these all-important objectives, she emphasized, convergence can be found with the US.
Yun Sun felt that China is optimistic about the future of Sino-Pak relations. She further remarked China is open to not only rejigging its ties with Pakistan but also to seeing that country iron out differences with the US.
Reiterating that Pakistan-US relations have not been enduring, Adm. Tahir Afzal said they must never be one-sided going forward. He emphasized the need for taking into account Pakistan’s perspectives and security woes.
In the last session of the day entitled ‘New Economic Opportunities in the Technology Sector’ the panelists mapped the technology sector in Pakistan, the role US companies and investors are playing in the country, and the policy level bottlenecks that need to be navigated, with a view to producing better outcomes.
Speaking on the need for harnessing the technological boom that makes Pakistani markets exciting, the panelists opined that the government must strive to facilitating the private sector so as to allow it to experiment and produce impactful results.
They stressed the need for investing in Fintech and focusing on reshaping perceptions and reducing instability to reinvigorate mechanisms to conserve energy and raise capital for start-ups and free-lancing activities. They also argued that the digitalization of government ministries and departments is of the essence, not least because it is critical to changing governance for the better. He also said that Pakistan must commit to eliciting large-scale contracts by leveraging Special Technology Zones.
On the second day of the conference, former National Security Adviser of Pakistan Dr Moeed Yusuf said that Pakistan wants to enhance economic security, shift towards a two-pronged geoeconomic paradigm, and avoid camp politics.
He said that Pakistan aspires to become a melting pot for the economic interests of regional and global powers. He, therefore, suggested to focus Pakistan-US relations on identifying priority areas that both can collaborate on without both or one of them having to make hard choices.
In the session entitled ‘The US-Pakistan Relationship in a Multipolar World: Opportunities and Headwinds’, panelists including Dr Aneel Salman, Amb Jorge Guajardo, and Tamanna Salikuddin shared their thoughts on Pakistan’s economic security profile, the balancing act for that country between China and the West, and Washington’s policy towards Islamabad, respectively.
They argued that both countries must reassess their strengths, capacities and limitations, with a view to aligning with ground realities.
In the session on ‘Modernizing Pakistan’s Agriculture Sector through Greater Private-sector Investments’ Dr Abid Suleri, Ehsan Malik, Maaz Gardezi, and Hans Jansen highlighted the need for reforming the sector in Pakistan through technology-led interventions.
They argued that US companies could be drawn into Pakistan to revitalize agriculture, provided the government is geared to remove impediments through sound, timely, and impactful policy interventions.
In the last session, panelists Dr Adil Najam, Erum Sattar, and Kathy Baughman Mcleod talked about the pressing challenge of climate change, stressing that it is a global phenomenon, one that cannot be tackled without building partnerships and coalitions.
The moot was able to bring together a host of experts from diverse fields, whose perspectives will go a long way in laying a platform from which broad-based Pakistan-US relations can be launched and solidified to move forward. – The Express Tribune
