DOCUMENT No.24
 

Speech by Foreign Minister Khurshid M. Kasuri at a
 Seminar on Emerging Security Challenges and
 Opportunities, (October 14, 2004, Islamabad)
 

Maj. Gen. Jamshed Ayaz Khan, President of the Institute of Regional Studies,Dr. Gary Saymore, Head of the Delegation of the International Institute for Strategic Studies,
Distinguished guests,

Ladies Gentlemen,

I.     thank you for inviting me to this Seminar. I am delighted at the opportunity of meeting with such a distinguished group of scholars both from Pakistan and abroad.
2.     The theme you have chosen for the Seminar Emerging Security Challenges and Opportunities-- is both topical and critically important.

3.     We live in a turbulent and at a troubled moment in history. Reliance on military action and force defines solutions to global disputes. Foreign occupation persists. Suppression of peoples rights continues unabated. Power asymmetries are widening. Terrorism has spread. Economic recession threatens. Poverty is growing. Inequality is increasing.
4.     The current international configuration has immensely altered the traditional diplomatic functions and practices. The dispersal of authority away from states, the predominance of economics over politics, and the growing role of NGOs, social movements, and other transnational collectivities highlight the need for national governments to alter their modes of interaction with each other and with relevant actors in the multi-centric world.

5.     A host of new issues including globalization, human rights, democracy, terrorism and the environment have made their way to the center stage of international attention. International relations are being reconfigured to underline the primacy of these issues and new international norms are being rapidly evolved in these and other areas.
6.     We can either seize the moment, and define history or let the moment define our destiny. We must turn challenge into opportunity. We must reflect and act quickly and collectively for the sake of our future generations.

7.        Pakistan is firmly committed to the promotion of peace and security at the regional and global levels. In keeping with its international obligations and in conformity with the United Nations Charter, Pakistan has consistently worked for the development of inter-state relations on the basis of sovereign equality, mutual respect, non- interference and peaceful settlement of disputes. It remains Pakistans resolve to promote and enhance bilateral relations and mutually beneficial cooperation in various fields with all the countries of the world. Pakistan firmly believes in an international order that is based on justice, mutual trust and confidence.

8.     Unfortunately, Pakistans image is being tarnished by the extremist actions of a tiny minority that exists on the fringes of our society. The practices and professions of this extremist minority are in conflict with the true teachings of Islam. This minority interprets our progressive and forward-looking religion in a very narrow, rigid and static framework. Their acts of violence, perpetrated in the name of our noble Faith, are abhorrent and unacceptable. Such actions do not promote the just causes that these extremists claim to espouse. Their actions further equip our detractors to demonize Muslims and project Islam as a religion of violence. Those who pay for the acts of these extremists are the majority of Pakistanis who are moderate and tolerant, as prescribed by Islam. We must not allow them to hijack Islam, to preach religious and sectarian hatred with impunity, and to tarnish the image of Islam and Pakistan. We have taken up this challenge upon us to portray the real image of Islam and Pakistan to the world the image of true Islam and true Pakistan.

I.     Terrorism: A Challenge to Peace Security

Mr. Chairman,

9.     Few would deny that the attacks on New York and Washington on 11 September 2001 marked the beginning of a new era in international security, or perhaps we should say insecurity. As the UN Secretary-General put it in his Nobel lecture, we entered the new millennium through a gate of fire.

10.   The emerging global security imperatives have brought forward four particularly noticeable changes in the global security agenda:

1.        First, terrorism, and the possible use by terrorists of weapons of mass destruction, has come to dominate the agenda of the UN, the United States, and also the European Union as reflected in the European Security Agenda. Of course, terrorism has long been a serious threat, including for all developing countries -- not least Pakistan. But since 9/11, the heightened concern about terrorism among many of the worlds most powerful countries has changed the security landscape.

2.        Secondly, in dealing with new threats, international community finds little time, and meagre resources, to deal with other threats to peace and security including hunger, disease and under-development. Yet there are still conflicts fought with conventional weapons, often within rather than between States.

3.        Thirdly, there is still a range of other dangers -- such as global poverty, organized crime, poor governance and environmental degradation -- which cause suffering in the world, and which, to one extent or another, can contribute to the conditions which make war or terrorism -- or both -- more likely.

4.        And fourthly, given old and new challenges and threats, the normative global framework established with the United Nations Charter in 1945 is under strain -- especially the rules governing the use of force by States. I dont mean to imply that these rules were consistently followed by all States between 1945 and 2004. Obviously not. But seldom, if ever, have the basic principles of the Charter been so directly challenged.

II.    The Pakistan Response

11.   Pakistan has made a critical contribution to the successes in the global war against terrorism. To realize the vision of a modern, dynamic, economically vibrant, moderate Islamic state, Pakistan must fight terrorism resolutely. Our strong, forceful actions are yielding concrete results. The top leadership of Al-Qaeda has been disrupted. Over 600 operatives have been apprehended, to be brought to justice. Our forces continue to conduct operations to eliminate the remnants of Al-Qaeda and the Taliban. Border controls have been tightened. The madrassah and education reforms continue apace.
12.   But, we remain determined in the face of terrorist backlash. We recognize that fighting terrorism is going to be a long and complex campaign. But we are also taking this challenge as an opportunity to eradicate terrorism from our soil with commitment and resolve, mutual cooperation, and wisdom and understanding. Our counter-terrorism strategy has therefore both short and long-term focus.
13.   In the short term, strong law enforcement and police action would remain essential. Greater information and intelligence sharing would continue to be critical. Military operations must be conducted as required. To combat them effectively, we must recognize and adapt quickly to the changing nature of Al-Qaeda and other terrorists.
14.   In addition, Pakistan has made an important contribution to the struggle against terrorism through the political and technical assistance it has given to Afghanistan since the overthrow of the Taliban regime. We all recognize the importance of preventing Afghanistan from relapsing into chaos, which would allow it once again to become a haven for terrorists. This battle is by no means yet won. But Pakistan has played, and is playing, a major part in it. Along with international stakeholders, it is helping Afghans to move, through a complex constitutional process, towards a stable and representative form of government.

15.   In the long-term, terrorism cannot be defeated without addressing its underlying causes. These include regional conflicts and global social and economic problems. Action on both the political and economic fronts is necessary to avoid the growing danger of a clash between Islam and the West which is fanned by extremists on both sides. The smear that equates terrorism with Islam must be rejected firmly. We must not allow the spurious thesis of the clash of civilizations to become a self-fulfilling prophecy.

III.  Greater Engagement between Islam and the West

Ladies Gentlemen,

16.   Within the Islamic world, there is a growing sense of humiliation and frustration due to a series of unjust situations. In the Middle East, Palestine, is the root cause of alienation in much of the Arab and Islamic world; in South Asia, a resolution of Kashmir which is acceptable to Pakistan, India and the people of Kashmir cannot be delayed for too long; Iraq has compounded the perceptions of anti-Americanism in the Muslim world and of anti-Islamism in the West.

17.   We cannot allow a new iron curtain to descend between the Islamic world and the West. We need a well-conceived and cooperative strategy for this purpose. Unless there are visible efforts and concrete results, in resolving the situations where Muslims are being unjustly suppressed, the hearts and minds will be won by the extremists, not the moderates in the Islamic world. Unless poverty, dispossession, unemployment and ignorance are addressed, terrorists and extremists would continue to find foot soldiers for their sinister designs.

18.   The Muslim countries must initiate steps to address the social and political deficits they face. Their social and human development indicators are among the lowest in the world. In comparative terms, Muslims are amongst the poorest, most uneducated, least technologically advanced, and most powerless peoples. They also host rising proportions of unemployed and alienated youth, imbued with hopelessness. The need for a renaissance in the Muslim world is urgent.

19.   Pakistan has been working assiduously for a broader socio-economic transformation, and we have seen good progress. On the political side, elected National Assembly and Provincial Assemblies are functioning and are gaining in stability and maturity. On the economic side, the country is on the path of recovery with a strong structural reform agenda in place. We are focusing on poverty alleviation as a major priority. We have achieved stable currency, low inflation, improved levels of foreign exchange reserves, decline in the fiscal deficit and public debt, a vibrant stock market, steady growth, and increasing levels of foreign direct investment. On the social side, we are making efforts to delegitimize extremism and promote moderation through education reform and other means.

20.     Pakistans success in achieving socio-economic transformation will be crucial for success in the long-term struggle against extremism in the Islamic world. As part of these endeavours, Pakistan is promoting a two-pronged strategy of Enlightened Moderation engaging both the Muslim and non-Muslim worlds. The first part requires the Muslim world to shun militancy and extremism and adopt the path of socio-economic uplift. The second part is for the West, in particular the United States, to seek to resolve all political disputes with justice, and assist in the socio-economic uplift of the deprived Muslim world. This strategy of Enlightened Moderation was endorsed by the 10th OIC Summit in Kuala Lumpur. A Commission of Eminent Persons is being constituted to make recommendations to be considered by an Extraordinary Session of the OIC Summit Conference later this year.

21.   The efforts for revival and modernism in the Islamic world must be supported by the U.S., the West and other major powers. Such support, apart from just settlement of political disputes, must include more official development assistance especially in social sectors and employment generation, and larger and preferential trade access.
IV.  Addressing the Proliferation Challenge

Distinguished guests,

22.   Another area of growing convergence between the global community is containing the threat of WMD proliferation, especially by terrorists and other non-state actors. In fact, our aim in this area go beyond mere containment. The long-term objective is disarmament, to rid the world completely of all nuclear, chemical and biological weapons.
23.   On its part, Pakistan supported the adoption of Security Council resolution 1540 (2004). The international nuclear black market poses a tough challenge. Our collaborative efforts have resulted in the break-up of the A.Q. Khan network. This is an important achievement in the advancement of our shared non-proliferation goals. Pakistan has strengthened physical controls over its nuclear assets. We have adopted comprehensive laws and regulations to prevent the export or pilferage of sensitive WMD materials and technology.

24.   There is an obvious need to promote a new consensus on nuclear non-proliferation one that reconciles nuclear legality and nuclear reality. The commitment of the nuclear powers to nuclear disarmament should be expressed clearly, with a reasonable timeframe for the speedy reduction and eventual elimination of their nuclear weapons. The proposals to prevent the misuse of civilian nuclear activities should be discussed in universal forums and elaborated into equitable, practical and agreed arrangements strengthening national physical controls and export regimes as well as peaceful cooperation. Arrangements should also be worked out whereby those nuclear powers, which remain outside the NPT, can undertake the Treatys central obligation not to transfer nuclear weapons or sensitive technologies in exchange for access to civilian nuclear and technological cooperation.
25.   The potential contribution that we can make to global non-proliferation efforts is undeniable. But such contribution is inconceivable if we continue to be a victim of selective and discriminatory approaches. It is my conviction that Pakistan is partner of the international community in anti-proliferation endeavours.

26.   Of course, the need to deal with terrorism and weapons of mass destruction does not make any less important a range of more conventional threats -- threats which the developing world feels most acutely. In addressing these threats, Pakistan under the UN umbrella is heavily engaged in peace operations around the world. Pakistan now provides the bulk of UN peacekeepers deployed in Africa and other parts of the world, and is thus one of the few hold-outs against a trend towards the regionalization of peacekeeping. We have played critical roles in many difficult and dangerous UN missions -- and our ongoing commitment to peacekeeping is something the UN Secretary-General deeply values.

V.Cooperative Multilateralism: A Viable Opportunity

Ladies Gentlemen,

27.   Despite the complexity of security challenges new and old which the world community confronts today, it would be a grave historical error to opt for strategies of intervention and pre-emption to impose order. Recent experience has demonstrated that such strategies can be costly and counterproductive. Today, there is a welcome trend away from unilateralism and towards multilateralism. Yet, multilateralism should not be transformed into collective unilateralism, for example, by criteria designed to facilitate approval of the use of force. This will be used mostly against the weak not the powerful. Recent experience has affirmed that wisdom of restricting the legitimate use of force strictly within the ambit of Articles 42 and 51 of the UN Charter.
28.   What we should seek to replace unilateralism with is not the multipolarity of the powerful. We must aspire for genuine and democratic multilateralism. Such cooperative multilateralism, pursued mainly through the United Nations, and based on UN charter principles, remains the best paradigm for the future.

29.   Cooperative multilateralism must promote peaceful, just, and durable solutions to conflicts and disputes. It must address their root causes, especially poverty, political and economic injustices both within and among states. This can be realized only if the General Assembly is enabled to play its role as the supreme organ of the UN, to which the membership of the more restricted organs, the Security Council and ECOSOC, is answerable and accountable.

30.   UN reform should not come at the cost of UN principles. Institutional reforms in the UN system should promote greater democracy, efficiency, transparency and accountability. A comprehensive reform of the Security Council is required to enhance its representativeness, efficiency, transparency and accountability. The appointment of new permanent members will not enhance any of these objectives. It would create a new class of privileged Powers and increase political tensions in every region of world. It would aggravate the existing divisions within the United Nations. Expansion should thus be limited to new non-permanent members on the Council to enable the vast majority of the small and medium-sized states, which have joined the United Nations in the past three decades to be adequately represented on the Security Council.

VI.Conclusion
Dear participants,

31.   The United Nations is a forum where, in the millennium year, leaders from all over the world assembled and pledged, in the Millennium Declaration, to spare no effort to free our fellow men, women and children from the abject and dehumanizing conditions of extreme poverty, to which more than a billion of them are currently subjected. Nor did they content themselves with such a broad and general declaration of intent. Instead, they broke it down into a number of specific time-bound pledges, which have become known as the Millennium Development Goals. Unhappily, the commitment to follow through on these Goals has been uneven, resulting in a loss of momentum in the drive to attain them.

32.   In our globalized world, peace and development are ever more interdependent. Islands of peace and prosperity cannot coexist for long within oceans of instability and poverty. Despite dynamic growth in some parts of the developing world, economic and social disparities are increasing. The rich are richer; the poor poorer. Over two billion people on our planet a quarter of the worlds population live in abject poverty, afflicted by hunger, disease and conflict.
33.   The time has come to rise above our differences, build on our convergences, and create a bright image for our nations. We will give our people the dignity, fulfilment and development that they aspire for. And we will speak to other nations of the world with confidence and ask them to join us in our quest to ensure justice, to wipe out poverty, and spread tolerance. This is possible only with a changed mindset, a new outlook on the present challenges and our response, and greater vigour in our efforts within a restructured global environment that flourishes on love, mutual respect and interdependence.

I thank you all.
4 October 2004

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