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Pakistan Prime Minister Interviewed on Contact With Israel, Domestic Politics

Posted on: Monday, 5 September 2005, 15:00 CDT

Pakistan Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz has given an interview to Pakistan Observer newspaper in which he describes the meeting in Turkey between Pakistani and Israeli foreign ministers as having taken place at very short notice and through Turkish mediation. In the interview he says that "all major political parties" have supported the step, the motive for which was to improve the situation for the Palestinians. He reiterated the government's position that Pakistan will not recognize Israel until the establishment of an independent Palestinian state. On the subject of domestic politics, referring to opposition parties threats to resign from assemblies and call for fresh elections he said that Pakistan had "no culture of accepting defeat gracefully". The following is the text of the report by Aroosa Alam, published by Pakistani newspaper Pakistan Observer website on 5 September

Islamabad Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz for the first time lifted the veil from the day-to-day and hour-to-hour development that led to the "historic shake-hand" between Pakistani Foreign Minister Khurshid Mahmud Kasuri and his Israeli counterpart saying that there were no long pre-discussions on the meeting and back and forth diplomacy lasted only for a week before the two foreign ministers met in Istanbul.

In an exclusive interview with Pakistan Observer on Sunday [4 September] afternoon, Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz shunned the impression that he was being kept in dark on vital national issues and shots were called by others. "The meeting took place on a very short notice through Turkey. I spoke to the Turkish prime minister and he immediately spoke to Israeli prime minister. The Turkish prime minister called me back to confirm the meeting. I decided to direct my foreign minister who happened to be in the region to be in Istanbul for this meeting. I called back to the Turkish prime minister to work out the basic modalities of the meeting. And in next few hours the Turkish prime minister informed the Israeli prime minister and the meeting took place," recalled the prime minister who looked absolutely relaxed in his white shalwar kameez [Pakistani dress] and blue blazer.

Least pushed by the protests by MMA [Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal] on Pakistan-Israel contacts, Shaukat Aziz claimed that all major political parties including that of ARD [Alliance for Restoration of Democracy] are supporting his government's initiative to engage Israel on the question of Palestinian issue.

He said while intense diplomacy was going on between Pakistan, Turkey and Israel, hour-to-hour developments were taking place on the same front with other Muslim countries of the region. "President Gen Pervez Musharraf and I had many telephonic contacts with top Muslim leaders over the issue of Palestine and Pakistan's possible role through engagement with Israel," he said adding that holding of meeting with [the] Israeli foreign minister was Pakistan's own decision which was of course taken by us in the light of the inputs I and President Musharraf received through our telephonic conversations" [no opening quotation mark as received].

Unveiling the origin of the idea of engaging Israel, Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz said that this was mooted first during the meeting between President Gen Pervez Musharraf and Palestinian President Mahmud Abbas in Islamabad when the Palestinian leader sought a role from Pakistan in the Middle East peace process. Mr Abbas was of the view that President Musharraf has emerged as a Muslim leader whose voice is not only heard in [the] ummah [Muslim community] but also in the West with great regard and seriousness. "Engagement always works", said the prime minister explaining the philosophy behind the first-ever official contact between Pakistan and Israel. "After a careful consideration we took the decision to engage Israel. We will understand their point of view and they will understand ummah's point of view through us," he said adding that Palestine is parallel to Kashmir.

He said many contacts were made in the past between Pakistan and Israel but they were all kept in secrecy. "We as a government follow transparency and hate to make secret contacts. We engaged Israel publicly," said the prime minister, ruling out any meeting or visit to or from Israel. He said [the] level of engagement between the two countries will remain to be the foreign minister level. "We will see if it helps to achieve the goals, we will go further but if no progress is made, we will look for other options." What he implied was that if Israel did not move sincerely over the question of complete withdrawal, Pakistan will abandon the policy of engagement with Israel.

To a question he said it is too premature to get into specifications as to what Pakistan will gain by normalizing relations with Israel. Pakistan's first objective is to secure a separate homeland for Palestinian people who have suffered a long [time]. Pakistan wants peace and security in the region and in the world. Long-term objective of normalization with Israel is peace and security.

Shaukat Aziz admitted that Pakistan from now on will have to work hard and closely with Palestinian [National] Authority to benefit from the policy of engagement with Israel. He said he has just spoken on phone with the Turkish and Lebanese leaders. "I thanked the Turkish prime minister for playing major role in this meeting and also drew his wisdom to deal with the issue in future."

Giving some details of the meeting between the two foreign ministers, Premier Shaukat said that two discussed general issues around the globe, regional issues like Palestine and Kashmir and peace and security. We told the Israeli foreign minister that Pakistan believes in peace and we want to see the Palestinian issue resolved.

Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz said that there is no change in Pakistan's position on Israel, but it wants to play a positive role for the resolution of the Palestinian dispute based on justice and equality. Pakistan is now in a position to play this role in view of its growing stature in the international community and in the ummah. He said Pakistan will not recognize Israel until the establishment of an independent Palestine state. He said Pakistan took leaders of the Islamic countries in the Middle East into confidence before the meeting. The channels of negotiations should be opened with other religions to promote intra-faith harmony.

He said Islam is a religion of peace and it has lived in peace and harmony with other faiths for centuries and can do so in the future as well. He said any decision to recognize Israel would be taken in the supreme national interest and after due consultations.

Pakistan's gesture is a demonstration that the Islamic world will respond positively if Israel is ready to accept the imperatives of peace by respecting the fundamental rights of the Palestinians to live in freedom and peace in their own homeland. He emphasized that Pakistan would like to see that the process started with the withdrawal from Gaza is continued in the West Bank also.

Referring to Iran-Pakistan-India gas pipeline project, the prime minister said it had many advantages and [would] provide energy security to the region besides improving linkages.

He said Pakistan is committed to complete the project even if India will not join it. He said Pakistan is also looking other options to get gas to meet the growing needs in the country.

The prime minister said economic growth in Pakistan has created job opportunities and increased the demand of fuel.

He said a large number of leading businessmen from Middle East are coming to Pakistan for investment taking advantage of the free and growing economy here.

Coming down to ARD and MMA threat to resign from assemblies and demand for fresh elections, Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz said dissent is the essence of democracy. He said I respect opposition's point of view but democracy is working well so is the parliament in the country. We have just gone through two very tedious phases of local bodies [LB] polls and gearing up for the third round. Pakistan is a functional democracy. The next general elections will be held in year 2007 and I hope opposition respects the democratic and parliamentary norms in this regard. He said he has been holding dialogue with opposition both publicly and in private on various national matters.

Prime minister also dismissed the reports about his accepting a job in World Bank as rubbish and baseless. "I am here to stay," he says. "I love it here as a proud Pakistani. God has given me an opportunity to serve my country. I am privileged to be the prime minister of largest Muslim country [as received]. I am fortunate to direct policies, which will give my people a better tomorrow. I have a great partnership with President Gen Pervez Musharraf. We both are working very well and we two are the anchors of peace and prosperity in this region," said the prime minister.

Asked if he was satisfied with the LB polls and how he intended to deal with intra-party fights over the slots of nazims [administrators], prime minister said, I draw lot of satisfaction from the fact that pro-reform and moderate forces have won the local bodies polls. This reflects the subtle shift in society from extremism to the enlightened moderation. People have voted for reforms, good governance and also for sense of hope. Those who oppose us must read the writing on the wall.

Responding to a question regarding differences within the party over the seats of nazims, prime minister said first of all LB polls are held on non-party basis, therefore, there should be no cribbing on this issue with party leadership. Nevertheless if there were any minor problems, they have been sorted out amicably by the party President Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain. "The party and the ruling alliance are intact and stronger than ever," said the prime minister.

To another question, he said conceding defeat is not in fashion in Pakistan. Whoever loses, accuses of rigging and who wins declares election as free and fair. There is no culture of accepting defeat gracefully.

To a question the prime minister once again made it very clear that CBMs [confidence-building measures] and progress on Kashmir will have to go in tandem. "While we believe that CBMs will help improve the relations, but India must not expect from us to put Kashmir aside," he said very firmly. He said there are three stakeholders in Kashmir, which include Pakistan, India and Kashmiris. All three must sit and discuss the issue. He said Indian prime minister's invitation for talks with APHC [All-Parties Hurriyat Conference] is a welcome step and hoped that this would lead to resolution of Kashmir issue.

To a question the prime minister said that Dr A.Q. Khan's issue is now a matter of past. Pakistan has cooperated fully with IAEA [International Atomic Energy Agency]. He said Pakistan is against proliferation and has put in place iron clad command and control systems. Referring to Iran-EU nuclear standoff, he said Pakistan is opposed to military options. We believe in dialogue and hope Iran's nuclear issue will be resolved.

Source: BBC Monitoring South Asia

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