ISLAMABAD: The North Atlantic Treaty Organisation has signalled that it aspired to playing a role for bringing about peace in South Asia and its periphery even after its combat mission in Afghanistan. Pakistan would be a key partner in the new role.

“We would also stay committed beyond the date our combat mission (in Afghanistan) ends because it is utmost important that we make our contribution to the regional peace and security,” Nato Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen said at a joint press conference with Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi after their talks here on Wednesday.

Mr Rasmussen, who was on his first visit to Pakistan, however, did not explain how Nato intended to ensure peace and security in the region.

Although Nato has since long been talking of staying committed to Afghanistan after the withdrawal of Western troops, it was probably the first time that the secretary-general spoke of a role for the entire region and not just of a partnership with post-conflict Afghanistan.

His words come alive with significance if read with “Nato 2020” — a policy paper outlining the alliance’s ambition of a global role. The strategy is to be unveiled in November.

The Nato’s top official said the alliance viewed Pakistan as a long-term partner as it is an important country in the region.

During his talks at the Foreign Office, Mr Rasmussen proposed a framework agreement between Pakistan and Nato through a joint political declaration which could boost their bilateral political consultations and military cooperation.

Foreign Minister Qureshi said Pakistan had responded positively to the suggestion. He said it was important that the relationship “does not remain confined to the needs in Afghanistan, but goes beyond Afghanistan”.

Ever since Nato started contemplating a makeover from a Western alliance to a global player, Pakistan has always figured prominently in its calculus for this region.

It is in this context that ‘Nato 2020’ proposes Pakistan as one of the ‘partners across the globe’. Other partners in the category include Afghanistan, Australia, New Zealand and South Korea, all of whom are playing a crucial role in the International Security Assistance Force’s (ISAF) campaign against Taliban.

Nato believes countries in Central and South Asia have a major stake in stability in their region.

Nato is already helping Pakistan through its capacity-building programmes for army personnel, civilians, police and counter-terrorism officials.

An agreement for sharing secret information is also under consideration. A Nato official told Dawn there was a consensus that the alliance must get ready to respond to global threats.

“We have ended the in-area/out-area debate for Nato operations. Although we continue to be a transatlantic organisation, Article 5 on collective defence has global implications,” he added.

Pakistan’s agreement to play ball with Nato vis-a-vis its long-term presence in the region could ruffle feathers in its neighbourhood, affecting Islamabad’s regional ties. Beijing is opposed to a long-term western military presence in China’s environs. Iran could be another country to have serious reservations.

At his meeting with Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani, too, Secretary-General Rasmussen talked on similar lines, saying: “Nato would like to have a long-term and robust cooperation going beyond resolution of the Afghanistan crisis”.

AFGHANISTAN
The secretary-general, at the press conference, looked unsure about the success of the Afghan reconciliation process in which Pakistan expects to play a major role.

“I don’t know whether reconciliation would be a success, but I think we should give it a try if the (warring) groups engage positively, support their government, abide by the Afghan constitution and put down arms.”

He also endorsed a role for Pakistan in the process, but insisted it must be Afghan-led.Mr Rasmussen advocated a condition-based transition in Afghanistan and cautioned against premature withdrawal.

“So the transition will not be driven by the calendar, it will be driven by conditions.”

He further said: “If we were to leave Afghanistan before we have finished our job then the Taliban will just return to Afghanistan and create again a safe haven for international terrorism. Afghanistan could once again serve as a launch pad for terrorist attacks.”

At a conference in Kabul on Tuesday, President Hamid Karzai had announced that his government would be able to take over security completely by 2014. But US President Barack Obama had previously spoken about start of US withdrawal by July next year and now British Prime Minister David Cameron has indicated that UK troops could start returning early next year.

Courtesy by dawn.com