NANNING: Chairman PPP Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has said that use of
force alone would not defeat extremism unless it go together with the
political engagement and economic development.
This he said
while addressing the International Conference of Asian Political
Parties (ICAPP) in the Chinese city ,Nanning , which was also
participated by some of Asia’s leading political leaders.
He
said that his mother Benazir Bhutto gave four “D” formula for bringing
peace in her last public address and that is dialogue, deterrence,
development and democracy is the only roadmap to peace . Responding to
the criticism by some of Pakistan’s role in the war against militancy,
the PPP Chairman said that no other country understood this war better
than Pakistan and no other country had paid such a heavy price as
Pakistan.
“My country lies wounded as a victim of terror. We
don’t lack the will. We lack the means. We are neither complicit nor
are incompetent. We lack capacity to face the world’s enemies on our
own. At a time of global recession and natural disasters, when Pakistan
requires sympathy, support and assistance from the west we are met with
suspicions, accusations and deionization”, Bilawal added.
He
said that ultimately, it would require the collective will and joint
action of all the peace-loving countries of the world to banish these
dark forces permanently from our midst. The PPP Chairman also called
upon the Asian countries to set up an Asian Monetary Fund, strengthen
economic cooperation and take steps to guard against future financial
crises like the 1997 Asian Financial Crisis.
The PPP Chairman
was of the view that while Asia can be proud of the rapid pace of its
economic development, it must ensure that the fruits of this growth are
shared out equally among its people. As leaders of political parties in
our respective countries, it is our responsibility to ensure that our
people remain invested in the political process.
Describing the
transformation of Asia’s role at the global level as ‘nothing short of
miraculous’ he said that the 21st century has rightly been described as
the “Asian Century” adding also, “we may be witnessing the birth of a
new world order,”.
Bilawal Bhutto Zardari also spoke of the
devastation caused by floods in Pakistan and recalled the resilience of
the Pakistani nation to address challenges. "Sindh and Baluchistan has
yet again been inundated by heavy rains and flooding. Millions have
been displaced once again and that placed an enormous burden on our
people. However, we are a resilient nation and we will fully recover."
The
PPP Chairman also took note of the tendency among some to demonize
emerging Asian economic superpowers like China and called it ‘the fear
factor’.It is worrying that some unable to address their own internal
structural economic flaws instead choose to demonize emerging Asian
economic superpowers. Instead of appreciating the financial support
provided by China, they spread malicious propaganda designed to provoke
fear of the other and distract from their own failings.
He said
that the dangerous short sightedness could lead to paranoid
overreactions with catastrophic consequences”, he said sounding a note
of caution against a return to a world divided by competing spheres of
influence, cold and hot wars and cyber and economic wars. Online
