Eminent scholars and academicians from Pakistan, the Russian federation, the People’s Republic of China, the United Kingdom and the Central Asian Republics gathered in the Area Study Center for Russia, China and Central Asia, University of Peshawar (Pakistan) on 8-9 November, 2000, to express their views at a two day international seminar on “Confidence Building Measures Between Pakistan, Russia, and Central Asia.” 

The vice chancellor of the University of  Peshawar Prof. Dr Qasim Jan inaugurated the seminar by emphasizing the importance of close economic ties between Pakistan, Central Asia, and Russia. He emphasized the need for a new start to revive the past ties between South Asia and Central Asia with the active collaboration of the Russian Federation.

Prof. Dr Azmat Hayat Khan, Director of the Area Study Center for Russia, China and Central Asia, in the welcome address, said that the main theme behind the gathering was the end of geopolitics – the name of the game is now geo-economics. Economic success of the nation requires a high level of involvement in the global economy. Russia, he noted, will continue to remain the most influential power as regards the countries of the region 

Dr. Azmat was of the opinion that Pakistani-Soviet relations were hampered by the Cold War environment. Due to its close historical culture and religious affinities with the ‘Cultural Asia’ region, Pakistan has given special importance to the development of relations with the states of region. Today the situation demands an early solution of problems relating to political instability, religious extremism, drug trafficking etc. Pakistan is sincerely interested in finding a rapid solution to these problems. Only within the agreed framework of confidence building measures would the neighboring countries be able to arrive at an understanding to accommodate each others’ legitimate interests in the region. Dr. Azmat stressed the importance of the seminar in this regard. 

Mr. James Sher of the conflict studies research center of U.K, noted in a keynote address that the Soviet collapse destroyed the clarity in Russia about its identity. Putin’s Russia is making a difference. Central Asian independence is irreversible but Russia seeks to define what this independence means. Russian relations with Pakistan are limited due to the Taliban phenomenon and its relations with India. 

The Russian Ambassador’s message was read out by the political counselor in the Russian embassy. He said that Russia has never attached as much importance to Pakistan as presently, but that the relations between the two countries have passed through several ups and downs. This seminar, the ambassador added, represents a contribution to mutual understanding between the people of the two countries.

Mr. Akbarzeb, Director General for Europe of the Pakistan foreign service said that Pakistan considers Russia a great power, which has a role in Central Asia. He also added that Russia can play an important role in the resolution in the Kashmir issue. Regular interaction is necessary between Pakistan & Russia, progress would be slow but discussion is needed. 

Sapar Berdiniyazov, Ambassador of Turkmenistan, spoke on Neutral Turkmenistan within the framework of regional cooperation. He said  that since its independence in 1991, Turkmenistan has been enjoying dynamically developed bilateral relations with Pakistan. The President of Turkmenistan, Saparmurad Niyazov during his second visit to Pakistan in March 1995 announced the doctrine of permanent, neutrality of Turkmenistan. The Ambassador discussed in detail the cooperation between the two countries. Turkmenistan considers that a closer relationship with Pakistan and Afghanistan must be transformed into a coherent framework of economic cooperation with the specific aim of opening the long awaited commerce corridor from landlocked Central Asia to the world.

Prof.Dr. Belokrenitsky of the Russian academy of sciences, discussed the problems in Russian-Pakistan relations. He noted the need for confidence building measures, identifying the Afghan quagmire, India and Kashmir issue, and economic subsistence as the three major factors which require the attention of the governments and scholars for confidence building measures. There was a great deal of optimism in Russia that Pakistan could play a very helpful role in the matter of Taliban and Afghanistan. He said if Pakistan and Russia came closer, the Russian Federation might play a very positive role in resolving the Kashmir problem. He was of the opinion that now while the geo-strategic realities had been changed, both countries could once again make progress in terms of economic cooperation. Russia could extend maximum cooperation to Pakistan in IT and energy sector.

Prof. Dr. Mohammad Anwar Khan, former vice chancellor of Peshawar university, noted that relations of friendship and enmity are products of the history and geography of a nation. Pakistan has deep historic and cultural links with Central Asia. The end of Cold War left some frightful legacies in the region. Afghanistan fell victim to civil war, pushing the society to means and actions disallowed in civilized societies. Pakistan served a frontline state in containing the Soviet march southward. This brought mercenaries, refugees, humanitarian aid workers, journalists, international spy networks, saboteurs, arms and drug smugglers, establishing one of the most powerful narcotics, weapons and ideological warfare centers on Pakistani soil. Both superpowers pumped in their men and machines, to influence the course of war in Afghanistan. Religious extremists from all parts of the world were grouped together on Pakistani territory to thwart the ideological hegemony of communism. He added that Pakistan must ensure its Central Asian neighbors that it harbors no ill will against them, carries no territorial or political ambitions whatsoever in that direction. Pakistan should also identify its areas of friction with Russia, as there is no inevitable reason for future antagonism. Russia could use its role in Asia to ease tension between India and Pakistan on the thorny question of Kashmir and thus take a lead as peace broker of the region. 

Gao Rongzhee from the faculty of social sciences of the Sinkiang university gave a general analysis on China’s Sinkiang issue. He noted China’s concern that continued civil war in Afghanistan exported religious extremism in various directions including Sinkiang, associated with drug trafficking. He further made it clear that the government of the PRC has been following a policy of openness in Sinkiang province and that investors from 58 countries invested their capital in this economically vital zone of China. 

Dr. Andreas Rieck of the Orient Institute in Hamburg discussed Russian policy towards Afghanistan since 1992. He tried to answer the question, whether Russia was defending a lost cause? He stated that contrary to the 1980’s we find Russia today in basic agreement with most states having interests in Central Asia. Dr. Rieck concluded that it would be premature to say that Russia is defending a lost cause in Afghanistan, although the military position of its allies has become steadily weakened during the last five years.

Dr. Vladimir Boyko from Russia addressed the same issue, and said that in this point in time Russian policy towards the Central Asian region was overwhelmingly economically oriented in nature. He said that the Taliban factor in Afghanistan was more social than religious in its make-up. He said that the opinion of newspapers and periodicals in Russia varies from supporting to opposing the Taliban. He stressed the need of reviewing the situation and setting the approach in proper direction. 

Dr. Azmat in a paper on ‘pipeline diplomacy: costs and benefits’ said the global politics of energy divert oil and gas from one region to another. He said that the 20th century was dominated by oil but that gas would dominate the 21st. He noted the importance of pipeline routes of Central Asian gas, and that it will make economic sense for both India and Pakistan to expedite arrangements for the gas pipelines from Turkmenistan, Iran and Qatar. India can not ignore the fact that Pakistan is an important energy transportation corridor and Pakistan should use this strategic asset to open up the Indian market for all these countries and benefit itself by reaping transit fees and cheaper gas prices for its own consumers. The price at which the Turkmen gas would be available to Pakistan at Multan was far cheaper than the gas being produced in the country. Pakistan has offered its port Gwadar to Turkmenistan to export gas to the rest of South Asia, and to Uzbekistan to export oil. Pakistan’s total gross benefit would come to around $6 billion which would give a tremendous boost to its economy and once Pakistan becomes economically stable it will play a big role in the stability and progress of the region.

Mr. Bairam Klychmomedov, from the foreign ministry of Turkmenistan  presented his paper on the neutrality of Turkmenistan as a factor of stability in Central Asia. He said that permanent neutrality remains a cornerstone principle and essence of Turkmenistan’s foreign policy. Turkmenistan continues to favor a multi-optional approach on the development of the international energy pipeline infrastructure. This infrastructure would create conditions for a sustainable development of exporter states, transit states and importer-states. He further stated that Turkmenistan was convinced that a universal and comprehensive progress of mankind should not be defined by the dictate of one model. But through diversity and cohesion of ideas and philosophies, the development of relations with neighboring states is a priority for Turkmenistan. In foreign economic strategy, a policy of ‘open doors’ will be continued. Historically being at the crossroads from east to west and from north to south, the Turkmen nation acquired elements of the oriental and occidental cultures. A tolerant attitude towards different cultures, philosophies, religions and ideologies became an intrinsic part of its national character. On the issue of the Caspian sea, he said that it should become the Sea of Accord and its resources should become the assets of all the littoral states with each state being entitled to an appropriate share of the sea.

Dr. Baber Shah of the Institute of Strategic Studies in Islamabad evaluated Afghanistan under the Taliban. He was of the opinion that for the first time in the past two-decades, peace and a massive de-weaponization had been achieved by the Taliban. Dr. Sarfraz khan, from Peshawar university spoke on stereotypes and idiosyncrasies affecting Pakistan-Russia relations. He said that time had come for both countries to establish bilateral relations on concrete footings. Prof. Abdullah Jan Khalil discussed the national character of the Afghan nation and the origin and evolution of the Taliban movement in Afghanistan. Finally, the seminar was concluded by  Prof. Dr. Qasim Jan, Vice Chancellor of Peshawar university.

Dr. Zahid Anwar, Center for Russian and Central Asian Area Studies, University of Peshawar, Pakistan.