Pakistan-U.S. relationship "very dynamic", "exemplary": Ambassador Qazi

WASHINGTON, Dec 3 (APP)- Pakistan Ambassador Ashraf Jehangir Qazi Tuesday evening said Pakistan-U.S. relationship is very dynamic-and like any dynamic relationship, it has seen many ups and downs over the past.

Speaking at a dinner he hosted for the Congressional Staff, at the Jamshed Marker Hall of the Pakistan Embassy, Ambassador Qazi said there was a time when Pakistan had been the most allied ally, while it also became the most sanctioned country.

"Currently, the Pak-U.S. relationship is examplary," he said adding, Pakistan's cooperation in the war on terror "has tremendously contributed to the eradication of the menace of terrorism." "This mutually beneficial relationship, is growing fast in the fields of political, economic and defence cooperation," the Pakistan Ambassador said.

He also spoke of Pakistan's relations with Afghanistan, saying the two neighbouring countries had close cooperation with each other in various fields.

"Pakistan and Afghanistan may not necessarily agree on everything," he said, but, the minor disagreement does not mean the two do not have similar strivings or commonality of thought and commitment-"they do have close cooperation."

"President Hamid Karzai is important to Pakistan, and Pakistan is interested in strengthening of his government, and expansion of it's writ all over Afghanistan." "There is no reason for Pakistan to support any reactionary or extremist forces in Afghanistan," he emphatically stated.

Mr. Qazi also spoke on Pakistan-India relations and referred to the hopeful upward recent trend. The Envoy said negotiations between Pakistan and India should be undertaken without any pre-conditions- "if any pre-conditions are attached, there might not be a dialogue." He also mentioned the centrality of Kashmir issue in Pakistan- India relations.

He lamented the fact that social sector development was consistently ignored. Mr.Qazi said the lack of facilities to get formal education had driven a lot of children to get education in 'Maktabs' and Madressahs. "Now the Government of Pakistan has adopted a policy to improve Madressah education- put an end to intolerance, conform curricula to undertake moderate and quality education and put Madressahs at par with mainstream modern educational system."

Washington, DC
December 3 2003