Salim Bokhari concludes Mir Sahib’s visit to the Gulf States.
On a peace mission in a ‘war zone’
LAHORE: In the wake of serious war threats by the United States and given Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein’s steadfastness, the task of any peace-maker could be enormously difficult in the prevailing situation. Yet, Pakistan’s elected Prime Minister Zafarullah Jamali assigned this difficult role to himself and embarked upon a peace journey to four states of the Gulf region, comprising Abu Dhabi, Kuwait, Qatar and Bahrain.
If war breaks out, Gulf States are likely to suffer disaster in one form or the other. The leaderships of these countries fully realise and anticipate how any future armed conflict is going to have lasting impact on their territories, peoples and economies. But it can do only very little to avert the war that seems so imminent.
Jamali’s mission was first aimed at making last-ditch efforts to avert war, urging Baghdad to respect the United Nations Security Council Resolution 1441 and secondly stressing the US to explore all diplomatic options before opting for military strikes against a Muslim country.
In addition to this, Jamali thought he would also be able to update Gulf leaders on latest developments in South Asia largely due to Indian leaders’ harsh statements against Pakistan, its series of missile tests and arms build-up on its borders. He also tried to remove the impression being created by BJP hawks that Pakistan was indulging in cross-border infiltration despite all assurances.
Seen in this light, Premier Jamali’s visit can be termed “very successful” mainly because the Gulf leaders listened to his point of view and announced their support. For instance, all the leaders agreed that the oldest item on the United Nations agenda, the Kashmir conflict, should be resolved in accordance with the world body’s resolutions, calling for holding a plebiscite there so that the Kashmir people could decide about their future.
These leaders also assured their continued economic assistance and expressed willingness to invest in Pakistan in line with relief measures taken by the Pakistan government for protecting foreign investment.
At the first leg of his tour, Prime Minister Jamali’s entourage landed in Abu Dhabi where he met with United Arab Emirates President, Zayed Bin Sultan Al-Nahyan at his Al-Ain palace. The meeting was very cordial as well as fruitful. The two sides shared perception in case war breaks out in Iraq.
Although there was hardly any love lost for Iraqi leader, Saddam Hussein, there was a visible concern for Iraqi nation. While Jamali said he would not like people of Iraq to become refugees, President Zayed bin Sultan also expressed his concern about war devastation to which people of that country would be subjected.
The UAE president being an old friend of Pakistan fully endorsed the country’s position on the Kashmir conflict. He also pledged continuing economic assistance, expressing willingness to invest in new projects. Experts of the two sides would identify areas where such an investment would be made.
After his three-day visit of the UAE, **Premier Jamali landed in Kuwait, where he was received with great enthusiasm. On all major buildings, roadsides, overhead bridges and crossings, Pakistani flags were fluttering. The Crown Prince and Prime Minister of Kuwait, Sheikh Saad al-Abdullah Al-Salem Al-Sabah, received the Pakistani delegation at the airport. Amir Kuwait Sheikh Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah also received Premier Jamali.
Both sides tackled the latest developments concerning the Iraqi issue and stressed the need to achieve a peaceful solution in order to avoid war and its devastation.
They also affirmed the importance and necessity of Iraq’s full compliance with relevant Security Council resolutions and above all those related to the release of the Kuwaiti and other prisoners of war.**
Kashmir issue also figured in the talks prominently underlining the need for finding a peaceful solution to this conflict through direct dialogue in line with United Nations Resolutions. Jamali pointed out that Islamabad had offered un-conditional dialogue to New Delhi on several occasions but India always found lame excuses to keep itself away from the negotiating table.
Decision to reactivate the joint ministerial commission and holding its next session In Islamabad soon was another achievement of this visit. The commission will review entire range of Pak-Kuwait commercial, economic and investment relations and will look into investment opportunities.
From Kuwait, the next stop was Qatar followed by Bahrain. At both these states, Premier Jamali’s delegation was warmly received. Qatari leadership termed Pakistan even closer to it than Mecca and Jeddah.
At all these destinations, Prime Minister Jamali made it a point, despite his heavy engagements, to address Pakistani community to have a direct contact with them to find out their problems and take on the spot decision.
Reducing identity card fees from US $35 to $25 to extending its expiry period from three to 10 years, he directed the embassy staff to take bare-minimum time in issuing passports and ID cards.
Another good thing was that at each gathering Premier Jamali made it clear that he would only make such promises that his government would be able to fulfil. “I don’t want to keep on making hollow promises and doing nothing like the past leaderships have been doing,” :k: he stated categorically.
Yet another positive aspect of his visit was that he did not allow his team mates, Federal Minister for Information and Media Development, Sheikh Rashid Ahmad and Labour Minister, Abdul Sattar Lalika have a free ride. They were found either assisting the prime minister or holding talks with their counterparts. So much so that none of the two could find an hour free to go shopping. On the whole, his hectic trip to the Gulf countries can be termed “successful” by any standard. It was a working visit and not a free ride.
