Ambassador Cameron Munter's Remarks at
Islamabad Program in Global Studies
(As Delivered)
Islamabad, Pakistan
January 7, 2011
Ambassador Munter: Senator [inaudible], members of the diplomatic corps, ladies and gentlemen, it's a pleasure to join you today.
I have prepared remarks, but at times I'll depart from those remarks which is the first cultural indication that I'm a true American, which is that I will make rules but I will depart from those rules, but I will try to tell you when I'm doing that.
I truly want to have this opportunity, as you pointed out, to share ideas, and I look forward to hearing your perspectives and trying to answer them.
What I'd like to do to begin is to mention that this is the greatest way to show the kind of tolerance and the understanding of those people who are not like you that I really appreciate about this country, because I've been received in this country, this country where 80 percent of the people think America is the greatest threat to them, with nothing but warmth, nothing but openness, and nothing but kindness. So there is a depth that I think this statistic does not describe, a depth of relationship between the United States and Pakistan of which I'm very proud and very pleased to find. Because of this I'm also very sad because the death of Salmaan Taseer is the death of someone of courage and conviction and I believe anyone who believes in this kind of tolerance, anyone who believes in defending the ideas of people who are not like you, must mourn the loss of this great man.
I've been in this country now for three months. I've learned to accept a certain kind of dynamic. The friendliest of conversations on the trickiest of subjects. You're really experts on this, and that's fine. It's never dull in this country, and it also [goes down] with some great green tea. I'll make a comment first on this cultural aspect of America.
The French sociologist said about the United States that everyone in the world is a citizen of two countries. Everyone in the world is a citizen of their own country and of America. Now this may sound like an arrogant statement, but it's from a Frenchman so it's allowed. [Laughter]. The point is, that we are a country that's not based on ethnicity. We're a country that is based on values. And the fact that people are disappointed with us indicates to me that people take our values seriously and hold us to the same standard that we claim to have. If there is that criticism, I see it as a sign of respect that we stand for something even though we sometimes fail in the eyes of others to achieve that.
It's something I also see as a similarity to Pakistan. Pakistan is not a country of one people. This is a country of diversity. This is a country of a history of tolerance. And this is a country where there are ideas and values that unite you. And if you don't always agree on what those values are, that's another thing we share. When our Republicans and our Democrats get together, amazingly enough, they disagree as well.
I'm privileged to represent the United States in a country that the American President speaks about a great deal. He says that Pakistan is important to us and the United States recognizes the vision of Mohammed Ali [Chena] in his goal of bringing unity, faith and discipline to the people of Pakistan.
Our interest in Pakistan is obvious. A few weeks ago the White House released the Afghan/Pakistan Policy Review laying out the key objectives for our relationship with this country and Afghanistan. I spent three late nights in contact with Washington speaking directly with our President about your country. Make no mistake, we are very interested and committed to finding a way to working with Pakistan.
My late friend Richard Holbrooke played a major part in that policy review and it bears his imprint. Those of you who knew Richard Holbrooke know he was a force of nature. He was a diplomat who was much more than a diplomat. The fact that he was so passionately committed to the cause of helping American and Pakistani interests remains an inspiration for all of us dedicated to that same hand. He was infuriating, he was absolutely unbearable and times, and we liked him very much. He was extraordinarily energetic, capable and proud of his interest, extraordinary ability to bring people together who care about Pakistan whether they were from Asia, Europe or the United States. Organizations such as the Friends of Democratic Pakistan bore his imprint and were animated by his energy.
So we consider this review that we have at hand the effort and heart of Richard Holbrooke and [inaudible] we are achieving in the long run will be due to him.
This review which I've spoken of underscores that the United States seeks a comprehensive partnership with the people and the government of Pakistan. We're pursuing comprehensive and balanced engagement based on common interests and [characterized] by mutual respect.
While there are challenges to overcome as in any bilateral relationship, we see the relationship finally not one of problems, but of opportunities. And we believe both sets of people have much to gain.
We're proud of the security relationship with Pakistan. After all, Pakistan has more at stake than any other nation in the ongoing battle against extremism and terrorism.
But we're also proud of our efforts to build a strong people-to-people relationship. That is why here in Pakistan we've established the largest education and cultural exchange program in the entire world to help inform the next generation of Pakistani leaders. That's why we've pledged long term assistance to Pakistan's democratic, economic and social development under the Kerry/Lugar/Berman Bill.
As Secretary Clinton has pointed out, Pakistan has stepped forward to meet the many challenges that it faces. Your government moved roughly 140,000 of its troops from the Indian border and aggressively engaged its enemies on your western border, and these [inaudible] were our enemies. Pakistan has clearly recognized this mortal threat to its security and sovereignty.
At the same time, Pakistan's new democratically elected government which has stepped up to engage us with comprehensive strategic dialogue. Both of our governments recognize that across a range of issues we need to work together.
One of the problems, though, one of the challenges of working together is that we must have mutual respect. This is a theme I think that was raised by the other speakers. If there is respect, there must be expectation. This must be a two-way expectation that in speaking to other people you are not patronizing them, you are not labeling them. You are expecting something from them because you expect they are worthy of that.
On the security front this means that we're helping Pakistan move ahead to ensure the government's authority in all parts of the country. On the economic front it means urging the government to take steps to broaden the tax base and to increase revenues that are essential for Pakistan's long-term development. Pakistan, in my opinion, does not want to be a country that relies forever on assistance. Pakistan, in my opinion and in the opinion of the Pakistanis I've met, wants to be a country strong on its feet with a stable economy that can be a force of prosperity and good throughout the region.
These moves which show the international community with its assistance is being used to address real needs and not cover for Pakistani citizens who do not pay their fair share.
Clearly our shared security interests far outweigh our differences. Pakistan's support to sovereign and successful Afghanistan. We think it's essential to stability in the region and the majority of Pakistanis without doubt wish to be rid of terrorism and extremism and to expel international terrorists from the corners of their nation. We do too, and we're there to help you do this. I wish you to know that among Pakistan's many friends we have made a bigger commitment than any other country to help your government and your security forces to achieve these goals.
The second criticism that we hear sometimes is that we have been intrusive under financial and governance issues. That we've been demanding where we should be respectful. Yes, we are both demanding and respectful. When people talk about Americans lecturing, we're sorry if we are not understood correctly. When we talk to you openly and bluntly what we think are the things that need to be done. It's a measure of respect. It shows that we care deeply. And even if you don't take our advice, we share it with you because we believe that by sharing in our culture, by being open, we're showing you the depth of the feeling that we have. We don't beat around the bush. Yet this is something I sense that Pakistanis appreciate, because Pakistanis come up to me and say Mr. Ambassador, welcome to the country. May I be blunt? And they are. I think that is a sign of respect.
So when we talk about how to solve the problems of this country I hope that we can learn the means by which we can do this openly and clearly without being misunderstood, but I ask that people in this country also understand that it is meant with respect and with admiration for a country that we desperately want to help.
We'll continue to be this way when defending or promoting rights and obligations that have been incorporated into multilateral agreements or are accepted universal principles. I talk of such principles as equality, the rights of women, and the fairness and the justice that we believe the people of Pakistan, the people of America, indeed every member of the United Nations who have signed the International Covenant of Human Rights must agree on. We will do everything we can with full respect for and understanding of Pakistan's traditions, culture and its legally constitutional [inaudible].
If we are [intrusive] then, it's because we care. We're your largest donor. Our aid comes as outright grants of assistance which is different than the loans which must be repaid. Remember, we grant money not because we are looking for you to tie that money to certain behavior. We grant that money working with you to try to achieve goals that you have defined. Now whether we are successful and whether we are doing the right things, this is something that's open to debate and I welcome that debate. But we don't do this with loans, we do it with grants.
We have to make sure when we do this that the American taxpayers see that any foreign government, including yours, is making good use of its resources and responding effectively to the citizens' needs in a transparent and accountable manner. A large part of our portion of any projects are built around the eye of trying to help Pakistani government institutions -- federal, provincial or local -- to be more responsive. We can build roads, we can build schools, but we are also trying to sustain that with training for staff and for assistance in years to come.
I want to focus today on the promising areas of collaboration. Our goal is a democratic Pakistan with a vigorous economy. A Pakistan that can meet the social and economic needs of its citizens and secure its borders. And it's our vision for what we hear from our Pakistani friends is truly best for this great country and its thriving future.
The first area we need to develop is to work on a simple premise that Pakistan has got talent. Pakistanis at home and overseas represent a huge resource to be tapped. In the United States we will work more with the Pakistani Diaspora so that Pakistani-Americans can become a greater source of investment in Pakistan. For example, Pakistani-Americans raised over $61 million and sent 45 aid relief missions to help Pakistan's flood relief. We'd like to help them lend their successful entrepreneurial and professional talents to Pakistan's development.
We also think they could be a source of information about our country. The next time we hear something about America that sounds suspicious, talk to me. If you can't talk to me, talk to your relatives in the States. Call your friends and relatives and listen to what they have to say. They have a pretty good understanding of what's going on.
To unleash the potential of Pakistan's strong work ethic and business talents we're encouraging the government to put in place economic and regulatory policies that make sense. So many government regulations on trade and commerce respond to the interests of a few. It happens in most countries, but perhaps it happens too much here.
Our goal is to have Pakistanis democratically debate these issues and institute those policies which will enable investors and business to prosper. This is vital to the production of jobs and to raise the standard of living.
Another priority is to contribute to the ongoing educational reform process in Pakistan. It is up to Pakistan, of course, to revitalize its educational system so that young men and women throughout this country can have a good, modern education. This we believe is the key to broadening horizons of Pakistan's huge youth cohort and leading them in productive lives.
A second promising area for partnership is contributing to good governance. In its 63 years of independence, Pakistan has had too little time under democratic rule and many of its government institutions' practices have been skewed to unproductive ends. These institutions need to become more effective and responsive to the demands of the 21st Century.
The passage of the 18th Amendment to your constitution helps address the pent-up desire of the devolution of power and responsibility to the provinces and the local governments. The details on how that important amendment will be implemented have yet to be filled in, but I can tell you that we will hope to work as partners with Pakistan's institutions at all levels of government to make devolution a success.
Let me give you an example. We've invested in building the professional resources available to your Parliament. This is because we believe it's important that Pakistan's elected representatives have better access to information required to make good policy. The country is blessed with a lively press for the state which can be a crucial source of information for all policy-makers.
I have never in my political and diplomatic career seen a press like I've seen in Pakistan. It is something unique and something despite all the diversity that you have, something you should be very proud of.
It's also important to have professional staff and information resources available to the parliamentarians who can use scientific information to design effective policy and communicate that to the press so that the press, not as an adversary, but the press as a watchdog and as a means of [inaudible] works with the elected democratic representatives to serve [people].
We hope that the new Institute for Parliamentary Services Building in Islamabad will ultimately contribute to making your Parliament a more effective, transparent and responsive institution.
A third area where I see tremendous opportunity is enhancing mutual understanding. Although American movies and music are easy to access here and the internet has transformed the lives of many Pakistanis, the United States is still being seen through a particularly negative lens. We need to build and broaden the network of Pakistanis who have a more accurate understanding of the United States. The best way to do that is through direct experience through exchanges and education.
Today we have the largest Fulbright Program in the entire world working out of our embassy. Last year the program sent more than 300 Pakistanis to study in the United States and that number will double this year. We have a large and growing program to expand English literacy in Pakistan. Our Access Program, for example, teaches English to over 5,000 disadvantaged Pakistani youth. We're designing other cultural and information programs to reach all segments of society. And let me add, the non-governmental ties between your society and ours are strong and growing in the areas of education, in the areas of vocational training, in the areas of health.
In America millions of American Muslims live in security, free to practice their faith and with the respect and friendship of their neighbors. This is a reality that if you talk to American Muslims you will learn about. If this were more widely known to people in this country, some of the people who have doubts about American tolerance might feel differently. But that is our task. It is our task to help educate, to make that information available to the people in your country. That's something we have to do with your students and with your professionals who have experience in the United States and see that America is a country with millions of Muslims who are loyal Americans and friends of the values that we all share.
Finally, I want to mention a delicate topic for Pakistan and the United States, one that is important for improving the economy and security of your country. I refer to Pakistan-Indian relations.
For too long, U.S. relations with India and Pakistan have been portrayed as a zero sum game. Ties with the United States and India are portrayed as negative for Pakistan; similarly, India's economic growth and emergence as a major international actor are somehow portrayed as if this were a loss for Pakistan. We see no reason why this should be the case. Pakistan can benefit greatly from the expansion of India's economy if both countries move forward to resolve their strategic differences and open up their trade. More robust trade and investment and easier movement of people across the border is, in our opinion, in both countries' long-term interests. It can create jobs, it can create opportunity, it can increase government revenue.
I've been struck in my first months here by how many Pakistanis have told me that they are open to and actually long for constructive ties with India. I'm fully aware of the painful history of conflict and suspicion between the two states. I don't wish to downplay the serious and difficult issues that have come between Islamabad and New Delhi, but I believe these disputes can be resolved and this is clearly, in my opinion, in the national security interest of Pakistan. The United States can play a supportive role in moving this relationship forward. It is up to both countries to take steps to offer assurances against each other's concern and we hope that will happen. Opportunities for real confidence building measures between the two countries really do abound. It will be up to the people and leadership of both countries to lead in any change, but you can have no doubt that if both countries decide on good relations, robust trade, frequent exchanges, you will have a willing partner and someone to help in the United States.
In closing let me underscore what I hope to achieve during my time here in Pakistan. I will be talking about a partnership that will result in strategic cooperation, a partnership built for the long haul. We have learned our lesson from 1989 when at the conclusion of the Afghan War we turned our attention elsewhere. We turned away from this region. We made a mistake, and we won't make that mistake again.
We have to build the kind of strategic partnership based on our shared interests in a stable Afghanistan, and beyond that, in a peaceful South Asia. We will sustain the special dialogue with your government on challenging questions related to peace and security, and we recognize those issues are not easy ones -- there is a great deal of mistrust to overcome. But we believe that the nature and durability of our commitment to Pakistan [inaudible] and understanding in this country.
Beyond that, we will go beyond the state structures that are so important to the people of your country. This is where I am very very grateful, as I mentioned at the outset.
This is a country of warm people, this is a country of sincere people. This is a country of people who are not afraid to speak their mind and people who have taken someone like me, who was not acquainted with your country for years and years; someone who is a newcomer to your country, and educated me, accepted me, helped me and my wife understand through our travels the complexity of your country and the depth of the commitment you have to our relationship.
I'm more optimistic now than when I arrived here three months ago, and I believe there really is truly an enormous amount we can achieve with the right kind of respect, the blunt talk that I hear from you, the blunt talk that you'll hear from me about how we can move ahead and make sure that this relationship between our countries is an honest one and an open one, and one that's productive.
rime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani on Thursday appreciated the confidence of US Government in Pakistan’s economic system.Talking to a US delegation led by Senior Advisor to the US President David Lipton here at the PM House.The Prime Minister hoped other donor countries will follow suit as his government had put in place third party verification and beneficiaries assessment, besides public disclosure of programme performance to increase donor and public trust in the utilization of foreign assistance.The Prime Minister said while the government was working hard to improve internal controls for transparency, the concerns should not become a pretext for withholding or stopping the much needed support, which has already been pledged by the donors to Pakistan.
