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Pakistani envoy thanks Buffalo for aid, affirms war on terrorism - Ambassador Mahmud Ali Durrani is impressed by the Buffalo community's outpouring of aid for last year's earthquake victims.
Pakistan 's ambassador to the United States made a visit to Buffalo on Saturday to personally thank the community for its relief efforts for victims of the devastating South Asia earthquake that struck northern Pakistan on Oct. 8 last year. Mahmud Ali Durrani, who became ambassador in July, was among more than 450 people at Saturday's dinner in the Adam's Mark Hotel , a benefit for the Western New York South Asia Earthquake Relief Effort Fund. "I'm surprised what's going on in Buffalo ," Durrani said. "I did not expect such a large event here." The fund was established by Buffalo Heart Group, with the help of the Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo, to aid in rebuilding and providing refugee survivors with adequate food, shelter and supplies. Many Pakistani Americans have organized and contributed to the relief efforts, following the 2005 earthquake that killed 70,000 people and left 2.5 million homeless, but it's a little different in Buffalo , he said. "Here, it is the broader Buffalo community, which is very heartwarming," Durrani said. "It just shows people have a love of humanity deep down." Durrani, who took time before the event to speak with The Buffalo News, talked about America 's generosity in the massive international relief effort, but also touched on counterterrorism efforts. Pakistan is a key ally in U.S.-led counterterrorism efforts, although there are doubts about its commitment, because Pakistan has been identified as a base for terrorist groups and supporters operating in Kashmir , India and Afghanistan . As ambassador, Durrani - who held key positions in the military before his retirement in 1998, and is considered a close aide to the country's President Gen. Pervez Musharraf - said he is working to dispel doubts about Pakistan 's commitment. The Pakistan government has captured more terrorists than probably any other country, and it is more perception than reality that Pakistan is now a safe haven for extremists, he said. "We have literally turned upside down, and gone out of our way to help this war on terrorism," Durrani said. " Pakistan is totally committed to fighting terrorism for its own reasons. We see this monster standing at our doorstep." There are concerns, however, about whether Pakistan made the right move when it recently reached a peace treaty with tribal elders along the Afghanistan-Pakistan border, where extremists have been sheltered after the U.S. invaded Afghanistan in 2001. The agreement ends military operations in that region, in exchange for tribal leaders rooting out local and foreign extremists. Durrani downplayed that the most-wanted terrorist, Osama bin Laden, could be hiding out in Pakistan . "Nobody knows for sure," Durrani said. "Anybody who says he's in Pakistan is guessing at best, or lying."
Charles Lewis/Buffalo News |
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