CAPP Events: 2003

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RAND Welcomes President of Pakistan

On June 28, RAND hosted a visit by the President of Pakistan, General Pervez Musharraf, and his delegation to RAND's Santa Monica headquarters.

The Pakistani delegation included Sharifuddin Pirzada, Honorary Senior Advisor to the President on Foreign Affairs, Law, Justice and Human Rights, Minister for Finance and Economic Affairs Shaukat Aziz, Dr. Naseem Ashraf, Chairman for the National Commission for Human Development, Pakistan's Foreign Secretary Riaz H. Khokhar, Pakistan's Ambassador to the United States Ashraf Jehangir Qazi, and Raana Rahim, Consul General of Pakistan, Los Angeles.

RAND President and CEO Jim Thomson welcomed the group, and President Musharraf made introductory remarks about Pakistan's role at the "strategic center" of current world affairs. President Musharraf argued that with recent events, including the renewed battle against terrorism, the world's strategic focus had shifted eastward. RAND analyst Brian Jenkins then offered an update on current U.S. efforts regarding terrorism. The delegation and RAND analysts engaged in a lively discussion on Pakistan's role in the war on terrorism, as well as the root causes of terrorism and how to best address it. President Musharaff also discussed a possible expanded role for the Organization of Islamic Countries (OIC) and how the OIC might broaden its contribution to fostering regional stability. The group discussed the actions of the United States in the region related to the war on terrorism, agreeing that the U.S. cannot function effectively without assistance and that the war on terrorism requires a unified response. The group also discussed India-Pakistan relations, the problems of internal security in Pakistan, and President Musharraf's vision for growing Pakistan's economy.

Other RAND analysts who participated included Natalie Crawford, C. Christine Fair, Jerrold Green, Nina Hachigian, Rollie Lal, C. Richard Neu, and William Overholt.