Remarks with Pakistani Foreign Minister Mahmood Qureshi After Their Meeting
Hillary Rodham Clinton
Secretary of StateTreaty Room
Washington, DC
October 22, 2010FOREIGN MINISTER QURESHI: It’s all for you.
SECRETARY CLINTON: No, I do this all the time and there’s rarely as many people. I was telling the foreign minister he draws a big crowd here.
Well, good afternoon. It has been a great pleasure to be with Minister Qureshi once again. I am happy to extend the hospitality that he and his government so graciously extended to me during my last trip to Pakistan in the summer.
We have just wrapped up three days of intensive discussions in our third U.S.-Pakistan Strategic Dialogue. Each of these sessions has been more productive than the last as we deepen our understanding of each other’s needs and discover new opportunities for cooperation. This time, we have final blueprints from each of our 13 working groups. They lay out specific agreements, actions and benchmarks for making tangible improvements in the lives of the Pakistani people. These include projects in water, electricity, women’s empowerment, health, agriculture, and most urgently, jumpstarting Pakistan’s recovery from the catastrophic floods.
I also wanted to express on a personal note, my deep sorrow and my outrage at the killing of Dr. Mohammad Farooq Khan by Taliban assassins on October 2nd. Dr. Farooq was the Vice-Chancellor of Islamic University in Swat; he was a medical doctor and humanitarian; and a religious leader who spoke out against the evils of suicide bombing. I had the pleasure of his company and the benefits of his insights during my visit to Pakistan a year ago. I would like to extend my profound sympathies to Dr. Farooq’s family, his students, and his patients.
Our governments stand together in denouncing this murder, which, unfortunately and tragically, is part of a Taliban campaign of attacks against educators, against doctors, against people who are not on the front lines of any war, but indeed are on the front lines of mercy and compassion and education. And it strikes me as not just an assault on someone like him, but on the future of the youth of Pakistan.
To build the kind of bright future that young Pakistanis deserve, people of courage must stand against these extremists. And our two governments are working closely together with governments around the world, and millions and millions of people who understand the threat that is posed, to eliminate terrorism.
As we conclude this third Strategic Dialogue session in seven months, we can see that our intensive consultations, our frank discussions, our focus on cooperation have already yielded an improvement in our bilateral relationship. Thanks to the hard work of Minister Qureshi and his team of ministers, paired with their U.S. counterparts, we have made strides on a number of projects that Pakistanis have identified as priorities, such as increasing the vaccination rate for children and saving their lives, researching solutions to the arsenic contamination of drinking water, improving the productivity of wheat and cotton farms. We are also ensuring that the advancements of women is an integral part of all the projects that we pursue together, because we know that when we elevate the role of women, it benefits their families and particularly their children, and those benefits expand to communities as well.
I’m also pleased that we’ve continued our emphasis on helping to improve the business climate. And I’m excited today to announce today a new business development and mentorship program. The 10,000 Women Initiative, run by Goldman Sachs, will partner with the State Department to bring Pakistani women entrepreneurs for intensive training at the Thunderbird School for Global Management in Arizona, where the women will learn business and leadership skills, financial management, strategic planning and operations.
The first group of businesswomen will arrive next spring. And we hope to give them, as well as many other Pakistanis, the support needed to grow their businesses, create more jobs, and invest in their communities.
We continue to work on the high priorities of energy and water. We had excellent presentations and reports today from our working groups on energy and water. We’re focused on improving the electricity service, creating more opportunities for water storage, the kind of initiatives that were important before the floods but now are absolutely essential.
So I’m looking forward to working with my counterpart and friend, Minister Qureshi, and with these very dedicated teams of Pakistani and American officials to continue to develop more ways to enhance our cooperation and produce results for the people of Pakistan.
Now, let me turn to the minister.
FOREIGN MINISTER QURESHI: Thank you, Madam Secretary. Thank you for the leadership you have provided. Thank you for the understanding and thank you for the friendship that you have extended. Working with you has been indeed a wonderful experience. And I think, ladies and gentlemen, I would not be exaggerating if I said that collectively, we have broken the mold. We have set the ball rolling and it will only gain momentum with the passage of time.
We are determined to transform this relationship and we have collectively put together a unique format of engagement. What you saw today, what happened last night, the day before – visible, invisible – interaction, honest interaction, recognizing the fact that we could have differences – friends do have differences – but knowing the fact that we have to move ahead in our mutual interest. This relationship suits the United States as much as it suits Pakistan. We are both beneficiaries of that. The people of United States have to understand, by investing in Pakistan, United States is a beneficiary. And people of Pakistan have to understand to have United States as an enduring partner, Pakistan gains internationally and regionally.
We have discussed lots of things, lot of things which are part of the dialogue and even beyond the 13 sectors that were discussed. The fact that we’ve agreed to invite 200 journalists for a training program in the United States because we realized that public diplomacy is so important in democracies, and at times the message doesn’t get communicated. Now, who will communicate the message? You have to communicate the message. First of all, we have to understand what message we are giving, but we are giving the right message.
The message is that we are going to transform this relationship into a people-centric relationship. We are making an investment. We are making not a five-year investment; we are making an investment which is a generational investment, and that is what we are talking about. That is why when we are talking about water, we are talking about the improvement of productivity in Pakistan. When we talk about social sectors, we are talking about improvement in the quality of life of Pakistan. When we are talking about women empowerment, we are talking about giving 50 percent of the population of Pakistan a voice which they lacked in the past. That is a difference that this relationship is taking a new turn.
I also have shared with the Secretary of State when I was here in New York for the UNGA, I met Pakistanis, and they had meetings with attorneys, with lawyers, and they shared with me that if there is a natural disaster, there is a provision within the U.S. law of TPS. I had a word with the ambassador; the ambassadors had a word with the attorney. And this could be an opportunity to give many Pakistanis who are contributing to American society, to American economy, a legal status.
She’s been kind enough, she’s agreed to examine it. I think that will also improve our relations. And we’ve talked about a number of regional initiatives that we feel, if put into place, can be a game changer.
So thank you. Thank you for being so supportive and understanding.
SECRETARY CLINTON: Thank you. Thank you, Minister. Thank you very much.
FOREIGN MINISTER QURESHI: Thank you.
MR. CROWLEY: We have time for two questions on each side. We’ll start with Andy Quinn from Reuters.
QUESTION: I have a question for both of you. Minister Qureshi, this morning you had quite strong comments about the naysayers and the prophets of doom, as you put it, in Washington who publicly doubt Pakistan’s commitment to the anti-terror fight. I’d like to ask both of you why you think these attitudes persist and what both sides can do to turn the perceptions around.
And Madam Secretary, if I may, I’m just wondering if you have any comment ahead of the WikiLeaks release this weekend. Thank you.
FOREIGN MINISTER QURESHI: I think the quality of our relationship, the depth, the understanding that we have developed over the last two years should not be judged by pure media reports. We read them, we provide them, and we benefit from them. But I think our relationship is stronger than what it is believed to be. I think at the working level, there is a greater understanding, perhaps it is often misunderstood.
Many felt when I was leaving for Washington that, “Ah ha, it’s going to be tough talking.” Friends talk. What is tough talking? I fail to understand what is tough talking. Yes, there was friendly talking. Yes, there were concerns on both sides, and we shared them, and why not? And why not? But our relationship is often misunderstood with what is reported in the media. (Laughter.)
SECRETARY CLINTON: (Laughter.) I have nothing to add to that.
QUESTION: Thank you. (Laughter.)
QUESTION: (Off-mike.)
FOREIGN MINISTER QURESHI: Sure.
SECRETARY CLINTON: I am very, very pleased by the progress that we have made in deepening and broadening our cooperation and our understanding. And as Minister Qureshi has said, we engage in very comprehensive discussions that go into great depth on a full range of issues. One thing that is not often reported enough is that the United States has no stronger partner than Pakistan in fighting the mutual threat we face from extremism. And the cooperation is very deep and very broad.
But as my friend said, that doesn’t mean we will agree on everything. I mean, friendship is a two-way street. We both have to work hard to maintain this friendship, and in fact, it is something we are committed to doing. As Minister Qureshi said, it’s a generational commitment. But we are two different countries. We have two different traditions. We have two different histories. That does not mean we’re going to agree on everything, but it means, as you do with friends, that you don’t jump to conclusions and you don’t presume before you have actually had a chance to explain.
And we laugh often, the minister and I, about the intensity of the free press environment in which both of us exist. I’m well familiar with the vigor of the Pakistani press and I have lots of experience with the vigor of the U.S. press. So we know, and sometimes it’s hard to explain, neither of us and neither of our governments controls our respective presses. So when something is printed in one of our countries, people jump to all kinds of conclusions, and I think that it’s wise to just take some time to think through the basis of this very important relationship and how committed we both are to moving forward, despite the challenges. So I certainly endorse Minister Qureshi’s comments.
With respect to your question, Andy, as a matter of policy, the Department of State does not comment on allegedly leaked documents. I would refer you to the Department of Defense for any further comment. But I do have a strong opinion that we should condemn in the most clear terms the disclosure of any classified information by individuals and organizations which puts the lives of United States and partner service members and civilians at risk, threatening our national security and the national security of those with whom we are working. So that’s where I think this matter stands.
MODERATOR: (Off-mike.)
SECRETARY CLINTON: Hi, how are you?
QUESTION: Well, before you ask, I must say that the triplets are fine. (Laughter.)
SECRETARY CLINTON: I was about to ask you how the triplets were. This man has triplets.
QUESTION: Every time I meet, you always ask that.
These talks indeed were very successful, but there are two issues that do not seem to have gotten enough attention. One is Pakistan’s quest for a civil nuclear deal, the same that you have with India, and the other is this roadmap for Afghanistan, particularly the talks between the Taliban and the Afghan (inaudible) representative. Is there a place for Pakistan on this roadmap? And were these two issues also discussed during these talks?
SECRETARY CLINTON: I can assure you that all issues have been discussed. And it’s not just what we talk about here in Washington for two days, but it’s what we continue to talk about between meetings, between our experts and our officials. And yes, there was a very long discussion about Afghanistan. Both the United States and Pakistan have very important national security interests with respect to Afghanistan. We are working together and we are consulting very closely on any roadmap forward.
FOREIGN MINISTER QURESHI: Can I just add, ma’am? See, what we need to understand is that this is a process and we have begun a process. You cannot expect results in two sittings or three sittings. But the interesting thing is I’ve often read that the U.S. has been planting seeds in Pakistani minds – I am trying to plant a few seeds in the U.S. mind – for them to look at things in a more innovative way, to try things in a different way. Things we’ve tried in the past, it hasn’t worked. That doesn’t mean we give up. We are persistent. And as they say, perseverance commands success, so I am not giving up.
MR. CROWLEY: Kim Ghattas from BBC.
QUESTION: Hi, a question for both first. I was wondering if you could tell us a little bit more about this security assistance package that Madam Secretary announced today. The United States already gives Pakistan a lot of military aid. How is this package going to make a difference? What sort of concrete actions do you think it will result in on the ground?
And Madam Secretary, can you confirm that the United States is planning to withhold military aid from Pakistani military units that are engaged in human rights abuses?
SECRETARY CLINTON: Well, let me take both of those, Kim. This morning, I announced the Administration’s multiyear security assistance commitment to Pakistan. That does include a commitment to request $2 billion in foreign military assistance from our Congress for the years 2012 through 2016. That money for military assistance complements the $7.5 billion commitment in civilian projects that has already been approved by the Kerry-Lugar-Berman legislation. Now, specifically this commitment includes 2 billion in foreign military financing and 29 million in international military education and training.
We also have made a strong commitment to continue the Pakistan Counterinsurgency Capability Fund Assistance based upon the ground requirements and the year-to-year needs with FY 2012 funding of no less than in recent years. And this commitment underscores our long-term relationship. We know that Pakistan has suffered a lot because of its courageous battle against extremists. I think I heard the figure that in recent times, 30,000 Pakistanis have been killed by the Taliban extremists. Some of those are, of course, military, some of those are police, and many of those are just innocent civilians going about their daily lives.
Pakistan is such a close partner with us in the fight against terrorism and in the counterinsurgency efforts that we know are necessary, and we want to support Pakistan in its fight. And to do that, we want to provide the training and equipment that they have asked for.
Now, all U.S. security assistance must be provided in accordance with U.S. laws and regulations, including what are the called the Leahy vetting requirements. And we will continue to ensure that all assistance provided through the multiyear security assistance commitment that I’m announcing today will also comply with U.S. laws and regulations. We take all allegations of human rights abuses seriously and we discuss them with the Government of Pakistan and we follow the law and we work with our partners in Pakistan to deal with any issues that come to our attention.
FOREIGN MINISTER QURESHI: Ma’am, when – we saw this report on human rights, we’ve dealt with it, and we’ve dealt with it effectively. Investigation has been ordered by a very senior officer of the Pakistan army. And I can assure you that there’ll be zero tolerance against human rights violations. But we have to first foresee how authentic the report is. We have to verify and see what the truth is. And if there is action required, the Government of Pakistan will take action; that’s one. And we are aware of the Leahy amendment.
Two, the Secretary has just said that Pakistan today is the most important partner the United States has in counterterrorism. Now that partner has lost 7,000 lives in counterterrorism, and that partner has been saying that we have capacity needs. We have defense needs. And I’m so happy that this Administration has recognized the legitimate defense needs of Pakistan, discussed – and we’ve had six rounds of talks through the defense working groups and we’ve reached an understanding that equipment, training, is required. And I’m sure with this equipment and this training and this multiyear program, Pakistan will be able to deliver in a more effective manner. You have seen our delivery in Swat, in Malakand, in many agencies of the tribal belt. And we intend to do our job seriously.
QUESTION: (Inaudible), Madam Secretary (inaudible) television with --
SECRETARY CLINTON: Yes, we’ve met before. (Laughter.)
QUESTION: Good to see you, right. Secretary, a specific question to Strategic Dialogue. The predominant view of the Pakistani delegation has been that the projects being identified, the projects being discussed in the Strategic Dialogue, will have additional funding. But it looks like the view of the American side is that the funding will essentially be diverted from – not only for these projects, but also for the flood disaster, flood destruction – reconstruction. The funding will be directed from the Kerry-Lugar legislation. If that is true, the actual vision and the spirit of the Kerry-Lugar legislation will actually be totally changed. I wonder what is the view of your Administration on that, Madam.
SECRETARY CLINTON: Well, I’m not sure that I agree with the question. Because of course, the projects that we had already announced from Kerry-Lugar-Berman were projects for the entire country. They were projects on electricity and water, agriculture, and the big projects. And many of those projects have been severely affected by the floods. So although the United States gave over $380 million dollars in direct flood assistance in order to assist the people of Pakistan to do what we said we would do, it’s both flood relief and it’s projects. But at the same time, it may be that something we prioritized last summer is no longer a priority because there’s a higher priority because of the needs of the people.
So we are in close consultation with the Government of Pakistan and this money is meant to help the people of Pakistan to really create a positive impact through civilian projects, and the list is going to be, I’m sure, affected by the floods. But the money is going for the same purposes.
QUESTION: Thank you.
FOREIGN MINISTER QURESHI: Mr. (inaudible), you see a friend of Pakistan here. But I can assure you there are many friends of Pakistan in the U.S. Congress, and let me name one – a senator called John Kerry. And I had a meeting with him when I was here earlier on in September and we discussed the flood situation impact it had Pakistan’s economy. And I think they’re cognizant of the fact that the 7.5 package was for a need and now there are compounded problems and we need to have a new look. We understand the difficulties. We understand, but this is a process. This is an ongoing process. It doesn’t begin with Kerry-Lugar-Berman. It will not end with Kerry-Lugar-Berman. Kerry-Lugar-Berman says five years, but it also says there could be another five years. And I say, it goes beyond another five years. I’m talking about a generational investment.
SECRETARY CLINTON: Thank you all.
RESIST, INSIST, PERSIST, ENLIST.” - HILLARY RODHAM CLINTON
Friday, October 22, 2010
Video: Secretary Clinton's Remarks with Pakistani Foreign Minister Mahmood Qureshi After Their Meeting
Hillary Clinton and Shah Mahmoud Qureshi at U.S. - Pakistan Strategic Dialogue: The Slideshow
Video: Secretary Clinton's Remarks with Pakistani Foreign Minister Mahmood Qureshi At the Third U.S.-Pakistan Strategic Dialogue
Remarks with Pakistani Foreign Minister Mahmood Qureshi At the Third U.S.-Pakistan Strategic Dialogue
Hillary Rodham Clinton
Secretary of StateBen Franklin Room
Washington, DC
October 22, 2010SECRETARY CLINTON: Good morning. Once again, let me welcome our friends from Pakistan and representatives from the United States Government to the Ben Franklin Room here on the 8th floor of the State Department in Washington, D.C. It is an honor for me to open our third cabinet-level meeting this year of the Strategic Dialogue between the United States and Pakistan.
I’m particularly delighted to have a number of U.S. cabinet officials joining us this morning, as well as so many ministers who have made the long trip from Pakistan. The number of agencies and ministries participating in this dialogue is a testament to our shared commitment to a deep, broad, and enduring relationship between our two countries. I would particularly like to thank my colleague, Foreign Minister Qureshi, for his stewardship of this expanding enterprise.
On a personal note, I want to recognize Ambassador Anne Patterson, who is with us and has done an extraordinary job representing the United States in Islamabad at a critical time in our history. And it will be my privilege, Anne, to present you with the Secretary’s award for Outstanding Service, and welcome home. (Applause.)
I would also like to introduce our distinguished new ambassador, Cameron Munter, who is here and will be departing on Islamabad on Sunday. Cameron comes to this post with a great deal of experience, and I know he’s looking forward to getting to know and working with all of the Pakistani officials.
In March, we came together in this Strategic Dialogue to discuss how to help the Pakistani people in the areas that Pakistani people themselves had identified as their most important concerns. We actually thought we would try something different in the history of our relationship, and that is listening to each other and learning from each other. And In July, we announced a series of signature projects in water and electricity. This week, we are going even further with new agreements to cooperate on projects ranging from building dams and water storage systems to expanding national radio coverage.
In the time since we last met, one event, however, has dominated all of our work together – the horrible floods of this summer, which covered more than one-fifth of the entire country and affected more than 20 million people. The American people were deeply saddened by the loss of life; the destruction of so many homes, farms, and businesses; and the long-term damage to Pakistan’s infrastructure and economy.
When I visited Pakistan the first time last year, I met people whose lives had been shattered by the violence in South Waziristan and the Swat Valley. Now many of those same areas have been flooded, and my heart goes out especially to those who have endured such terrible calamities.
I know that there are so many stories of individual challenges, but also so many of resilience. One woman that I had met lives in a village where all the roads and bridges have now been washed away. The people have moved into temporary housing, but the winter is coming. They need concrete homes. And after the snow falls, and the temporary roads are blocked, the village will be cut off and the cement trucks won’t be able to get in. Communities throughout Pakistan are having similar problems. So we are accelerating our efforts to help provide cash to people whose houses have been destroyed, so that they can quickly rebuild.
And this morning, I want to send a special message to the people of Pakistan: We have stood with you, and we will keep standing with you to help you not just cope with the aftermath of the floods, but to get back on the path to prosperity.
The United States was very proud working with the Pakistani Government and military to help with the rescue operations and to help pick up thousands and thousands of stranded Pakistanis and to deliver millions of pounds of refugee supplies, as well as $390 million in relief and recovery aid. But we know there is so much more work to be done. And we know that in some places, aid has yet to arrive and millions of people are still homeless. But we are working closely with the Government of Pakistan and our international partners, and we will continue to do all we can to help you.
And I believe that the need to look beyond the immediate to the future is a very important part of this help, because we have to begin to figure out how to help you rebuild the infrastructure and, once again, get commerce going, get the agricultural community replanted and building toward a better harvest.
Since our last Strategic Dialogue meeting in July in Islamabad, each of the 13 working groups has now finalized an action plan, a blueprint for cooperation between our two countries. We now have a plan to immunize against disease 90 percent of Pakistani children. We have a plan to improve the reliability of electricity supply to the Pakistani people. And yesterday, we began distributing wheat and vegetable seed as part of a broader plan to help half a million farming families get back on their feet.
These plans are already being put into action. For example, the working group on energy devised a plan to shore up the country’s existing energy infrastructure and develop new sources of power. Since we last met, we have ordered the equipment for four power plants. And we will soon complete a public-private partnership that will build a 150-megawatt wind farm in Sindh Province to tap the enormous potential of the winds that blow down the Pakistani coast. And as these projects come on line, we will look to the Pakistani Government to implement systematic reform of their energy sector.
Working groups have also been involved in collaborating on new scientific projects, in fact, 27 new projects, including research on deadly diseases like hepatitis and tuberculosis with joint funding from both governments. And tomorrow, six water experts from Pakistani provinces will visit New Orleans to study the flood relief and reconstruction after Hurricane Katrina. We hope that Pakistan can benefit from the painful lessons that we have learned, and the efforts we have made to rebuild a great city.
Finally, we are also cooperating on military matters. And I want to say publicly what many of us have said privately: The United States has no stronger partner when it comes to counterterrorism efforts against the extremists who threaten us both than Pakistan. We recognize and appreciate the sacrifice and service that the men and women, particularly the soldiers of the military in Pakistan, have made in order to restore order and go after those who threaten the very institutions of the state of Pakistan.
The military working group has had productive discussions this week about our work together to combat terrorism and eliminate violent extremism and the organizations that promote it that are operating in Pakistan. These groups threaten the security, first and foremost, of the people of Pakistan, of neighbors of the United States and indeed of the world.
In keeping with our enduring commitment to help Pakistan plan for its defense needs, I am pleased to announce our Multi-Year Security Assistance Commitment to Pakistan. We will request $2 billion in foreign military assistance from Congress for 2012 through 2016. This will complement the $7.5 billion in civilian projects that has already been approved in the Kerry-Lugar-Berman legislation. Later this morning, Secretary Gates will update you on other aspects of our bilateral military discussions.
So, this is a full and comprehensive agenda. And in this dialogue, we are very proud to be your partner. And we will continue to support you as you take the tough decisions necessary to create progress and prosperity for the people of Pakistan. Now, reforming Pakistan’s tax system is one area in which tough decisions will have to be made, because it will serve a broad, double purpose. A broader tax base will mean more funding for roads, bridges, power plants, and airports, all essential elements of a growing economy. And it will demonstrate to the international community that all segments of Pakistani society are willing to do their own part to rebuild their own country. So we are tackling some of the toughest problems. Nothing is being swept under the rug. And I have to say I am so impressed by the quality of our engagement from both the government and the people of Pakistan.
As we move ahead, let us be inspired by the people whose lives we have a chance to touch. The little boy we recently heard about who goes back every day to play in the pile of bricks that used to be his home – his parents will soon be able to rebuild. The farmer whose fields were flooded will soon have the seed and fertilizer to start again, the babies who will grow up healthy, the girls who will go on to get an education, and all of the people who will see that they can be part of a new future for Pakistan.
So I want now to invite my colleague and friend, Minister Qureshi, who has co-chaired this dialogue with me, to begin by making his own comments. Minister Qureshi.
FOREIGN MINISTER QURESHI: Secretary Clinton, dear colleagues, ladies and gentlemen. Thank you, Madam Secretary, for your gracious remarks. I’m delighted to be in Washington again. We’re grateful for the warm welcome and the gracious hospitality accorded to us since our arrival here. My delegation includes several colleagues from the civil and military institutions in Pakistan who are making an enormous contribution to this process, and I thank them for their efforts. I also express our appreciation for the rich contributions of so many senior members of the U.S. delegation who have been associated with this process from the outset.
Madam Secretary, it is the third time that we are meeting for the Strategic Dialogue within a year. This in itself is a significant achievement. But essentially, it is a reflection of the importance that both our nations attach to this vital relationship, so critical for peace and stability in the region and beyond. It is also a reflection of the broad range of areas in which we want and need to work together to broaden and deepen our multifaceted cooperation and to advance our shared goal of building a strategic partnership.
I must acknowledge, Madam Secretary, with appreciation and gratitude your personal support for this shared endeavor. Your personal reach-out to the people of Pakistan has left a deep imprint on the hearts and minds of our people. Abiding goodwill and friendship among our people is indeed a critical constant of the success of our common efforts.
Madam Secretary, we are meeting today in the backdrop of the devastating floods in Pakistan. This has been a natural calamity of unprecedented proportions. Few weeks and months, ravaging floodwaters ravaged our land and displaced tens of millions of our people. The floods did not just claim precious lives and cause damage to homes, livelihoods, and infrastructure. The floods stole the dreams of millions of Pakistanis and shattered their hopes for a better future. The floods also decelerated the growth of our national economy and set back our poverty alleviation efforts and reversed years of development gains.
Madam Secretary, the flood disaster tested the mettle of Pakistani nation once again, and our people have proved their resilience yet again. The whole Pakistani nation was mobilized with the government, the armed forces, civil society, media, and private citizens actively participating in the country-wide national effort for rescue and relief. But we could not have done what we have been able to do without the support and solidarity of our friends abroad.
Madam Secretary, we truly appreciate the international community’s helpful efforts which were spearheaded by the United States. I would remiss, Madam Secretary, if I did not acknowledge, on behalf of the people and Government of Pakistan your personal leadership and contribution to the efforts to keep a global spotlight on this disaster and to mobilize international support and assistance. I take this opportunity to express our profound gratitude for your role.
I also express our sincere thanks to the American people whose compassion in Pakistan’s time of need has been deeply touching. We vividly remember the 2005 earthquake when American Chinooks were called the angels of mercy as they helped save thousands of lives. Such angels of mercy reappeared on the horizons to evacuate tens of thousands of people to safe locations and to deliver relief supplies to many more. This is a testament to the innate goodness of the American people and their commitment to humanitarian values.
Madam Secretary, the waters are now receding and we have initiated the early recovery phase, but the long and hard road to rehabilitation and reconstruction lies ahead. The challenges are immense. We must help the millions of affected people to rebuild their homes, businesses, and communities. Above all, we must help them renew their hopes and restart their lives. It will be tough, we know, but we also know that we will not be alone in this undertaking.
Madam Secretary, Pakistan and the United States have been allies and friends before. We have a history of cooperation in meeting some of the great challenges of the post Second World War period. However, the kind of engagement we have had for the last few years has never been witnessed before. This is the first time that the relationship is founded on shared ideals of democracy, mutual respect, and trust.
This is also the first time that on the Pakistani side the relationship is driven by a democratically elected government, and this is the first time that the two sides are making a deliberate effort to place the citizens of Pakistan as the main beneficiaries of this relationship.
I know that a relationship built on such foundations is bound to endure. Madam Secretary, just look at the range of issues on which we are working in the Strategic Dialogue: 13 areas in all, each is a world in itself. We have working groups on each of these areas. They have had at least two extensive sessions on identifying priorities and areas of cooperation. Working documents have been exchanged. I believe that this session of the Strategic Dialogue marks the consolidation of our partnership. This is an earnest exercise to create a better understanding of each other’s perspectives.
This is necessary to bring about the policy alignments and take pragmatic steps for a quiet cooperation and coordination at the operational level. We have to move toward timeliness and benchmarks to measure progress and lend a result-oriented approach to the entire process. Ten of the 13 working groups met in the last two days. The reports I have received of their deliberations are encouraging. Tangibles should be coming out of these deliberations soon.
There is much to celebrate in the Pakistan-U.S. friendship. It bodes well for both countries. But let us not forget that we are once again engaged as partners in a momentous challenge, a momentous struggle. I would call it the defining struggle of our times. I am, of course, referring to our joint fight against terrorism. We are fighting an enemy that offers no quarter, obeys no law, and holds nothing sacred. We have both lost valuable lives. In case of Pakistan, nearly 30,000 civilians have lost their lives, and the ordinary Pakistani citizens brave a daily fare of suicide bombings as they go about their lives. Nearly 7,000 of our valiant law enforcement officials have perished in this fight, more than the combined loss of lives of NATO forces in Afghanistan.
Nonetheless, it unfortunately seems easy to dismiss Pakistan’s contributions and sacrifices. There are still tongue-in-cheek comments even in this capital about Pakistan’s heart not really being in this fight. We do not know what greater evidence to offer than the blood of our people. Madam Secretary, we are determined to win this fight.
The Pakistan our adversary wants will not be a Pakistan that the vast majority of citizens want to live in. We have no doubts about who are enemy is and what we must do to defeat it. I wish to show you that Pakistan will not allow any space to terrorists on its territory. Violence against innocent people is unacceptable. It cannot be justified on any ground. As such, there can be no distinction between good and bad terrorists. Pakistan and the United States share the goal of defeating terrorism. This requires close contacts and constant coordination at the policy and at the operational levels. Policy alignment and better communication and coordination are key to our mutual success in the fight against terror.
Pakistan and the U.S. need to cooperate more closely in bringing stability and peace in Afghanistan. We also hope that our consultation and cooperation on issues of regional peace, security, and stability will continue to make a salutary impact on the overall environment.
Madam Secretary, might I also avail myself of this opportunity to underscore the importance that we attach to your support for Pakistan economic recovery and sustained development. The elected government continues to pursue a macroeconomic stabilization program that has been chalked out in consultation with international financial institutions. We are in the process of reordering our economic priorities to meet the flood contingency. National resources are being mobilized for the massive reconstruction effort. We are also mindful of the need for a cost-effective program delivery. Accountability, transparency, and efficient utilization of resources are very much an important part of our government’s agenda, and we have developed effective mechanisms for these goals.
When we launched our dialogue earlier this year, we were cognizant of the challenges and the opportunities that lay before us. Among other things, we recognized that there would be skepticism, smear and even setbacks. We knew that as friends and allies, we would have, at times, differences of opinion, indeed honest disagreements, but we also knew that we have the requisite political will and robust engagement to help us resolve such momentary challenges. Today, more then ever before, we remain convinced that a comprehensive, long-term, and enduring partnership is in the strategic interest of both our countries. We remain clear that such a partnership rests on the principles of mutual respect, mutual trust, and mutual benefit. We have stated it before and I reiterated again Pakistan’s sovereignty is and will remain non-negotiable. I have no doubt, Madam Secretary, that we can surmount any momentary challenge with clarity and sensitivity about our respective commitments, concerns and core interests.
Some recent developments have prompted certain quarters to speculate on the strength and resilience of our tested relationship. Prophets of doom are back in business painting doomsday scenarios about our alliance. They are dead wrong. I also have no doubt that we will yet again prove the naysayers are wrong with the strength of our resolve, the depth of our engagement, and the endurance of our alliance.
Madam Secretary, Pakistan and the United States have a shared interest in a peaceful and stable South Asia. Unfortunately, the prospect is threatened again by the recent events in Kashmir. People of conscience have protested the use of force against the defenseless people of Kashmir, in particular targeting of the Kashmiri youth, which has claimed over hundred lives in the past three months. But the Kashmiri mothers are baffled at the deafening silence of the world leadership.
History has proved that the force of arms cannot suppress the legitimate aspirations of the Kashmiri people. It is in the U.S. strategic interest to work for peace, stability, and resolution of the disputes in South Asia. The starting point in this quest is justice for the Kashmiri people. President Obama has always understood the importance of a Kashmir solution. His coming visit to the region is the time to begin to redeem the pledge that he made earlier.
Madam Secretary, I wish to underline that this dialogue and the Pakistan-U.S. partnership have profound consequences for our two nations and for international peace and security. A heavy responsibility therefore devolves on us to nurture it carefully. I reaffirm our determination that Pakistan will do its upmost to contribute to this worthy cause and to make our partnership a critical factor of peace, stability, and prosperity at the regional and international level.
Madam Secretary, as I conclude, I want to express our appreciation and gratitude to your team for their painstaking efforts to make this round of meetings a success. They’ve drawn up a most impressive program designed to extract the most benefit out of the process.
I look forward to welcoming you in Islamabad for the next round and hope we will show the same professionalism that your side put on display here.
I thank you, Madam.
SECRETARY CLINTON: Well, there is no worry about that, Minister Qureshi, having been in Islamabad for the last meeting and received the excellent work that your team has been doing.
SECRETARY OF STATE HILLARY RODHAM CLINTON: Public Schedule for October 22, 2010
Public Schedule for October 22, 2010
Washington, DCOctober 22, 2010SECRETARY OF STATE HILLARY RODHAM CLINTON
8:15 a.m. Secretary Clinton and Pakistani Foreign Minister Mahmood Qureshi participate in the U.S.-Pakistan Dialogue Plenary Session, at the Department of State.(OPEN PRESS COVERAGE FOR OPENING REMARKS ONLY)
(JOINT PRESS AVAILABILITY FOLLOWING BILATERAL MEETING AT APPROXIMATELY 3:05PM)
1:30 p.m. Secretary Clinton meets with the senior development team, at the Department of State.
(CLOSED PRESS COVERAGE)
2:30 p.m. Secretary Clinton holds a bilateral meeting with Pakistani Foreign Minister Mahmood Qureshi, at the Department of State.
3:45 p.m. Secretary Clinton meets with members of the U.S.-Afghan Women’s Council, at the Department of State.
(CLOSED PRESS COVERAGE)
Mme. Secretary at the U.S. - Pakistan Strategic Dialogue Plenary Session
Thursday, October 21, 2010
SECRETARY OF STATE HILLARY RODHAM CLINTON: Public Schedule for October 21, 2010
Public Schedule for October 21, 2010
Washington, DCOctober 21, 2010
SECRETARY OF STATE HILLARY RODHAM CLINTON
9:15 a.m. Secretary Clinton meets with the Assistant Secretaries of the Regional Bureaus, at the Department of State.
(CLOSED PRESS COVERAGE)
5:00 p.m. Secretary Clinton participates in the U.S.-Pakistan Dialogue Small Groups discussion and dinner, at the Department of State.
(CLOSED PRESS COVERAGE)
Wednesday, October 20, 2010
Tomorrow: On Hillary Clinton's Agenda
Well, there is no news from today as yet except for this picture from the National Security Team meeting this morning in which Mme. Secretary codes purple for the day.
I am sure there will be photos and a video from tonight's event sooner or later, and I will post as soon as possible. Meanwhile,we do have a glimpse into her activities tomorrow, and I am sure that readers here will receive this news with glee!
The United States and Pakistan Strategic Dialogue Meeting Oct 20-22, 2010
Office of the SpokesmanWashington, DCOctober 20, 2010On October 20-22, the United States and Pakistan will meet in Washington for the third ministerial-level Strategic Dialogue this year. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton and Foreign Minister Mahmoud Qureshi will co-chair the talks, which represent the commitment of the U.S. and Pakistan to strengthening the bilateral relationship as a broad partnership based on shared democratic values, mutual respect, trust, and interests. It is focused on supporting the Pakistani people and Pakistani democratic institutions.
Nearly all of the Dialogue’s thirteen sectoral Working Groups have set achievable benchmarks and made appreciable progress. This third round of the Strategic Dialogue will provide an opportunity for nine of the working groups to review progress to date in such critical sectors as communications and public diplomacy, water, energy, health, law enforcement and counter-terrorism, economic development, and women’s empowerment, as well as to discuss flood recovery and reconstruction plans.
Sunday, September 19, 2010
Hillary Clinton at Pakistan Event Today
Here is an article about this event.
UN gathers pledges for two billion dollar Pakistan appeal
By Tim Witcher (AFP)
UNITED NATIONS — The United Nations gathered new aid pledges for the Pakistan flood disaster on Sunday after making a record two billion dollar appeal to feed millions of victims.
Twenty-five top ministers, including US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, gathered in New York ahead of the UN summit this week, to discuss the new crisis in Pakistan.
UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has called the floods "the worst natural disaster the United Nations has responded to in its 65-year history."
Read more>>>>
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
Update on Secretary Clinton at UNGA Tomorrow
Yes, we will see Mme. Secretary together with Qureshi tomorrow according to P.J. Crowley
Briefing On Upcoming World Humanitarian Day
Eric P. Schwartz
Assistant Secretary, Bureau of Population, Refugees, and MigrationActing Director for USAID's Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance Mark Ward; Deputy Special Representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan Frank RuggieroWashington, DCAugust 18, 2010
MR. CROWLEY: Good afternoon and welcome to the Department of State. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton tomorrow will deliver remarks at a plenary meeting of the UN General Assembly on the humanitarian situation from the floods in Pakistan. The General Assembly meeting, which we think will take place at roughly 3:00 p.m. tomorrow, will be an opportunity to express solidarity and to further mobilize support of member states and the international community for the situation in Pakistan.
The Secretary will appear with Secretary General Ban and also Foreign Minister Qureshi. And at tomorrow’s meeting, we expect that she will update and announce an increase in the U.S. assistance to Pakistan. But the meeting tomorrow will occur on World Humanitarian Day, where we’re conscious not only of the dramatic situation in Pakistan, but fragile situations throughout the world that require international attention and international assistance.
So we thought today that we would have Assistant Secretary Eric Schwartz start off and kind of reflect on the implications of World Humanitarian Day and in particular how they relate to the challenge and tragedy in Pakistan. Then we’ll go through our periodic update briefing. We have Chief Deputy Special Representative Frank Ruggiero here as well as Mark Ward from AID, just to kind of run through what we’re doing so far.
Read more >>>>>
Tuesday, August 17, 2010
More on Pakistan Relief ... This time Hillary Clinton is NOT in it!
Pakistan Flood Response: Asia Society Event
Office of the SpokesmanWashington, DC
August 17, 2010Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi, Special Representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan Ambassador Richard C. Holbrooke, USAID Administrator Dr. Rajiv Shah, and other international figures will be participating in an exclusive discussion hosted by the Asia Society prior to the United Nations Special Session on Pakistan on Thursday, August 19. Leaders of critical international humanitarian relief organizations will also discuss ways to help.
WHEN: Thursday, August 19, 8:30 am. This event will be webcast live at AsiaSociety.org/live beginning at 8:30 am EST.
WHERE: The Asia Society, 725 Park Avenue, New York, NY 10021.
The event is open press. Please contact Stephanie Hoo for more information:
Stephanie Hoo
Senior Press Officer
Asia Society
212.327.9295
email: shoo@asiasociety.org
http://asiasociety.org/More information on relief efforts can be found at www.state.gov/pakistanflooding. Community members interested in giving immediate assistance can text the word “SWAT” to 50555 to contribute $10 to UNHCR's life-saving flood relief efforts on the ground.
# # #
Here is the latest fact sheet - just in.
Update: U.S. Response to Pakistan's Flooding Disaster
Office of the SpokesmanWashington, DC
August 17, 2010The United States has responded immediately and generously to Pakistan's call for assistance following the tragic and devastating floods that began July 29. To date, the United States has provided approximately $90 million to support relief efforts in Pakistan, including funding for the operations of the Pakistan National Disaster Management Authority, the UN’s emergency relief plan, and the many local and international organizations responding to this disaster. These funds are also being used to provide critical supplies to flood affected populations.
The U.S. is also providing millions of dollars of additional in-kind and technical assistance. We are expanding pre-existing programs in flood-affected areas, providing temporary bridges, and mobilizing significant U.S. military and civilian resources to rescue victims of the disaster and deliver needed supplies. There currently are 18 U.S. military and civilian aircraft in Pakistan and three aircraft based in Afghanistan in support of flood relief operations. U.S. helicopters have evacuated 4,988 people and delivered 524, 213 pounds of relief supplies.
America’s response to this tragic flood has been consistent with our humanitarian values and our deep commitment to Pakistan.
Latest Developments:U.S. Contributions To Date:
- U.S. Air Force C-130 aircraft, based from Afghanistan, delivered 8 pallets of food and relief supplies from Rawalpindi to Sukkur and Multan today.
Private Sector Response:
- To date, the World Food Program (WFP) has reached 845,033 beneficiaries in Pakistan, and more than 50 percent of food provided to flood-affected families has been provided by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) through WFP.
- The United States has made up to $30 million in commitments to international organizations and NGOs in support of flood-affected communities across the country. Examples include $11.25 million for UNHCR, $5 million for ICRC and $3 million to WHO.
- A total of 440,928 halal meals were delivered to civilian and military officials in Pakistan within 36 hours of the initial flooding via U.S. Air Force airlift, a contribution of about $3.7 million dollars.
- The U.S. has delivered 1,870 rolls of heavy-duty waterproof plastic sheeting to be used in construction of temporary dry shelter. The sheeting materials are expected to construct shelter for 112,000 people. Some 14,000 blankets were also brought along with a shipment, a total contribution of $977,495.
- Emergency relief items, totaling about $4 million, were delivered to the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA). The items include: 18 Zodiac rescue boats, 6 water filtration units, 10 water storage bladders, 30 concrete-cutting saws, 12 pre-fabricated steel bridges and a 25kw generator which was provided to the Frontier Scouts-KPk to support their flood relief efforts.
Public Donation Information:
- Working with mGive, Americans are contributing to Pakistan flood relief by texting the word “SWAT” to 50555. The text results in a donation of $10 to the UNHCR Pakistan Flood Relief Effort. Every $10 helps provide tents and emergency aid to displaced families.
- The Government of Pakistan and the Pakistan cellular phone industry are inviting Pakistanis to contribute to the Prime Minister’s Fund for Flood Relief beginning August 5 by texting the amount of their donation to “1234.”
- American Business Council members in the U.S. and Pakistan have announced contributions to flood relief efforts: Abbott Labs, Agility Logistics, AT&T, Chevron Pakistan, Cisco Foundation, Coca-cola Export Corporation & Coca-Cola Beverages Pakistan Ltd., DuPont, EMC, Johnson & Johnson, Proctor and Gamble, Pfizer Pakistan, 3M, Visa and Wackenhut Pakistan (Pvt.) Ltd.
- The Lahore-based American Business Forum has collected donations from: Coca-Cola, Environment Consultancies & Options, Levi Strauss Pakistan, Kabani & Company, General Electric, Monsanto AgriTech, Al-Bario Engineering, and Netsol Technologies.
Information on relief activities of the humanitarian community can be found at www.reliefweb.int
- The most effective way people can assist relief efforts is by making cash contributions to humanitarian organizations that are conducting relief operations. Cash donations allow aid professionals to procure the exact items needed (often in the affected region); reduce the burden on scarce resources (such as transportation routes, staff time, warehouse space, etc); can be transferred very quickly and without transportation costs; support the economy of the disaster-stricken region; and ensure culturally, dietary, and environmentally appropriate assistance.
- A list of humanitarian organizations that are accepting cash donations for flood response efforts in Pakistan can be found at www.interaction.org. Information about organizations responding to the humanitarian situation in Pakistan may be available at www.reliefweb.int.
- More information can be found at:
- www.state.gov/pakistanflooding
- USAID: www.usaid.gov/pakistanflooding
- The Center for International Disaster Information: www.cidi.org or (703) 276-1914
Monday, July 19, 2010
Video: Secretary Clinton Opening Remarks at U.S.-Pakistan Strategic Dialogue
Opening Remarks at U.S.-Pakistan Strategic Dialogue
Hillary Rodham Clinton
Secretary of StatePakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi
Foreign Ministry, Islamabad, , Pakistan
July 19, 2010
FOREIGN MINISTER QURESHI: Secretary Clinton, dear colleagues, ladies and gentlemen, good morning. It is a pleasure to welcome Secretary Clinton to Pakistan once again. We are delighted to have you back in our midst to carry forward the wide-ranging agenda that we have been pursuing together in recent months. I also extend a warm welcome to other distinguished members of the U.S. delegation.
Those of us who traveled to Washington last March for the first round of this upgraded Strategic Dialogue remain overwhelmed by the exceptional warmth and the gracious hospitality accorded to us. We hope we can reciprocate in some small measure while you are in Pakistan. We are joined here by many distinguished colleagues from various ministries and institutions in Pakistan. I thank them for their presence and for their vital contributions to this process.
Madam Secretary, today is an important day in the history of Pakistan-U.S. relations, which entered a new phase with the commencement of the Strategic Dialogue at the level of the Secretary of State and foreign minister. With this enterprise, we committed to work together for building a stable, broad-based, and enduring partnership between Pakistan and the United States on the basis of shared democratic values, mutual trust, and mutual respect.
We concurred that such a partnership is in the best interest of the peoples of Pakistan and the United States. And it’s critical for peace, stability, and prosperity in the region and beyond. We identified a whole range of areas for intensified collaboration with the express intent of further deepening and broadening the multifaceted ties between our two countries. I have no hesitation in stating that this would not have been possible without your strong, personal belief, Madam Secretary, in the importance and vast potential of the Pakistan-U.S. partnership.
The time and energy that you have invested in it has made this day possible. The consistent progress that we have been able to make thus far owes largely to your qualitative engagement with this process. On behalf of the government and people of Pakistan and on my own behalf, I take this opportunity to sincerely commend your vision, your commitment, and your leadership. And I assure you that we, on our part, remain equally committed to making this enterprise a resounding success.
Madam Secretary, we agreed at Washington that our sectoral dialogue process would encompass economy and trade, energy, defense, security, strategic stability and nonproliferation, law enforcement and counterterrorism, science and technology, education, agriculture, water, health and communications, and public diplomacy. It is gratifying that the first of these sectoral track meetings have since taken place.
City officials and experts on both sides have had preliminary discussions on areas of mutual collaboration and ways and means of achieving agreed outcomes. They have worked hard and done a fine job. I’m encouraged by the positive interaction in this sectoral dialogue and a clear sense of direction discernable in each of the identified areas. In our work during the day, we will have the opportunity to review in more detail the ground covered so far and to exchange views on the next steps.
I just wish to emphasize at this point that all these sectors are of fundamental importance to the day-to-day lives of the people of Pakistan. And they are, therefore, watching this dialogue with great expectations. You had rightly underlined in Washington last March that we cannot be satisfied with talking alone. As you stress the importance of translating our partnership into a lasting progress for the millions who live in cities and villages far from the halls of power and whose lives will be shaped by our actions, I could not agree more.
Indeed, the betterment of the lives of the people has been and must remain the primary motivation for all our efforts. Building a people-centered relationship must remain our foremost priority. It is in this spirit that we have been engaging in the sectoral discussion. We hope that Pakistan Government’s endeavors in these crucial sectors will be meaningfully reinforced through this process. We hope that substantive progress will be made on critical matters such as providing enhanced market access, strengthening Pakistan’s counterterrorism capacity, and allowing nondiscriminatory access to energy resources and advanced technology. We hope we will be able to achieve overall results that help expand economic opportunities in Pakistan and show real benefits of this relationship to our people. Nothing is more important than such vindication in the eyes of the people.
Madam Secretary, this is a transformational phase in our bilateral relations. Together, Pakistan and the United States are working to transform this longstanding cooperative relationship into a strong, comprehensive, and sustainable partnership of mutual benefit. The vision of this partnership is shaped by the mutual desire of our leaders, President Zardari and President Obama, for a richer relationship at the government-to-government, business-to-business, and people-to-people levels. This vision is rooted in the shared history of friendship and alliance between Pakistan and the United States over the past 60 years, which has withstood the test of times and has remarkably endured.
This vision is driven by our convergent interests in the present day, including fighting between menace of extremism and terrorism, stabilizing and reconstructing Afghanistan, sustaining dialogue with India, and finding a just solution of the Kashmir dispute linking the economic potential of South and Central Asia, curbing nuclear proliferation, and advancing progress and prosperity in the region and beyond. Essentially, in today’s globalized environment, an interconnectedness building such a partnership between our two nations is essential to building of a safer world and carving a common future of hope and optimism.
Madam Secretary, this is a period of profound transformation in Pakistan as well. We have political transformation underway with deepening democracy, increasingly empowered parliament, an active opposition, an independent judiciary, a free media, and a vibrant civil society. We have economic transformation underway with notable growth rate despite continuing global recession, growing inflow of remittances, tighter fiscal discipline, and expanding agricultural, commercial, and industrial base.
We have societal transformation underway with a rising demographic profile, rapid urbanization, increasing women empowerment, and a growing culture of human rights. We have ideological transformation underway with the emergence of a strong, national consensus against the dark forces propagating falsehoods in the name of our noble faith and perpetrating senseless crimes against our innocent citizens and the security personnel. Obviously, such far-reaching transformation brings in its wakes multiple challenges. But we are determined to deal with these challenges effectively and make sure that this transformation continues to forge ahead and concludes successfully.
We must do so because this transformation is consistent with Quaid e Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah’s vision of Pakistan as a democratic, modern, progressive, and Islamic state. Because it is in line with our leader Shaheed Benazir Bhutto’s conception of Pakistani society, because it helps us fortify our efforts in pursuit of our two core national priorities – peace and development. And finally, because it makes Pakistan a natural partner, indeed an indispensible ally of the international community. I cannot stress enough that the world has a vital stake in the success of our efforts.
Madam Secretary, in Washington, while launching this elevated Strategic Dialogue on March the 24th, you had heralded the dawn of a new day in our old and tested relationship. I’m happy to affirm that we are steadily moving forward in this new phase. As we go further, it will be crucial for us to remain sensitive and responsive to each other’s concerns and interests, make sure that our dialogue process is result-oriented, ensure that it makes a tangible contribution to peace and prosperity in the region, and continue to elicit stronger public support in both countries for the expanded partnership. It will be equally essential to build a robust architecture of strategic dialogue that helps advance our mutually shared goals at every level and at every juncture.
We must also develop and follow a roadmap for future with specific goals and agreed timelines. We must be able to showcase the progress made in building a truly strategic partnership which President Obama – when President Obama visits the region later this year. It is with these opening points that we will go into deeper deliberations and work for productive results.
Before I conclude, allow me to once again express how pleased we are to have you, Secretary Clinton, visiting Pakistan and for chairing this session. It is now my great privilege to invite Secretary Clinton to make her opening remarks. Thank you.
SECRETARY CLINTON: Thank you very much, Minister Qureshi, for that warm welcome and your strong words of support for the partnership between Pakistan and the United States, and it is a partnership that you have done so much to forge. I am delighted to be here and to be part of this continuing Strategic Dialogue.
I want to begin my congratulating the governments of Pakistan and Afghanistan for successfully concluding negotiations last night on the Afghanistan-Pakistan transit trade agreement. This is the most significant, concrete achievement between these two neighbors in nearly 50 years. I believe it will go a long way towards strengthening regional economic ties, creating jobs in both countries, and promoting sustainable economic development. And I applaud the Government of Pakistan for demonstrating your commitment to bilateral cooperation and building trust and closer ties between your country and your neighbor, Afghanistan.
My colleagues and I are delighted to join Minister Qureshi, other ministers, officials of the foreign ministry and other agencies of the Pakistan Government for this second meeting of the elevated and expanded U.S.-Pakistan Strategic Dialogue. We bring with us the best wishes of President Obama and other members of the Administration, members of Congress, and the American people who recognize the importance of this relationship in building a secure, prosperous, and peaceful future for both our nations.
On a personal note, let me say to you and to all the Pakistani people how good it is to be back in Pakistan. This is my sixth visit and I always look forward to coming here not just because of the work that our governments are able to do together, but because of the relationships and friendships I’ve made and the conversations I’ve been privileged to have with so many Pakistani citizens.
I know that the past few weeks have been trying times for the people of Pakistan. The attack on the shrine of Data Darbar, a place that is sacred to many Pakistanis, as well as Muslims and non-Muslims worldwide, and so many attacks that continue to target the innocent – men, women and children – who are praying, who are shopping, who are working, who are living their lives, I convey our deepest condolences to the families who have lost loved ones and all those who are impacted by violence. Acts like these are meant to sow divisions between people. But I have seen how they have brought us together in affirmation of our shared values, our common humanity, and our mutual aspirations.
Of course, there are differences between our countries and our peoples, and we need to address them candidly. But every time I visit Pakistan, I become more convinced that our differences, although important, are small compared with all that connects us and there is so much we can accomplish together as partners joined in common cause. That is the promise and the reality represented by the Strategic Dialogue. This dialogue, as the minister has said, is an achievement in and of itself. Not long ago, meetings like this, at this level with this breadth of participation, were rare. Now, I’m happy to say they are becoming routine.
Since my visit here last October, when Foreign Minister Qureshi and I agreed to restart this dialogue and we both agreed to serve as its chairs, officials from our governments have come together multiple times. We convened in Washington in March to create 13 working groups each focused on a critical issue – promoting trade and economic growth, strengthening energy supplies for the Pakistani people, improving access to healthcare and education and so much else.
In recent months, every working group has met here in Pakistan to engage in high-level, substantive discussions about how to move forward. Together, we have identified roadblocks, devised strategies, and begun to put ideas into action. And the work has gone so well that we moved up the date of this review by several months.
I want to echo my friend, Foreign Minister Qureshi, in praising the efforts of both of our teams. This kind of results-oriented engagement is exactly what he and I hoped this dialogue would produce. But while we can be pleased, we cannot be satisfied. There is still so much work to be done as we unlock the full potential of the dialogue and translate our combined expertise and resources into lasting progress for the betterment of the people of Pakistan.
Let me briefly describe some of the highlights of our work so far and some plans for what comes next. One of our objectives when we launched this dialogue was to deepen our existing partnerships in key areas like security, while starting new partnerships on urgent issues like water. We know that there is a perception held by too many Pakistanis that America’s commitment to them begins and ends with security. But in fact, our partnership with Pakistan goes far beyond security. It is economic, political, educational, cultural, historical, rooted in family ties. That this misperception has persisted for so long tells us we have not done a good enough job of connecting our partnership with concrete improvements in the lives of Pakistanis. And with this dialogue, we are working very hard to change that perception and to deliver results that truly have the concrete effects we are seeking.
Now, of course, security is a critical element of our partnership. Pakistan plays a central role in promoting security throughout the region. The Pakistani people stand on the front lines of a battle with violent extremists who target shrines, mosques, markets, government buildings, killing and injuring hundreds and hundreds of innocent people. The United States condemns this brutality and we stand in strong support of the democratic Government of Pakistan as it works to stop these groups once and for all.
But security is just one piece of this vital partnership. We share with Pakistan a vision of a future in which all people can live safe, healthy, and productive lives; contribute to their communities; and make the most of their own God-given potential. This future demands a comprehensive human security, a security based on the day-to-day essentials like jobs, schools, clinics, food, water, fuel, equal access to justice; strong, accountable public institutions. These are the building blocks of a durable, thriving society, and they are the aspirations not only of the Strategic Dialogue but of the people of Pakistan.
So the United States does not want only a dialogue between the governments, we want a dialogue between peoples. During my visit here last October, I had conversations with students, women, business leaders, tribal elders, and so many others, to learn more about their concerns and their priorities. And I heard over and over again about several pressing needs – jobs, clean water, healthcare, electricity. I also heard the concerns that these conversations would not have an impact on the work we were doing. But in fact, both of our governments, as the minister has said, are committed to following the lead of the people.
I returned to our Pakistani partners and my colleagues in Washington and said this is what the Pakistani people want us to work on, and we built this Strategic Dialogue with these needs in mind.
Today, I am pleased to announce several new programs the United States will undertake as a direct result of this dialogue in partnership with the government and people of Pakistan. Last October, I described the first phase of a signature energy program to help increase energy production and reduce the blackouts that have plagued Pakistani cities and communities for months.
The United States wants to support that progress with the second phase of our signature energy program. We have maps up here which show what we are doing. I’ll mention a few of the projects. We will complete two hydroelectric dam projects, the Satpara dam in Skardu which will supply electricity to more than 280,000 people, and the Gomal Zam dam in South Waziristan which will provide electricity to 25,000 homes. We have seven projects. You can see on the map where they’re located in terms of the energy. We’re also helping Pakistan develop alternative energy sources like wind and solar power, as well as its natural gas reserves.
We are creating a signature water program in Pakistan. First, we will be building or rebuilding the municipal water systems for Peshawar and Jacobabad, everything from water distribution to storage to treatment. Second, in 139 municipalities in Southern Punjab with a combined population of more than 50 million people, we will be working with local governments to ensure that people have safe drinking water and improved sanitation. Third, we will build water storage systems for the Satpara dam to supply 3 million gallons of clean drinking water per day and for the Gomal Zam dam which will irrigate 190,000 acres, reaching 30,000 farming families. And fourth, in each of Pakistan’s four provinces, we will provide the drip irrigation technology and training that we’ve heard over and over again farmers are asking for.
Another critical need is healthcare, and I’m pleased to announce we will either renovate or build three medical facilities. In Lahore we will triple the size of Pakistan’s largest maternity hospital. In Karachi we will build a surgical ward for mothers injured in childbirth. And in Jacobabad, we will renovate the hospital that serves 1 million people in Northern Sindh and Balochistan.
We want to work with Pakistan to promote economic growth and the creation of jobs. Pakistan, as the minister has said, has made progress and we really salute the country and particularly the tough decisions made by this government to move out of economic crisis and into economic stability. You’ve enacted some important reforms to attract foreign investment and encourage new businesses. Now you face some hard choices, such as meaningful tax reforms that are needed to put Pakistan on the path to long-term economic prosperity. The United States will offer support while you make these tough reforms.
And we want to help improve economic opportunities especially for the large numbers of young people who are coming of age now and are looking for their chance to make their own mark on the world. To that end, we will invest $100 million to expand access to credit for small and medium size enterprises so more good ideas have the chance to become successful businesses. And through the Overseas Private Investment Corporation, we will provide $50 million to support private equity investments in innovation and technology projects in Pakistan.
One sector primed to grow is farming, and so to support agricultural productivity in Pakistan, we will help develop a rural dairy program and the infrastructure to export Pakistan’s mangos, which I can say from personal experience are going to be very welcome on the shelves of American stores.
These are just a few of the programs the United States is committed to undertake on behalf of the people of Pakistan. As you can see from the maps behind me, we have programs across the country and across sectors. All of these programs were made possible by the Kerry-Lugar-Berman Act, which tripled our non-military aid to Pakistan to $7.5 billion over five years. We hope that projects like these will translate into real-life improvements for families and communities. These are not one-time expenditures. They are long-term investments in Pakistan’s future. We are committed to continuing our work with the Government of Pakistan to find ways to deliver services and opportunities that the people need to have.
When this dialogue convened in Washington in March, I said that it represented a new day in relations between our countries. But of course, this is not the work of any one day, but of every day. And so we must continue to hold these discussions and to move beyond them. We have to approach our work with patience and persistence to solve problems, meet challenges, and fulfill the promises made to our people.
In 1948, on the one-year anniversary of Pakistan’s creation, Muhammad Ali Jinnah, the man who worked so hard to make Pakistan a reality, spoke to your new nation. It was just a month before his death. Here’s what he said: “Nature has given you everything. You have got unlimited resources. The foundations of your state have been laid and it is now for you to build and build quickly and as well as you can.”
Today, this collaboration between Pakistan and the United States is blessed with resources, most particularly the talent and ingenuity of our people. And together, we are laying the foundation for an enduring partnership. It is now for us to follow the Quaid e Azam’s urgent advice and build as quickly and as well as we can a future of security, prosperity, and peace for both of our countries.
Thank you, Minister Qureshi.
Video: Secretary Clinton's Remarks With Pakistani Foreign Minister Qureshi
Remarks with Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi Following the U.S.-Pakistan Strategic Dialogue
Hillary Rodham Clinton
Secretary of State
Foreign Ministry
Islamabad, Pakistan
July 19, 2010
FOREIGN MINISTER QURESHI: Thank you for coming to this press stakeout. I have had the pleasure of welcoming Secretary Clinton to Pakistan once again, and I wanted to share with you a very productive meeting that we’ve had this morning on reviewing the upgraded Strategic Dialogue that was initiated on the 24th of March in Washington. We had set for ourselves a huge agenda because we had expanded the dialogue to 13 sectors – unprecedented. And the level of engagement that we had foreseen was very detailed. But as the Secretary has learned, that we were successful in engaging in Islamabad in the month of May and June, and all the sectors had detailed discussions here in Islamabad – the U.S. side, the Pakistan side – at the expert technical level.
From the discussions that they had, the Government of Pakistan has prepared a complete document that we’re calling the basic document of this Strategic Dialogue. Now, this document lays down a vision for every sector, a strategy that we have for that sector, what we have achieved so far, what contribution the U.S. can make to that sector through the Kerry-Lugar-Berman, what resources Pakistan is contributing in the promotion of that sector, and what needs to be done, what more needs to be done beyond Kerry-Lugar-Berman. It’s a document, a vision for a long-term engagement. And the beauty of this upgraded Strategic Dialogue is that it talks of health and education, water. It talks about increasing Pakistan’s productivity. It talks about creating jobs. It talks about the people of Pakistan and the people of United States, how they can develop a partnership amongst themselves. It has a long-term vision and this engagement has brought about or sort of given the right place to the bilateral relationship, which is an old one, because we felt that because of the situation in Afghanistan, there was too much focus on the trilateral engagements we were having, and the bilateral side of our relationship was being subsumed. But I think with this upgraded dialogue that has been addressed very successfully.
And the message is that United States and Pakistan are friends and partners regardless of other interests that we have. We have an independent bilateral relationship. And through this dialogue, we are going to promote and strengthen that relationship.
We’ve also agreed today – and the Secretary will give you details of what she proposes to do. But it’s no longer talk. It is implementation phase. It is action oriented. And these maps that are in front of you are some reflection of what we intend to do in different areas, how we have shifted the focus from terrorism, security-related issues, to the productive sectors of Pakistan – energy, water, agriculture. So we have agreed to the next round of our dialogue. That will take place in Washington in October and give everybody an opportunity to give an overview of their sector. And I think it was a very, very useful engagement.
And thank you for your time for that, Madam Secretary.
SECRETARY CLINTON: Thank you very much, Minister Qureshi, for your leadership of this important partnership and especially of the Strategic Dialogue. I’m delighted to be back in Pakistan. Last night, I had the opportunity to meet with Prime Minister Gillani and President Zardari. We discussed a number of the challenges and opportunities facing our two nations and the steps that we are taking together to address them.
This morning, I joined Foreign Minister Qureshi for the second meeting of the elevated and expanded U.S.-Pakistan Strategic Dialogue. And I want to thank the foreign minister and his colleagues in the Government of Pakistan not only for hosting today’s session, but all of the hard work that has been done between our first meeting in March in Washington and this session and the results that we are reaching together.
Since we convened in Washington in March, our countries have made excellent progress. Every one of our 13 working groups have held high-level meetings here in Islamabad in the past three months. This morning, we heard detailed updates of the progress that these groups are making across a range of the critical issues that we have identified after extensive consultations.
As Foreign Minister Qureshi and I expressed to our colleagues, it is critical that we maintain this momentum. We must continue to engage in our substantive discussions and then we have to move beyond those discussions to make concrete, measurable progress toward our mutual goals of improving the lives of the people of Pakistan. To that end, I was pleased to announce a series of significant programs that the United States will be undertaking in several key areas, including water, energy, health, agriculture, and economic growth and employment.
All of these programs were made possible by the Kerry-Lugar-Berman Act, which tripled our non-military aid to Pakistan to $7.5 billion over five years. These projects are evidence of our commitment to broadening and deepening our strategic engagement with Pakistan, not only with the government but most particularly with the people. Our final measure of success will not be in how often we convene our high-level meetings like this one we held today, but how much we contribute to real and lasting progress.
These charts demonstrate the next phase of our work together. The first one talks about the signature energy programs here in Pakistan. I announced this initiative when I was here in October. Since then, we have been working with our Pakistani colleagues to identify the specific areas. Here in the middle are the water programs. I have to confess to you, water was not originally on our list. But after meeting with so many Pakistanis in October, not only government officials but so many others in the different settings I was privileged to be part of, water moved to the top of the list. Water and electricity, over and over again, were mentioned as the needs that the Pakistani people wished to see addressed.
So this last chart here, it lists – and I hope that members of the press will come up and take a look at it – it lists not only our water projects and our electricity projects, but also health projects and education and information. And right there in the middle is the new agreement for the export of mangos. And I have personally vouched for Pakistan mangos which are delicious, and I’m looking forward to seeing Americans be able to enjoy those in the coming months.
So the United States will continue to stand with the government and people of Pakistan. We will stand with you in the fight against the violent extremists and terrorists who target innocent people and some of Pakistan’s most treasured cultural and religious sites. And we shared the anguish and the terrible despair that struck so many Pakistanis in the aftermath of the attack on the Data Darbar shrine. We extend our condolences to the families of all those who have been lost in these attacks that are so vile and so dismissive of the rights of the people of Pakistan to lead their lives and to see their future and the future of their children take shape.
We’re committed to building a partnership with Pakistan that, of course, strengthens security and protects the people of Pakistan, but goes far beyond security. We want to help you drive economic growth and prosperity, strengthen your democratic government institutions, expand access to the tools of opportunity. And we’re very grateful to our colleagues led by Foreign Minister Qureshi under the leadership of both President Zardari and Prime Minister Gillani to really get in depth with the kind of candid, open conversations that should take place among and between friends and partners.
I look forward to the next meeting of the Strategic Dialogue in Washington in October, and I thank everyone who has contributed to the progress that is visually displayed here today. Thank you.
MODERATOR: Thank you very much. The minister and the Secretary will take a few questions. May I first invite Mark Landler of New York Times, please.
QUESTION: Good morning. Thank you very much. A question for both of you: Despite your commitment to opening a new era in Pakistan-U.S. relations and despite the rollout of these American projects illustrated in the maps, public opinion in Pakistan still views the United States and the motives of the U.S. Government with a considerable amount of suspicion. My question is: Why isn’t the American message getting through better?
And then a second question for Minister Qureshi if I may: The Obama Administration is in the process of considering whether to place the Haqqani Network on the State Department’s list of foreign terrorist organizations. If the U.S. were to take such a step, do you worry that it would complicate efforts by both the Afghans and the Pakistanis to achieve a political settlement that would bring the war to an end? Thank you very much.
SECRETARY CLINTON: Mark, I have to begin by saying that I think we are making progress, but I recognize the long road ahead. I said on my visit here last October that there was a trust deficit between our governments that had to be addressed, and that we needed to get beyond rhetoric and beyond the emphasis on security to the kind of in-depth discussion that these dialogue – this dialogue is presenting so that we can take action together. Because obviously, actions speak louder than words, and we are moving into the action phase.
That’s what these projects represent. We want the people of Pakistan to know that we consider our relationship to be one of enduring commitment. I am well aware that in Pakistan’s history, since the founding of the state – Pakistan and I are the same age – and I know that during that time, there have been periods of closeness between the United States and Pakistan that often ended with the people and Government of Pakistan feeling as though the United States had not continued to show the same level of commitment. Earlier today in the dialogues, the finance minister, Minister Shaikh, very briefly summarized the periods of closeness in the ‘60s and the ‘80s, the beginning of this century, which often were around periods of war – the Cold War, the struggle against the Soviet invasion of Russia, the post-9/11 period.
What I am trying to do and what President Obama and I have made clear will be American policy – what the Kerry-Lugar-Berman Act and the new financial commitment represents – is that we are looking to establish a much broader, long-lasting foundation of collaboration and assistance that will truly assist the people of Pakistan to make the kind of progress toward peace and prosperity that they yearn for.
So we know that there is some questioning, even suspicion about what the United States is doing today. And I can only respond by saying that very clearly, we have a commitment that is much broader and deeper than it has ever been, that we expect to start seeing results. It is bipartisan, it is both of the Executive Branch and the congressional branch in our country, and we are going to continue to work to achieve very tangible results of this new high-level engagement.
FOREIGN MINISTER QURESHI: To respond to you, sir, opinion about the U.S. and Pakistan will change when the people of Pakistan see how, through this partnership, their lives have changed. And in this dialogue, we are focusing on projects, on sectors that would make a qualitative difference to the lives of ordinary Pakistanis. So they understand that this relationship is beyond security. This is a relationship that improves our purchasing power, our quality of life, and then a different message is understood.
Of course we have to communicate better. Of course realizing the difficulties that we’ve had in the past, now there is a new public diplomacy effort into the dialogue. It’s been sort of weaved into. We have a set – we have – one of the sectoral engagements is about public diplomacy so that the message reaches the right place. And then on the issue of – about the different networks and the efforts of reconciliation, United States, Pakistan are agreed with the rest of the international community to the targets set by us at the London conference. We have a very broad, very clearly identified direction today. And after the revision of the strategy by the Obama Administration, I think the objectives and the targets and the goals are very clear, and whether it’s reconciliation or reintegration.
And today, Pakistan and Afghanistan’s situation is dramatically different. We have improved our relationship. And what you saw yesterday was a reflection of a renewed confidence that Afghanistan has in Pakistan and Pakistan has with Afghanistan. So this will make the difference.
MODERATOR: Yes, (inaudible) please.
QUESTION: Madam Secretary, the elected president of Afghanistan has given – been given the mandate by his people in the loya jirga to speak to the Taliban for others who oppose him. After that, you said in your interview with the BBC that you are going to now announce the Haqqani group as a terrorist group. What took you so long, Madam Secretary?
And another question: Do you have the figures, the numbers of the Afghans who have died or been killed in Afghanistan? Thank you.
SECRETARY CLINTON: We are supportive, as Foreign Minister Qureshi just said, of the reconciliation and reintegration efforts undertaken by President Karzai and the Afghan Government. We have made it clear that we think reconciliation cannot succeed unless the insurgents, who have been fighting the Afghan Government over the last several years, recognize the importance of renouncing violence if they wish to enter into the political system, renounce al-Qaida, which remains at the center of a syndicate of terror across the world, and agree to abide by the constitution and the laws of Afghanistan.
It seems to us that there will be some who are willing to meet those conditions and others who are not. And we would strongly advise our friends in Afghanistan to deal with those who are committed to a peaceful future where their ideas can compete in the political arena through the ballot box, not through the force of arms. And there are those who will never be reconciled, and we hope that they can be defeated because they pose a continuing threat to Afghanistan and, by extension, to Pakistan. The loss of life of Afghan civilians and of Afghan soldiers is too high. The loss of any life in Afghanistan, whether it be Afghani or American or any other contributor to Afghanistan’s freedom, democracy, and stability is too high.
But we have made it clear we will stand by Afghanistan as they pursue a peaceful path. We hope that their reconciliation and reintegration efforts can bear fruit. But we stand ready to continue to assist them in their efforts against the Taliban and the havoc that they cause in the way that they intimidate and attack innocent Afghan people that really undermines the prospects for the peaceful outcome that I know President Karzai is committed to.
MODERATOR: Mr. Jay Solomon of Wall Street Journal, please.
QUESTION: Thank you. This question is for both of you. Secretary Clinton, today, you outlined the push to help Pakistan meet its energy needs, but at the same time, I know the State Department is concerned about an impending sale of nuclear reactors from China to Pakistan. What message are you telling the Pakistanis about the U.S. position on this sale? And how are you sort of marrying the desire to help Pakistan’s energy needs, but these concerns about proliferation and the nuclear question?
And for you, Minister, as well, what is Pakistan telling the U.S. as far as its plans of going ahead with this purchase of nuclear reactors from China? And what does Pakistan need to do to get greater support internationally for its use of nuclear technologies? Thank you.
SECRETARY CLINTON: Well, Jay, we are constantly talking with Pakistan about its energy needs, including the role for nuclear energy for peaceful purposes. We believe that the Nuclear Suppliers Group, which has recently met to examine the sale that you’re referring to, has posed a series of questions that should be answered, because as part of any kind of transaction involving nuclear power, there are concerns by the international community. Pakistan knows that. We’ve conveyed them. Other members of the Nuclear Suppliers Group has conveyed them. And we look forward to the answers to those questions that were posed at the meeting just recently held in New Zealand.
FOREIGN MINISTER QURESHI: The energy needs of Pakistan are obvious. The people of Pakistan are facing outages, six to eight hours in the urban areas and 10 to 12 hours in the rural areas. Our economic growth has been impacted. Our agriculture production has suffered on account of that. So this government, under the leadership of President Zardari and Prime Minister Gillani, have set forth a very clear target on bridging the energy deficit.
Now, how do we propose doing that? We are doing it through an energy mix. We are tapping on the indigenous sources that we have – that’s coal. We are trying to undertake new hydro projects because there’s a huge capacity for hydro generation. We are looking at other sort of renewables like solar and wind energy. And we are sort of making advances there.
We are trying to make our existing system more responsive and more efficient, and of course, in this mix, there is a component of nuclear energy. Pakistan has 35 years experience of generating nuclear energy. And fortunately, and because of the precautions that we have taken and the systems in place, there has been no untoward incident.
Now, this is part of our bag, but our policy on nonproliferation is very clear. And in the nuclear summit that we had, which was led by President Obama in Washington, Pakistan’s position was very obvious and very clear and endorsed by the international community that how Pakistan’s program is not only safe; it is responsible. So I see there is – there should be no fear on that account. And these projects that we intend to undertake will be open to IAEA inspection. So we will satisfy the international community and their concerns and we will address them to their satisfaction.
MODERATOR: Last question for Mr. (inaudible), please.
QUESTION: Well, Madam, in your opening remarks this morning, you mentioned about differences between United States and Pakistan, and right now, also you mentioned about trust deficit. Would you like to elaborate a bit? And tomorrow, there is an international conference being convened in Kabul a bit about that.
Mr. Qureshi, you also, in your opening remarks particularly, mentioned about unbiased energy cooperation. I would also like you to elaborate that. Thank you.
SECRETARY CLINTON: Well, thank you. I’m very positive about the state of our relationship because I think we have moved beyond either a standoff of our misunderstandings that were allowed to fester and not addressed to a position where we are engaged in the most open dialogue that I think our two countries have ever had. And I believe that is what friends and partners should do.
So I find the progress that we’ve made together with the Government of Pakistan, a democratically elected government that has demonstrated its willingness to tackle some of Pakistan’s hardest problems, doing what’s been done in economic reform, doing what must be done in tax reform, dealing with the energy shortages – these are difficult problems. And I am very pleased and impressed to see the leadership of the Government of Pakistan tackling these hard problems.
At the same time, the United States has had to ask ourselves, how can we be a better partner, how can we provide more support for what the people and Government of Pakistan are trying to do on their own. So of course, there is a legacy of suspicion that we inherited. I’m well aware of that. It is not going to be eliminated overnight. It is, however, our goal to slowly but surely demonstrate that the United States is concerned about Pakistan for the long term and that our partnership goes far beyond security against our common enemies.
That, of course, is a paramount concern because when people are dying because they go to worship or they go to shop, that is something that should offend the conscience of all people. And so of course, we will stand with Pakistan as you pursue this very difficult struggle against those who would take innocent life and attack the very foundation of the state of Pakistan. But in order to broaden and deepen our relationship, we’ve gone far beyond security. As both the minister and I have said, we are looking at 13 separate sectors. Now, one might ask, what does exporting mangos have to do with security? Well, probably not very much, but any time we can put people to work, open markets, create more opportunity in Pakistan, that in and of itself is a good thing. And it is something that the United States is committed to doing.
So I see progress. Maybe I see it from a closer position than many of the people in the country do as yet, but we are committed to this. I am personally committed. And we are going to stay the course and do everything we can to help create the kind of future that the people of Pakistan deserve.
FOREIGN MINISTER QURESHI: I quite agree with what the Secretary of State has said, that both of us are carrying the baggage of history, and we recognize that. Despite that, we have agreed to engage in a meaningful manner, and not just talk to each other. We are listening to each other. And there’s a big difference in talking to each other and listening to each other. The difference is we are listening to each other.
Now, we have our interests; they have their interests. We have our concerns; they have their concerns. The agreement is that we have to respect and be responsive to each other’s interests and concerns. I can say this with confidence that the convergence of interests that we have today, whether it’s democracy or women empowerment, institution-building in Pakistan, fighting and defeating extremism and terrorism and other areas is much more than ever before. And that is why this relationship is now becoming a partnership.
MODERATOR: Thank you very much.
SECRETARY CLINTON: Thank you.
# # #