Pak wants to be more than just a war on terror ally of the US

Zamir Akram, the chief foreign policy adviser to Pakistani Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz, has called upon both Islamabad and Washington to bring more substance in their bilateral relationship besides the issue of terrorism.

Washington, Oct 4 : Zamir Akram, the chief foreign policy adviser to Pakistani Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz, has called upon both Islamabad and Washington to bring "more substance" in their bilateral relationship besides the issue of terrorism.

The Bush Administration has grown increasingly vocal in their criticism of Pakistan's government of late over its shortcomings in counter terrorism efforts and its failure to implement democratic reforms.

But Akram said that Pakistan is, in many ways, just as unhappy with what it sees as Washington's near-exclusive emphasis on terrorism-related issues.

"In other areas, the relationship hasn't moved very fast or very far," he said in his address at Washington's Middle East Institute, adding: "We need to put more substance in this relationship."

"There is a sense in our public opinion that this relationship is heading south," he said, adding that there is a "trust deficit" between the two governments.

Reacting to a recent statement by former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto, in which the PPP leader said she would consider allowing US forces to directly pursue al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden into Pakistan if Washington learned of his whereabouts, Akram said, "I do not think any Pakistani leader can give carte blanche like that to anyone."

Akram was critical of the US government's overwhelming emphasis on military and intelligence efforts, and not on staging a more comprehensive effort to win the "hearts and minds" of Muslims around the world, the US News reported.

"We have not seen the kind of concentrated effort that needs to be undertaken," Akram said, expressing his skepticism about the success of former Bush adviser Karen Hughes in her role heading up the State Department's public diplomacy program.

"I have not really been able to see whether actions of the department can offset the negative things we see, not just in Pakistan, but across the world," he added.

Akram went on to say that he would like to see Washington focus on a broader range of topics of interest that country, like greater trade access to Pakistani exports such as textiles.

Pakistan is also looking for increased transfer of key technological assistance, as well as enhanced cooperation on energy issues, he said.

Akram's statement assumes significance as the US has been warning publicly for months that al Qaeda has re-established a safe haven in Pakistan's tribal regions, adding that part of the reason for this development was the failure of a controversial deal that the Pakistani government struck with tribal leaders last year to go after extremists.

ANI