Date: 13/06/2008

FOREIGN MINISTER'S INTERVIEW WITH “THE FRANCE 24”, PARIS , 13 TH JUNE 2008

' Pakistan , in the eye of the storm'

Interview of Pakistan 's Foreign Minister Makhdoom Shah Mahmood Qureshi by Patricia Loison, Paris

June 13, 2008.

Patricia Loison: His country is at one of the world' most dangerous crossroads, flanked by Iran and Afghanistan . A nuclear power that is accused of being the key country for the Taliban, it is the arena of attacks, one of which cost prominent Pakistani figure, Benazir Bhutto, her life late last year. Pakistan would have tipped towards the axis of evil, so dear to the Americans, but President Bush decided otherwise, and made it his ally in the war against terrorism. Many believe today that Pakistan could do more, while recognizing that it is becoming increasingly fragile.

My guest today is Pakistan 's Foreign Minister. Thank you very much Mr Makhdoom Shah Mahmood Qureshi for being our guest today. You have come to Paris to attend the conference for Afghanistan . Of late, relations between Afghanistan and Pakistan have been rather tense. The coalition in Afghanistan was accused of firing a rocket that is said to have killed eleven of your soldiers in the famous tribal areas. Pakistan has shown us rather violent images of this. You have often been the target of accusations, Mr. Minister, but today, is it not Afghanistan that is destabilizing Pakistan ?

Foreign Minister: That's not true; Pakistan is interested in a peaceful, stable environment. It is in Pakistan 's interest for Afghanistan to be a stable country. Pakistan has cooperated as an ally in this war against terrorism so that we can have a peaceful region, we have taken all the measures it was possible to take to guarantee peace and the stability of the region, and the incident that occurred a few days ago is a tragic incident and very sad. We have decided to convey our protest to the coalition forces and they have agreed to organize a joint investigation to clear up this affair.

Patricia Loison: George Bush is in Paris today, with hindsight, do you not regret having made such a firm commitment to fight by his side? Has your country not paid a very heavy price for this alliance with the Americans?

Foreign Minister: Well, we are involved in this war against extremism because we think it is against values we believe in. We don't want such an image of Islam to be projected. Islam is a religion of peace. We don't believe in violence. We live in a certain way and these extremist elements are damaging our way of life. It's a war that is not being fought somewhere else, it affects us, the citizens of Pakistan , and on a daily basis. There are tragedies that occur. Benazir Bhutto lost her life because of this. So we are not fighting this for the Americans, but for our own lives.

Patricia Loison: Do you think, Mr. Minister, like many observers today that the American President, the American administration, has made a mistake, and that instead of putting its forces in Iraq, it should have remained in Afghanistan to continue its efforts to eradicate the Taliban, as they are called, and those who support Al Qaida?

Foreign Minister: Well originally, in fact, they concentrated on Afghanistan , and if they had continued to concentrate on Afghanistan , probably the result would have been better. I can't speak for them of course, but I think that they were aware that the instability in the region was linked to Eastern Afghanistan and it is important for the world to ensure that this region is stabilized, which is why yesterday's conference in Paris was so important. Afghanistan has played a role, an active role, to ensure that we have stability and peace in Pakistan and we are contributing to the reconstruction of Afghanistan and to the rebuilding of their institutions. I was in Kabul recently where I met the President and the Foreign Minister, and I think I can rightly say that we are understanding each other better every day and that the same language is being spoken by the democratically elected authorities in Pakistan and the representatives of Afghanistan, and we have realized that it was in everyone's interest to cooperate rather than accuse each other mutually. It is important for us to adopt a policy or a joint approach to solve a problem that is common to both of us.

Patricia Loison: For the period until George Bush leaves there is a difference between the American and European points of view. The Americans support a strong, Western military presence in Afghanistan , and the Europeans led by Mr Sarkozy are talking about 'Afghanisation': leaving security and the police to the Afghans. Which approach would you prefer, Mr. Minister?

Foreign Minister: There is growing recognition that military means alone will not be sufficient to solve the problem and that it will be necessary to take a much more global and comprehensive approach, and, in this sense, the European point of view joins our own point of view, Pakistan's point of view, which is economic growth and the political development of Afghanistan. And then it is necessary to solve the problem of the extremists, by using force and a military presence.

Patricia Loison: Should there be negotiations with the Taliban? Do you think - you share this burden, if I may call to that, with Afghanistan - you should negotiate with them, Mr. Minister?

Foreign Minister: I think that we should not rule out negotiation or dialogue. When one lives in the tribal areas and near the border, one should not be branded as an extremist. Most of the people who live in these regions are normal people who live peacefully and only want growth and social and economic development, far from any extremism. But they are caught between the crossfire and we must, of course, take into account these moderate tendencies. This, too, is something that I think is gaining impetus in Afghanistan . In Afghanistan too they are thinking of the possibility of reconciliation.

Patricia Loison: Here in Paris , in the information we receive from Pakistan , we have learned that a part of the Pakistan Army was preparing to move away from the tribal areas. Is your country prepared to abandon these regions, in spite of the fact that you said that you should be accompanying these people who live in the tribal areas and who are victims of violence?

Foreign Minister: The Pakistan Army plays a very important role, that of stabilization of the border. Pakistani forces have, moreover, arrested 700 people; members of Al Qaida and people linked to it. We have succeeded in breaking up the biggest network that was operating in this area and we got rid of undesirable elements, and those that were still a bit active have at present been neutralized by the Pakistan Army. The Army works in collaboration with the civilian authorities and we have a tripartite military commission that functions, and that has proved its efficiency to the satisfaction of Pakistan and its partners in the coalition.

Patricia Loison: Your army is not thinking of withdrawing from these areas at all?

Foreign Minister: We feel at the moment we should remain there. When the situation becomes more or less normal, then we will withdraw, but for the moment, we are staying there.

Patricia Loison: Mr. Minister is the unrest in the tribal area threatening the whole of your country? Can it split away and threaten the very existence of Pakistan ?

Foreign Minister: Well, they have created problems for us. Peace has been disturbed in our country. There have been suicide attacks, for example, there have been extremist attacks in different regions, but I think that these elements have absolutely no support from the people of Pakistan or from the residents of the tribal areas. It's a small minority, a tiny minority, and I don't think they have the power and the ability to threaten the integrity of Pakistan .

Patricia Loison: What would be your response, Mr. Minister, to Westerners who say that Pakistan is harbouring Bin Laden and Mullah Omar in the tribal regions? What would you say to them?

Foreign Minister: If they have actionable information then we are very willing to cooperate.

Patricia Loison: Does your government still control this region, or is it a lawless zone?

Foreign Minister: Not at all. There have just been elections, and their elected representatives are seated in Pakistan 's Parliament. The situation is clearly improving in the area. There are some elements, who want to disturb this peace, but the civilian government is there and the military is also present to deal with these people.

Patricia Loison: The lawyers' movement has undertaken a long march to demand the reinstatement of the judges who were dismissed by President Musharraf, who is still in power today, but who has had to work with the coalition since it won the elections. Should President Musharraf remain where he is, as he is today, should he be tried, or should he step down so that the country can regain its stability?

Foreign Minister: I cannot speak for Mr. Musharraf. It's his decision. What I can say is that, in the last elections, people expressed their choice, and the verdict of the people was that the political forces that sided with Mr. Musharraf were beaten. And some have said in fact that Mr. Musharraf had been pushed into a corner in recent years, and sidelined. So public opinion is extremely clear and it is he who will make the decision.

Patricia Loison: We have understood your point of view. Thank yon very much for your participation, Mr. Minister.