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Irvine, California: As the drumbeat of US war efforts touches a new high every passing day, Pakistani expatriates in the United States anxiously follow Foreign Minister Khurshid Kasuri’s diplomatic initiatives aimed at ushering a new era in US-Pakistan ties.

Will he succeed in imparting “contents” and “meat” to the bilateral ties by initiating a “structural relationship” with Washington? What would be the specifics of this relationship to bring Islamabad and Washington closer? In which areas and at what level are collaborative undertakings under consideration? Could the roller-coaster nature of Pak-US ties with their periodic ups and downs turn into a lasting, enduring friendship? And, most importantly, could the structural relationship lessen the ordeal of “out-of-status” Pakistanis in the US whom Attorney General Ashcroft’s team is keen to pack up and speedily dispatch to Pakistan?

Mr. Kasuri furnished answers to these questions while talking to this scribe at his St. Regis Hotel suite in Los Angeles and later while addressing a select group of distinguished Americans and Pakistanis at the glittering residence of Mr. Safi Qureshey, a successful high-tech entrepreneur who also acts as honorary investment consular for Pakistan in Los Angeles on Saturday, January 25.

Flanked by Congressmen Dana Rohrabacher, Gary Miller and Edward Royce, the upbeat Mr. Kasuri surprised the distinguished dinner gathering with his plain talking and off-the-cuff, forthright observations. The mainstream assemblage of mayors of various cities, city and council representatives, leading academics, high-tech specialists, who outnumbered prominent Pakistani Americans at the dinner (thanks to the efforts of Mr. Mehboob Akhter), listened with rapt attention as the Foreign Minister dilated on the nature of Pakistan-US relations in the past 50 years. And it was his account of the recent past that evoked the greatest interest: “The United States glamorized jihad after 300 years. People came from all over the world - Bosnia, Chechnya, the Middle East - to Afghanistan to fight against the Soviet troops. The US supported them. It proved to be a successful effort which only the US could help achieve.” The US also had a role in the creation of the Taliban. “Pakistan could not bring the Taliban alone…. But the US could afford the luxury of distancing itself from the Taliban.” The resultant void created manifold problems, particularly for Pakistan, and subsequently led to a train of tragic events.

Mr. Kasuri forcefully argued that Pakistan and the United states should foster closer and lasting ties so that a Taliban-type situation does not recur. The two should cooperate in various areas and at different levels. And it was with this objective in mind that he was flying to Washington to meet Secretary Powell. “Let’s give some meat, some content” to make Pak-US ties meaningful and long-lasting.

On a lighter note, he remarked that Pakistanis felt like “jilted lovers” when Washington distanced itself from Islamabad and courted India. “The US’ most allied ally became the most sanctioned ally.” However, the fact that the “ups and downs relationship has survived the downs” testifies to the lasting nature of Pak-US ties.

Mr. Kasuri felt that Pak-US relations should not be motivated by considerations other than the interests of the two countries. The specter of communism no longer haunts the free world. The Soviet Union has disappeared. Secretary Powell shares this view.

What is more, Pakistan is destined to play a critical role in the next 50-100 years. It has a unique geo-strategic location and is “an important link in interaction with Central Asia, China, Gulf countries and South Asia. This region is likely to remain an area of great concern to major powers in the next 50-100 years not only because of its oil and gas reserves but also because of its vast trade potential.” Pakistan’s role will be important in the evolving situation. Hence, stronger Pak-US ties would work to the advantage of both Islamabad and Washington.

The Foreign Minister told the gathering that Pakistan had steadfastly supported the United States’ war on terrorism - even at a time when one million Indian troops were amassed on Pakistan borders, Islamabad had deployed 70,000 troops to patrol the border with Afghanistan - and it expected the US government to show due flexibility in dealing with immigration violations by Pakistanis in the US. Only Pakistanis involved in crimes or rowdyism should be deported. Should the US fail to do so and a large number of Pakistanis are deported, the Jamali government would face the backlash. It was expected that the US would be mindful of this fact in deciding the cases of Pakistanis who have committed minor violations. They should not be forced to leave the US.

During the course of his illuminating address, Mr. Kasuri also touched on a number of issues impacting Pakistan. About Kashmir he appeared firm in his conviction that the conflict which had lasted for over 50 years would not last for another 50 years. Growing global opposition to nuclearisation and missile development would force Pakistan and India to engage in a dialogue to find a solution to the problem in the next 10 years. Mr. Richard Haas has forcefully voiced his views in this regard and has urged India to enter into a dialogue over the issue of Kashmir. This trend is likely to pick up momentum in the coming years.

Mr. Kasuri condemned terrorism in no uncertain terms and said it scuttled any effort aimed at economic development. “Terrorism is the enemy of development, an enemy of the developing world.” He, however, said a clear distinction has to be made between liberation struggles, as in Kashmir, and wanton acts of terrorism that target precious non-combatant lives. State-sponsored terrorism, as committed in the Indian state of Gujarat that claimed 3,000 Muslim lives, also needs to be censured. Likewise, fundamentalism - whether Islamic, Hindu or Christian - needs to be condemned.

In his introductory remarks, Mr. Safi Qureshey informed the gathering that the “reality of Pakistan is different from what you see on CNN.” A proof of Pakistanis’ progressive outlook and forward march is provided by the performance of Pakistani Americans in the US who consistently excel in different fields and unfailingly nurture the creative impulse. They personify the strivings of the middle-class stratum of Pakistan and its quest for higher learning and professional excellence. He aptly made the remark: “Pakistan is not only a large market but a gateway to Central Asia.”

Mr. Qureshey’s contribution in the field of information technology and how it impacted the American scene was lauded by several speakers at the dinner, including Congressmen Rohrabacher and Royce They expressed gratitude to Pakistan for sending its talented “sons and daughters to us” for ushering a wholesome change in the US. “Safi is a good example of a Muslim. You have done an excellent job,” said the second speaker.

Another American invitee paid glowing tributes to the community of Pakistani Americans describing it as an “important part of the social fabric of the American society, a bridge between Pakistan and the US.” Pakistani Americans should help the US in launching an “ambitious program to give good education to Pakistanis in Pakistan.”

Past midnight the dinner came to an end. As they left, many Pakistani invitees wondered if Foreign Minister Kasuri’s meeting with Secretary Powell on January 29 would lead to a crystallization of his “structural relationship” with the United States. Is a new chapter in Pak-US relationship in the offing, one that would result in the much-needed economic spin-offs for the developing, South Asian partner? Only time would tell.