Qureshi: U.S. violated Pakistan's sovereignty

“We are in a war against extremists,” Qureshi said of his country. “We are a victim of terrorism.”

Qureshi urged the United States to better assist Pakistan in the war against terrorism as it transitions from a totalitarian government under former president General Pervez Musharraf to a democracy under current president Asif Ali Zardari.

“Neither can win the war easily without the other,” Qureshi said.

In response to U.S.-led incursions into Pakistan in search of alleged terrorists linked to Al-Qaeda, Qureshi said that these strikes are a “violation of Pakistan’s sovereignty” and have increased tension between the two nations.

He encouraged the United States, which he referred to numerous times as a “friend,” to use its resources to aid Pakistan without crossing Pakistani borders.

He noted that terrorism is a “toxic brood” of Taliban and Al-Qaeda ideology and, more importantly, the lack of economic and political opportunities in Pakistan.

“A strong economy is the key to winning in the long term,” he said. “We must give youth an alternative to Al-Qaeda with schools and education and prospects of a better future.”

Most effective in achieving these aims, he said, has been Pakistan’s transition to democracy.

“Democracy is the only cure for the difficulties Pakistan faces,” Qureshi noted. “A democratic system is more responsive to the real needs of people.”

He explained that Pakistan is fighting terrorism by adopting an independent press and judiciary, adding that an ongoing media campaign informing Pakistani citizens of the mutual economic benefits of winning the war has succeeded.

He also criticized the United States’ anti-terrorism strategy in Pakistan, though, explaining that Pakistan has become a scapegoat and that Afghanistan-based forces “should focus on Afghanistan because the problems originated there.”

Despite these remarks, Qureshi said that “the blame game will serve neither of us.”

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In response to criticism that the Pakistani military has not fought terrorism effectively enough even with $10 billion in U.S. aid and may even have been responsible for the Taliban’s resurgence, Qureshi said, “I can’t speak for the last government.”

He added, however, that “we are willing to take on the Taliban.”

The audience’s response to the talk was largely positive

“I thought it was very informative,” Lucas Issacharoff ’10 said. “He may have been overly optimistic with respect to some of the problems that Pakistan faces, particularly the Taliban, but on the whole, it was surprisingly honest.”

Mohammad Javed ’11, who is from Pakistan, said that he “more or less share[s Qureshi’s] perspective.”

Javed added that Qureshi could have been more detailed “about Pakistan’s internal affairs — its relations with Afghanistan, India, its economy — the things that eventually affect us here in the United States.”

Qureshi, who was elected foreign minister in March, is a senior leader of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and president of PPP-Punjab, which represents the most populous Pakistani province.