Remarks by His Excellency Mr. Ashraf Jehangir Qazi on the occasion of Presentation of his Credentials

Mr. President,

It is my special privilege to present to you my credentials as the Ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan

I bring warm regards and best wishes of the President and Chief Executive of Pakistan, General Pervez Musharraf. I also bring sincere greetings of the people of Pakistan for you and the friendly people of the United States of America.

Pakistan and the United States stand at a historic and hopeful juncture in their long-standing relationship that goes back over half a century. Over the past decades, our constructive partnership has had a profound effect on world events. At the beginning of the Cold War, Pakistan chose to be a part of the free world and we became staunch allies in the ideological battle that ensued. Pakistan was later a vital link in the Sino-US rapprochement, which tilted the East-West balance decisively in favor of the free world. We were together, again, to resist and roll-back the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan. That momentous struggle, waged jointly along with the valiant Afghan people, paved the way for the end of the Cold War and the triumph of the ideas of liberty and freedom.

We are together once again to fight the freedom.s battle. As the tragic events of September 11 unfolded, President Musharraf pledged Pakistan.s unstinting cooperation in the fight against the modern-day evil of terrorism. That support continues to this moment and has enabled the global coalition to make impressive gains in the anti-terrorism campaign. It will continue till our shared objectives are fully met.

President Musharraf has demonstrated his strong commitment to fight terrorism and extremism . in any form, anywhere. The strategic decisions taken by him since September 11 are consistent with our moral principles and our national interests. They are also consistent with the vision we have of Pakistan as a modern moderate, progressive, democratic, Islamic state. We are working to build the Pakistan that our founding father . Mohammad Ali Jinnah . envisioned: .At peace within, and peace without..

The reform agenda being pursued in Pakistan to actualize this vision is unprecedented in its breadth and scope. It is supported by the vast majority of the people of Pakistan. It focuses on economic revival, good governance, education reform, deepening the roots of democracy, growth of civil society, empowerment of women, respect for the rights of minorities, and nurturing a human rights culture. We are steadily moving on the path of democratic transition and would take the final step with national elections in October.

We value the support and understanding that we have received from the international community on our reform endeavors. The continuity and sustainability of this reform process is of critical importance. President Musharraf remains firm in his resolve to re-direct Pakistan. Continued support of the world community would be vital to the success of these efforts.

This reform vision provides both a positive backdrop and a solid basis for closer and more meaningful bilateral engagement. As President Musharraf stood with you at the podium on November 10, 2001, in New York, he noted the .dawn of a new era of relationship between Pakistan and the United States.. He articulated a vision of a sustainable, long-standing, forward-looking bilateral partnership. Ever since, our two nations have worked closely to build a revitalized, broad-based and long-term relationship based on shared values, common interests and mutual benefit. We are grateful for your personal commitment to this renewed partnership, and for the bipartisan support that it finds in Congress.

Trade and Investment are crucial components of the broad-based and comprehensive relationship that we mutually desire. The United States has been our largest trading partner and a major foreign investor. Our overall economic and commercial interaction, however, remains far below the true potential of the two countries. These horizons must continue to expand. We look forward to newer bilateral arrangements on market access and debt issues. These would contribute substantially to the well-being of millions of Pakistanis, including those affected by the recent events in our region.

It is vital to continue to strengthen the institutional framework to deepen bilateral cooperation in different spheres. The Pakistan-US Joint Economic Forum has been constituted. A Working Group on Trade and Investment is being established. The Joint Business Council is to be launched shortly. The Joint Working Group on Counter-terrorism and Law Enforcement is already functioning effectively. Our counter-narcotics collaboration has been a .model.. The Defense Consultative Group (DCG) has been revived. These institutions help systematically expand cooperative ties across a broad spectrum and provide mechanisms for effective implementation and follow up.

Pakistan remains committed to peace and security in South Asia. We appreciate the Administration.s efforts to avert the dangers of conflict in the region, particularly in the context of the recent crisis. Pakistan has repeatedly stressed that war cannot be used as an instrument of policy in our regional environment. Issues must be resolved peacefully, through negotiation. Pakistan would continue to meet the commitment it has made. It is imperative that our positive approach is reciprocated by equal and substantial steps for de-escalation and resumption of dialogue.

Pakistan also believes that international efforts in South Asia need to go beyond crisis-management and focus on conflict-resolution. South Asia must have a peace process that addresses the Kashmir dispute in a fair manner, taking into account the wishes of the Kashmiri people. Without a just and lasting solution of Kashmir, hopes for durable peace in the region would remain elusive. The U.S. with friendly ties to the parties, is in a unique position to facilitate this process. People in Pakistan, and in Kashmir, look towards the United States. We are confident that their hopes and expectations would not be belied.

Pakistan and the United States have a shared interest in strategic nuclear restraint in South Asia. Pakistan looks forward to working with the U.S. to ensure against a destructive arms race that would have a destabilizing effect for the region.

Pakistan recognizes the critical link between peace and economic development. We believe they reinforce each other. Our expanded economic collaboration, not only in South Asia but also extending to Central Asia, would strongly complement our joint endeavors for regional stability. Pakistan stands ready to forge such partnership for peace in our part of the world.

I consider it a singular honor to represent Pakistan in the United States especially at this juncture. I look forward to working with your Administration in the spirit of friendship and cooperation that characterizes our bilateral relationship. It would remain my constant endeavor to further deepen the multi-faceted ties that exit between our two nations.