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KARACHI: Former US ambassador and foreign policy expert Dennis Kux said that the role of Pakistan was “central” to the lasting settlement of Afghanistan problem.
“In my opinion, we (USA) cannot resolve Afghanistan issue without the cooperation of Pakistan. Other neighbour including Iran and India are important, but Pakistan is the most important to Afghan solution”, he added in his interaction with the media in Karachi at a local hotel Monday.
Kux had served in Pakistan during 1957-59 as State Department South Asia specialist and in 1995-96 as a Fulbright scholar and in 1998 as a fellow of the American Institute of Pakistan Studies.
He noted that it was important all the stakeholders should have their role to their best interests so that every body is happy and play its role with sincerity to peaceful Afghan solution.
He however, observed that present Afghan government was not clear where they want to be heading and added that according to the Constitution of Afghanistan, President Hamid Karzai will not be part of the future government as he had already served his two terms.
Kux, who is also associated with Heritage Foundation, a think tank of Republican Party, said that for this course it was vital for United States that it should maintain cordial relationship with Pakistan and vice versa.
“We (USA and Pakistan) are sailing in the same boat. USA needs Pakistan for fighting its enemies in Afghanistan as it has to transit through Pakistan to reach Afghanistan. There are other routes, but they are costly”, he noted.
He said President Obama like his predecessors in Democrats wants to work with Pakistan and talk to politicians instead of other forces. He (Obama) is very careful and thoughtful as far as Pakistan is concerned, he opined.
He agreed that Pakistan has genuine concern about Afghanistan as it wants stability in its neighbouring country so that its borders are safe from any intrusion.
Responding to the impression that Republicans are friendly while Democrats had tough instance over Pakistan, he said that contrary to the past, Democrats are more friendly with Pakistan then Republicans.
Talking of the withdrawal of US forces from Afghanistan by 2014, he said that in his opinion, “Turkey” should lead the foreign forces after the withdrawal of US forces from Afghanistan as it is a Muslim country with active foreign policy since Ottoman period.
Kux believed that it was difficult for USA to lead forces in Afghanistan in the post withdrawal scenario.
He was of the opinion that Afghans needed an honest leadership to lead the country after the withdrawal of foreign forces from their territory.
US diplomat said that lasting Afghan solution was possible provided that every stakeholder should be sincere in peaceful settlement of this critical issue in the region.
Shedding light on the history of US-Pakistan relations, he said that US is not popular with Pakistani people.
The general opinion of Pakistani people about USA is not good, perhaps because of US-Israel relations, US attack on Iraq and may be due to US's response to Pakistan's request for help during 65 Pak-India war.
