WASHINGTON: Chairman Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Bilawal Bhutto Zardari on Monday warned the Trump administration against including his country in the list of travel ban nations, saying such a move will create a “host of hostilities” between the two countries.
Bilawal’s remarks came as the White House is seeking to expand the list of seven Muslim-majority countries whose citizens have been barred from entering the US.
“As far as the ban is concerned, I believe it only has detrimental effects on the countries it has included and if that is extended to Pakistan it will create a whole host of hostilities,” Bilawal told a Washington audience while speaking at the United States Institute of Peace (USIP) on Monday.
He was responding to a question on whether Pakistan can be included in a list of seven nations as per an executive order signed by US President Donald Trump last week.
Bilawal said including Pakistan in such a list “would also be a very negative indicator that the United States is turning away from those very ideals that it stood for”, adding that, “I hope that this is not the new normal.”
Bilawal said there was a lot of uncertainty and externally about what the future policies are going to be and he would like to hold on to the wait and see approach.
The Pakistani leader said the alleged Muslim ban “seems to be extremely controversial decision” of the current administration.
“For my generation as a progressive Muslim in the world it is really discouraging to see countries responding to the fear of the other in such a way. We have learned through history that this is not the way to deal with such issues,” he said.
“I know by interaction, by finding common ground, studying in other peoples universities, learning about a shared culture, history we find the common ground. A few criminals should not be allowed to spoil the situation for everyone,” he said.
“It is very discouraging for those out there in the Muslim world fighting radical extremism because people put their lives on the line on a daily basis to do so, to fight for what they believe in, not Americans ideals or freedom,” he said.
To questions, he said that there is no visible success in Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s internal and foreign policy.
Bilawal Bhutto said that there will be no peace and prosperity in the region, unless Kashmir issue is addressed. He said that Pakistan and India could go to a nuclear war if Kashmir dispute is not resolved.
Bilawal urged for a quick and just resolution of the Kashmir dispute. He said South Asia should be a hub of energy and economic strength but instead, the disputed territory of Kashmir stands as a bone of contention between the two nuclear powers of the region – India and Pakistan. He urged the participants to consider Pakistan a part of solution to the problem and not the problem itself.
Regarding water dispute between the two countries, Bilawal expressed hope that the Indian government would not use water as a weapon against Pakistan.
Pakistan, he acknowledged, has a lot to answer for when it comes to treating minorities in Pakistan and added that PPP will do legislation for minorities after coming into power.
