- The senator spoke on TTP, IMF deal, bankruptcy.
- They say that the United States should be very busy in stopping the terrorism of the Taliban.
- US supports Pakistanis, not political party or politician: Booker
Cory Booker, the ranking member of the United States Senate Foreign Relations Committee and a former Democratic presidential candidate, expressed his views on several issues facing Pakistan, including the recent terrorism issues.
While talking during a special interview with Geo NewsBakr talked about the forbidden Afghanistan. Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), Pakistan’s agreement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the threat of bankruptcy and the role of American Pakistanis in the US administration.
Here is the transcript.
Interviewer: Before we talk about Pakistan, let’s talk about US politics.
Question: When I go to your website I find a quote where you say ‘The American Dream is not real to anyone until it is within everyone’s reach.’ Lately, we’ve seen Pakistani Americans play an important role in the midterm elections and your election as well. But we don’t see much of them in the Biden administration. Why? Is this dream not within the reach of Pakistani Americans?
A: First, you have to understand what I believe to be one of the strongest, most influential and critical communities for America is the Pakistani community. You cannot live in New Jersey without seeing the import and impact that Pakistani Americans are making in the medical sciences, business world, business and many professions. Moreover, culture, faith and food are now a huge part of my state. I am glad that Pakistani Americans are also starting to rise to elected positions in New Jersey. One of the reasons I am here today is because this wonderful organization, the American Pakistani Public Affairs Committee (APPAC), has been my partner in efforts to reflect and influence Pakistanis to change or accelerate what we see. There are their import and effects on it. In our government
APPAC came to me and said we’ve never had a Muslim Article 3 judge in American history, and it was amazing to me that we’ve never had a Muslim judge in our history, so we’ve done a lot together. Worked to find qualified individuals. Candidates will recommend to President Biden. Now, today the first Muslim American judge…
Question: I understand that you made history by recommending Zahid Qureshi as the first Muslim Pakistani-American judge. But are you satisfied with the level of proportional representation of Pakistani Americans in the Biden administration since there are approximately one million Pakistani Americans living across the United States?
A: I wouldn’t put it down to one administration. I’m not satisfied because we’re not seeing the kind of proportional representation across America that we should be seeing at the highest levels of government. Let me give you an example. I am only the fourth black person in the history of the United States to be elected to the US Senate. We did not see proportional representation. Yes, Asian Americans, Muslim Americans, Latin Americans, and women too. We know that. Look at Pakistan, look at many countries where women have achieved high status. We have a woman vice president for the first time but we have never had a woman president. So it is this idea of proportional representation for the Pakistani community as well as many other communities that we all need to work towards. Why? Not for window dressing, not for bragging rights. We know from research from Harvard University and others that diverse organizations are stronger organizations. America is strong because of diversity. Our American government will be stronger if it has proportional representatives of the diversity of people.
Interviewer: Let’s talk about Pakistan and of course Afghanistan.
Question: We have seen that during the Trump administration, Pakistan helped the US secure the Doha peace accord with the Taliban. Now, America is out and safe. But recently Pakistan has been facing terrorism from TTP. Do you see any room for the Biden administration to pressure the Afghan Taliban to deal with the TTP?
A: Terrorists act in such a way that they are not a threat to a single country, they are threatening the global system. As terrorists become stronger in one place, they become more of a threat to others. This is not an act of charity. America should be very busy to stop Taliban terrorism. And therefore Pakistan should be a key ally in this effort. I love that Pakistani Americans come to me and say that you have to find a way to strengthen Pakistan-US relations, not for Pakistan’s benefit, but for America’s benefit and security. And that’s what I’m very interested in doing.
Question: If Pakistan takes action against TTP, Pakistan’s economy will not be so strong. And bending over backwards to meet. The IMF The demands and still, the agreement is yet to be signed. Do you think the Biden administration has room to put pressure on the IMF or encourage the IMF to soften the deal or give Pakistan some leverage to avoid something like bankruptcy for Sri Lanka?
A: Yeah, I mean look, that’s the reality of the region. You have the Chinese there and you have an obvious problem with Russia. Pakistan is in a fragile neighborhood and we have to find ways to build deeper ties and deeper friendships. If not, then it may go for partnerships with nations that do not share the same democratic principles or ideals. That is why I have been a voice for strong aid to Pakistan, especially to get out of the climate disaster, and not on their own.
Question: Our former prime minister Imran Khan He blamed the US for overthrowing his government and installing the current coalition government. Do you buy the argument that the US played a role in bringing down the Imran Khan-led government or is it propaganda politics?
A: My approach is simple. The people of Pakistan deserve a vibrant and fair democracy. It should always be the American position to support the people of Pakistan and not any party or politician. Democracy has a strong and deep commitment in this incredible country. We must support them in this journey. America has now had hundreds of years to develop and deepen our democratic principles and ideals. It was in my grandmother’s generation that women could not vote. It was in my parents’ generation that blacks were barred from voting. We continue to seek ways to deepen and broaden our democracy. We must support Pakistan in this journey and focus on the incredible people of this country. And that as an American leader, as the leader of the Foreign Relations Committee and as a United States Senator, that’s what I’ll focus on.