By Mansoor Razaque
WASHINGTON: While Pakistani American Community is actively promoting Pakistan’s core interests in Washington D.C, it is sad to note that no Pakistani organization has any credible lobbying at the Capitol Hill; Democrat Congressman from New Jersey Rush D. Holt expressed these views while addressing the annual meeting of Pakistan American Congress (PAC). Mr Rush stated he was supportive of Pakistan’s role in war against terror, but the Osama Bin Laden episode caused strain in Pak-US bilateral relations and now the debate is underway in the Congress to condition US aid to the terror-ravaged county. He expressed hope that despite diplomatic coldness – both countries will manage to resolve misunderstandings since these relations are based on strategic interdependency. “Pakistani Community can play an active role in United States-Pakistan relations”, Mr Rush added.
Republican Congressman from Ohio, Steve Chabot while talking to The Capital Post Chief Editor, Mr Mansoor Razaque, said both countries are jointly fighting war against terrorism. He said countering the Do More demand affects the bilateral relations but realities should guide the decision-making process. Leading Congressional Democrat, Rep. Allyson Schwartz in her address underscored Pak-US relations; she said the US remains committed to helping Pakistan in rooting our terror and is fully appreciative of its sacrifices.
Dr Zulfiqar Kazmi also addressed on the occasion. Pakistan Embassy official Shujaat Rathore dispelled the widespread impression that Pakistan received 20 billion dollars in aid from the United States. He said Pakistan has sacrificed over 40,000 precious lives and incurred financial losses worth 70 billion dollars in the last one decade. “Despite these huge sacrifices, US media is always spreading anti-Pakistan propaganda. Things don’t seem to get better and anti-Americanism is on the rise”, Rathore expressed.
Three Congressmen attended Pakistan American Congress meeting. Congressman Steve Chabot’s speech was attended by only 20 participants while many journalists left the room during conference proceedings protesting over mismanagement.
PAC President Dr Khalid Luqman told The Capital Post that past mistakes and acts of mismanagement would not be tolerated during his tenure. He said robust and proactive approach would now be implemented at all levels to garner support for Pakistan at the Capitol Hill. “We will make our educated youth part of PAC’s future endeavors”, Luqman added.
Speaking on the occasion, PAC Vice President Mohsin Bashir hailed the revival of Pakistan American Congress. He expressed hopes that under new management, a new era of research and development at PAC would usher in which will further deepen United States-Pakistan relations.
If seen in a broader context of public diplomacy, Pakistani American Community seems united to project a soft image of their motherland in their individual capacities; however, their so-called representative organizations continue to be disarray. The executive bodies of these organizations mainly comprise of either less-educated or inexperienced spin-doctors who want to promote their own interests by hosting symbolic get-togethers and photo-shots.
Quite interestingly, friends of Pakistan Caucus in the US House of Representatives (both Democrats and Republicans) seem to question as to why these whole host of organizations don’t get united to project their country’s strategic core interests. On the contrary, Indian Community Organizations bear testimony to this fact.
Onus is on now on Pakistani think tanks and organizations to shun their divisions and get together to meaningfully lobbying the cause of Pakistan as true front-line ambassadors. The sooner they realize it, the better.
The writer is Chief Editor of The Capital Post
www.thecapitalpost.com
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