Rovshan Pashazadeh reporter for "AZERBAIJAN TODAY", had an interview with Ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan to Azerbaijan Mr. Moohammad Hafeez.

AT: Neighborhood Policy: Pakistan and India

Pakistan had been indicating, throughout, its readiness to return to the negotiating table after the abortive Agra summit in 2001. For India, freedom fighters in Kashmir had always been terrorists. In January 2004, the SAARC summit, which was held in Islamabad, provided an opportunity to the leaders of India and Pakistan to agree on continuation of composite dialogue. The Islamabad Joint Statement, which was issued at the end of the meeting between the two leaders on the sidelines of the SAARC summit, provided a basis for improvement in bilateral relations.

Presently air services have been restored and are likely to be expanded. Visa regime has seen much improvement, arrangements for reopening of Khokhrapar-Munabao rail link are in hand, a bus service between the two parts of Kashmir has started and discussion on a gas pipeline from Iran to India via Pakistan is being considered. Most important of all, people to people contacts and exchanges have increased manifolds. Although it is premature to speak of any dramatic breakthroughs, but great encouragement can be drawn from the fact that, after each meeting, there is a fresh reaffirmation of faith in the dialogue process. There is a common determination to sustain it and also a common conviction that all problems can and should be peacefully resolved.

AT: Pakistan's Future Role in the South Asia Region:
Dilemma over Kashmir

M.H.: The region of South Asia is home to one-fifth population of the world and is rich in resources, skills, and production energies. Taken together, South Asia has the potential to become one of the major centres of economic power in the world. Yet the sad reality is that for most people outside the region, any mention of South Asia evokes images of teeming multitudes swamped in poverty and deprivation. Pakistan and India, the two main countries of the region, have been at odds over the issue of Jammu and Kashmir, for well over half a century. Having gained nothing, their people paid a heavy price in the form of poverty and deprivation all along this period. The nuclearisation of South Asia greatly helped in changing the perception of the leadership of two sides to look for peaceful resolution of their outstanding disputes including core issue of Kashmir by starting composite dialogue process.

Pakistan's perspective on peace and development in the region focuses on two main themes. First, establishment of a lasting peace in the region through a dialogue process aimed at the settlement of all outstanding disputes. Second, cooperation for economic development in the region, both on a bilateral basis and within the framework of SAARC. Though Pakistan and India have different perspectives on certain issues and have divergent approaches towards addressing certain problems, their ultimate goal should be the same - to ensure a better, more prosperous and more secure future for their people.

Over the past few months, ever since Pakistan and India began the Composite Dialogue process, Pakistan has demonstrated to be innovative, flexible and ready to take chances for peace. It has tried to redefine the parameters of engagement so that old problems can be addressed in new ways. The Jammu and Kashmir dispute is one such seemingly complex problem. Pakistan believes that it is the core issue between the two countries and needs to be resolved amicably and fairly. But in order to achieve this, all parties to the dispute, Pakistan, India, and the people of Jammu and Kashmir must demonstrate the will to address the issue sincerely with the objective of seeking honorable solutions based on mutual respect and accommodation.

Considering that the regional and bilateral processes are mutually reinforcing, the second theme relates to economic cooperation. Under SAARC, Pakistan and India are coming together in trade with SAFTA. During Pakistan's chairmanship, SAARC has been energized and its agenda broadened to include energy cooperation. SAARC is also moving decisively to address issues in the social sector. South Asia must therefore position itself to benefit from the globalization process. This warrants a renewed focus on regional cooperation.

On the bilateral plane both India and Pakistan can gain by cooperation in the field of energy. The proposed gas pipeline projects linking India through Pakistan to the enormous gas reserves of West and Central Asia would be a huge economic confidence building measure. Pakistan and India are capable of leading South Asia to new horizons of economic development. The Pakistan of today and tomorrow is not the Pakistan of yesterday. Tomorrow's Pakistan is a Pakistan of hope and opportunity. Pakistan firmly believes that the region's real strength lies in the inherent talent and capability of its peoples, who are resilient and enterprising, intelligent and industrious. They have tremendous potential. What they have lacked is the opportunity to allow this potential to bloom for the benefit of their respective countries and the region as a whole.

AT: Religions in Modern-day Pakistan. Islamic Values in Pakistan

M.H.: Religion forms the basis of Pakistan's ideology. The country was formed in the name of Islam, which has been its state religion since independence. Though Pakistan is titled as an Islamic Republic, by no means, it is a theocratic state. It is a country where people from different beliefs and religions are free to exercise their religion without any restriction or fear. Presence of hundreds of Churches, Temples, Gurdwaras, shrines and Mandirs across the country is proof enough of religious tolerance and freedom of worship in the country. With the concept of Enlightened Moderation, propounded by the President of Pakistan General Pervaiz Musharraf, taking strong foothold in the Pakistani society, the level of tolerance towards people of other religious beliefs is on the rise. Now greater emphasis is being laid towards creating awareness among the people that they should practice the virtues of peace, moderation, tolerance, consultation, justice, balance, patience, freedom, equity, brotherhood, and compassion. They are being reminded that diversity amongst individuals, cultures, religions and civilizations is to be accepted as an inducement to learn from and about each other, to respect the differences, and to promote peaceful interaction, cooperation and dialogue. And that Islam upholds the values of human dignity and recognizes the equal opportunity of human beings of different religions in inter-personal relationships, in maintaining harmonious interfaith relations and in the entire process of international decision-making.


It is extremely encouraging to note that these measures are bearing fruits and a greater degree of tolerance and respect for others belief is clearly visible in the society.

AT: Education and Islam in Pakistan

M.H.: Unfortunately education and literacy could not given due importance by successive governments in Pakistan for a long time. The last few years have seen some appreciable changes in the government's attitude to education and literacy.

Modernization is one such area where the government of Pakistan is focusing its attention so that the students of these institutions could pursue professions such as banking, engineering, information technology and fine arts. Realizing the importance of education, the present government almost doubled the amount allocated for education in the budget for the year 2004-05 and a substantial increase has been announced in the budget for the next financial year.

AT: Pakistan's Rise as a Nuclear Power

M.H.: A nuclear program has many dimensions and any state that pursues a nuclear program must examine all its dynamics. For instance, a nuclear weapons program requires a focus on doctrine, establishment of a stable deterrence, costs and the linkages to the global arms control and disarmament agenda. But first of all a state needs to identify its security threat parameters- within the overall regional and global security frameworks that prevail-in order to evolve viable nuclear doctrine.

After the overt nuclearisation of South-Asia in May 1998, both Pakistan and India have speed out certain elements of their nuclear doctrines. The nature of the two doctrines as well as the manner in which they have been enunciated, reflect the difference of purpose of the two states going overtly nuclear in 1998. For India, its nuclear capability was status-driven as opposed to Pakistan's security-driven acquisition of nuclear capability. Because Pakistan's nuclear capability is strictly within the context of its security, it has not sought to exploit this capability in terms of political projection- thereby showing up the absurdity of the notion of its capability being an "Islamic Bomb". The difference in the purpose and intent of India and Pakistan's nuclear capabilities is reflected in the declared doctrines of the two states. India put out an expansive doctrine in August 1999, which reflects its desire to push for great power status. Pakistan envisages the nuclear capability as having a purely defensive, security-related purpose. Pakistan's threat perceptions are seen as stemming primarily from India both at the level of all-out conventional war, limited war and low-intensity conflict. Within the nuclear framework, Pakistan seeks to establish deterrence against all-out conventional war.

AT: Development of Relations with Non-Arab Muslims Nations

M.H.: Pakistan's foreign policy is one of friendliness and good will towards all other nations. Pakistan has never cherished aggressive designs against other countries. Even with India, it has always sought to resolve the issue of Kashmir through dialogue. Other than India, Pakistan shares borders with Afghanistan, China, and Iran and maintains good friendly relations with all these countries. Pakistan is a member of OIC, Non-aligned Movement, Common Wealth, ECO and SAARC besides being associated with many other regional groupings. It has always played a constructive role in activating these organizations to work for peace and stability in the world. Besides having excellent relations with all Islamic countries and especially Arabic countries, Pakistan gives due importance in maintaining very close and cordial relations with non-Arab Muslim countries of the World. Pakistan was among the first few countries, which recognized the newly independent states of Central Asia and Azerbaijan in the early 90s. Since then it has maintained very friendly relations with them. The president of Pakistan has recently toured these Central Asian States and Azerbaijan and discussed new venues of close cooperation in political and commercial sphere with the leadership of these countries.

Pakistan has also given due importance to its relations with Indonesia, Malaysia, Brunei and other Islamic countries of the region. Pakistan's desire to forge closer relations with these countries can be seen in the backdrop of its efforts to become a member of these regional organizations and its recent entry into the ASEAN Regional Forum as a full dialogue partner will further strengthen the regional grouping and will lead to closer cooperation among the member countries.

AT: Prospects for the Deepening of Cooperation Between
Azerbaijan and Pakistan.

M.H.: Pakistan was one of the first countries that recognized Azerbaijan's independence in October 1991. Diplomatic relations between the two countries were established in 1992 and Pakistan's mission started functioning in Baku in March 1993.

Both countries have been enjoying excellent political relations supporting each other on all international and regional fora. Pakistan fully supports the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan and resolution of Nagorno Karabakh issue in accordance with international law and UN Security Council Resolutions. Azerbaijan also supports Pakistan on Kashmir issue and its resolution in accordance with UN Security Council resolutions and wishes of the Kashmiris.

There has been a regular exchange of ministerial and senior official's visits between the two countries. The first two VVIP visits were exchanged in 1995 and 1996. President Sardar Farooq Ahmad Khan Leghari visited in 1995 followed by the visit of Heydar Aliyev in 1996. President General Pervez Musharraf visited Baku in July 2004 while President Ilham Aliyev paid an official visit to Pakistan in April this year.

The civil and military organizations of the two countries also enjoy very close and cordial relations. Pakistan provides training facilities to Azeri officers in different sectors ranging from Advance diplomacy, Banking, Postal, Railways, Business Administration, Information Technology, Communications and Defense. This interaction at the working level has significantly improved institutional contacts between the two countries.

Despite having very close, cordial and fraternal relations, the level of our commercial relations leaves much to be desired. So far the two countries have not been able to upgrade their commercial relations to the level of their political and diplomatic relations. Undoubtedly there is a great potential to expand on this relationship. During the recent exchange of high level visits, the low level of bilateral trade remained in focus in all the official discussions. Now greater emphasis is being laid on increasing the volume of our trade. The factors have been identified which have not let our trade develop to its full potential, and corrective measures are being taken. A branch of National Bank of Pakistan is soon to start its operation in Baku and direct air connections are being re-established. Similarly trade delegations from Pakistan are being planned to visit Azerbaijan and an exhibition of Pakistani products is being arranged, to introduce Pakistani export potential in the local market. It is expected that these measures will bear fruits, and commercial relation between the two countries will soon be a match to our diplomatic and political relations.

AT: Pakistan's economy: From the reliance on money transfers from abroad to the development of a brand new model for development.

M.H.: Though Pakistan gained independence from British India in 1947, the history of this land dates back to the ancient Indus valley civilization of 5000 years B.C. History books recorded the absorbing discovery of riches and wonders of the sub-continent by explorers and foreign invaders. From the time Alexander the Great posed through the historic Khyber Pass to set up camp along the river Indus, down through the ages, to the Arab and Persian conquerors who left the most significant impression on the language and creed of the people, to the British, Portuguese and Dutch merchant colonialists who opened up the trade potential of the region to the world.

Though the years since independence have continued to be a period of discovery for Pakistan, as it realized the tremendous growth resources, the recent years have seen a steady rise in industrialization and modernization of the traditional agricultural sector, creating a stable and viable economy. With the new economic liberalization, use of modern technology and ambitious export aspirations, Pakistan is poised to join the realm of the fastest developing industrialized countries of Asia.

This turnaround has not occurred all of a sudden but is the outcome of a deliberate and carefully designed program of economic reforms undertaken over the past five years. The comprehensive strategy announced by President Musharraf in December 1999 consisted of four key elements:

" Restoration of macroeconomic stability
and Pakistan's relationship with the
international institutions;

" Structural reforms to remove distortions;

" Revival of key institutions; and

" Alleviation of poverty through
targeted interventions and social
safety nets.

Interconnection between economic growth, poverty reduction, structural reforms and improved governance is fairly strong in case of Pakistan. Macroeconomic stability and consequent rapid economic growth have helped reduce poverty in conjunction with investment in social sectors, targeted interventions and social safety nets. Structural reforms are needed to strengthen the underpinning of macroeconomic policies and to remove microeconomic distortions affecting key sectors of the economy, thus paving the way for accelerating economic growth. Improved governance affects the quality of growth by allowing realization of higher returns on investment and is also conducive to poverty reduction through better delivery of social services to the poor.

Pakistan has come a long way since the 1998/99 crisis when the country was on the brink of default and foreign exchange reserves had been depleted, economic growth was weak, debt ratios were alarmingly high, the confidence of the investor community was at its lowest ebb and credibility among international financial institutions was eroded. In a critical and fragile regional and domestic environment with constant threats to security (as a result of the country playing a key role as a frontline state in the war against terrorism), a prolonged and severe drought and high oil prices, Pakistan has made an impressive economic turnaround within a short period of five years. Economic growth rate has reached a solid 8.4%, the exchange rate has been stabilized, the fiscal deficit has been drastically reduced, domestic interest rates have declined dramatically, international reserves have jumped 12 times their 2000 level, debt ratios have fallen significantly and investment is booming. Pakistan's creditworthiness has been upgraded to B+ by rating agency Standard & Poor's. It is one of the few developing countries that has graduated from a successful completion of an IMF program to directly accessing international financial markets.