Pakistan Says PM Sharif Will Seek Trade, Not Aid From U.S.

Islamabad, Oct 22, IRNA – Pakistani officials say Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif will discuss trade rather than asking for aid during his three-day official visit to the United States. Advisor to Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz told the media prior to Sharif visit that both sides will discuss energy, trade and investment and market access. Pakistan is seeking civilian nuclear technology from the U.S. like it had given to India however Washington has not given positive response to the request. Americans have also promised Pakistan with help in the energy section but no practical step has yet been taken despite the country’s worst energy shortage. Majority in Pakistan are skeptical about the U.S. approach towards the country and analysts in TV debates said they do not expect much from Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s visit. It is widely believed that Pakistan has suffered by cultivating its friendship with America and the US has played a big role in promoting dictatorship in Pakistan. Senator Shahi Syed of Awami National Party says that hypocrisy had been at the helm of affairs in the US-Pakistan relations. “Because of this hypocrisy aid was coming forth but that benefited few persons and the people and the country at large got nothing,” he said at a TV debate. Abdul Ghafoor Haideri of Jamiat ulema Islam party said relations with US are like master and slave. “We had always sacrificed our interest for USA. Pakistan had been a great loser because of its ties with USA. We have to review our policies in the national interest,” he told Geo television. Farid Pracha of Jamaat-e-Isalmi said there were no relations between the US and Pakistan but it was slavery. “We got nothing from the US.” TV anchor Hamid Mir said after Pakistan came into existence, within a short time the country fell into the lap of US. “After that every dictator who grabbed power provided military bases to US one after the other.” Arif Alvi of Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf party said Pakistan has failed to guard its interests but the Americans served their own interests. Analysts say that the U.S. urge Pakistan to do more during the Prime Minister’s meeting with President Obama and for this purpose it has announced some aid for the country. Pakistan will call for the restoration of the Strategic Dialogue which was put on hold because of some events in 2011 including the US air strike and killed 26 soldiers and the US unilateral military operation to kill Osama bin Laden in the city of Abbotabad. The issue is unresolved despite Islamabad’s repeated calls for end to the CIA-controlled drone campaign as Washington considers it as an effective tool to eliminate al-Qaeda operatives and the Taliban elements./end