National 4 (Spotlight Weekly)

“Pakistan Is Keen On Providing Assistance To Nepal Wherever We Can”— Zamir Akram

Zamir Akram is the Ambassador of Pakistan to Nepal. He spoke to KESHAB POUDEL on various issues related to bilateral relations in view of the recent visit by the Pakistani Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz to Nepal. Excerpts:

Your Prime Minister recently visited Nepal when he met with his Nepalese counterpart and other officials. On what areas were the discussions held?

The visit was mainly in connection with him being the chairman of the SAARC. Of course, this opportunity was used to discuss bilateral relations. The Prime Minister was received by His Majesty the King and he also held a full delegation-level talks with Prime Minister Deuba. The reflection of the importance he attached to this visit was the inclusion of several senior ministers in his delegation including the minister for commerce, minister for production, minister for textile industries, minister for water and power and minister for economic affairs apart from many prominent businessmen from Pakistan. The purpose was to explore the potentials for increasing economic and trade relations, promoting tourism and cultural relations. The Prime Minister was also keen on providing increasing assistance to Nepal wherever we can be of help. These were the areas in which he focused.

There were also reports of Pakistan offering credit to Nepal.

Yes, in fact, some years ago Pakistan had offered credit assistance of US$ 1 million to Nepal. The Prime Minister offered to increase this assistance to US$ 5 million – to purchase heavy equipment machineries as well as military equipment if Nepal wants to purchase from us.

At a time when the relations between India and Pakistan is improving, do you see the possibility of exploiting this opportunity to increase trade relations between Nepal and Pakistan?

Yes, there is a possibility that with the improvement in the atmosphere of Pakistan-India relations, the difficulties that we are facing in the use of Indian port for trade would somehow decrease. We are also hoping that with the coming into force of SAFTA, trade will increase because we will have free access for transit trade. We are also keen on using other alternate routes. Bangladesh is providing a possibility and there is also the possibility of using China. Finally, the Prime Minister was also keen that the PIA (Pakistan International Airlines) should also increase its flights to Kathmandu and provide more economical cargo rates for transportation of the commodities between the two countries.

Do you think it is possible to explore alternate routes through China at this juncture?

Well, there is something that is already on the ground between China and Nepal. And there is also a road that connects Pakistan to Sinkiang and there is a road that connects Sinking with Tibet. One has to explore the possibilities to see how these routes can be used for trade. The other aspect is of using the Chinese port in the south, which has been linked already to Lhasa. So, we can use Chinese or Bangladeshi ports.

Nepal’s tea export to Pakistan has been picking up of late. How do you see the possibility of expanding this trade?

That is one area in which Pakistan offered removal of all duty restrictions. Ditto for jute. So the result has been obviously an increase in export of tea from here. What is significant is that our Prime Minister has offered to negotiate free trade with Nepal even before the SAFTA comes into force. If we have a free trade agreement, obviously the export of Nepalese exports will increase.

How do you find the response from the Nepali side on the issues that your government has raised?

I think that the Nepalese government was happy to receive these offers for the promotion of economic and trade relations as well as tourism and other sectors. It is now up to me and my counterpart – the Nepalese ambassador in Islamabad - to push these things through as soon as possible.

In the past we used to import textile from Pakistan. What is the situation at present?

There are one or two Pakistani investment in textile mills here at present. Of course, the potential is much higher. This is also one of the area in which the Nepalese side has invited us to invest. These are the opportunities, which Pakistani businessmen can utilize by putting up joint ventures. And also there are possibilities of textile export from Pakistan.

What is the status of Nepal-Pakistan bilateral relations right now?

Our bilateral relations are very good. We have no differences with each other. Our positions on many international and regional issues are similar, if not identical. We support each other in international forums. We are also working together in the conduct of SAARC. There is not any problem between us. Our relation is very good and strong.

Pakistan and India continue to have differences over Jammu and Kashmir. In this context, how do you foresee the development of SAARC?

This is true that resolution of differences between India and Pakistan will be beneficial not only to the two countries but also for the entire region. We are looking to a future of South Asia as an integrated economic unit. But for that kind of integration and cooperation, you need to have confidence among the member states. Pakistan and India are the two larger members of the region and if they do not have the confidence and if there are problems between the two, the whole region will be suffering. We are keen on resolving these differences. That is why President Musharraf and Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz have, time and again, offered and proposed at various level and on various occasions the need to resolve the Kashmir issue. We are ready to do it. The President of Pakistan has actually taken a very courageous position in his efforts to find a solution. We now expect the Indians to respond with equally courageous leadership.

Just after his appointment as Prime Minister of Pakistan, Shaukat Aziz chose to visit South Asian nations. Does this indicate that Pakistan is now giving more importance to this region in its foreign policy?

Prime Minister Aziz is very keen on promoting relations with all our neighbors. That is our first focus. The transfer of chairmanship of SAARC to Bangladesh has provided the opportunity for the Prime Minister, as an outgoing chairman, to make the customary visit to all the South Asian capitals. This opportunity he has used also for the promotion of bilateral relations. He is keen that our relations with India and all other SAARC countries need to be strengthened.

China shares border with four SAARC member states. Do you see any role of China in South Asia in future?

First of all, we must start by saying that Pakistan as a very close friend of China would welcome its membership in SAARC if China and other members are agreeable because membership are given only through consensus. Second thing is that even if China is not a member, it is ready to cooperate with SAARC in the economic and trade fields. SAARC has already had fruitful relations with Japan and EU. I see no reason why China can also not be a partner of SAARC.

How do you find the SAFTA evolving?

The agreement on SAFTA has already been finalized. Now the question is how to implement it. There are technical details, which are being worked out at the level of experts. Those details are important for all the countries. Each one has a particular interest in these discussions that are going on. What we are sure about is that within a short period of time these details will be worked out and the SAFTA will come into force.

South Asia is ridden with lots of problems like poverty and terrorism. How do you see its future?

There are opportunities as well as challenges for South Asia. It is up to the countries of this region how they utilize the opportunities and confront the challenges. Among the challenges are differences between the states. The obvious answer is that we have to find a solution to this problem that is acceptable to all the parties concerned. Unless we resolve these problems and challenges, we will not be able to take advantage of the opportunities. The opportunities we have is that over a billion people live in South Asia. Our region is rich in human resources as well as natural resources. We can have more economic division of labor and division of production within the region as is happening in other regions such as Europe and ASEAN. Then, we can also look into potential for cooperation with the Middle East, Central Asia, South East Asia and China.