Pakistan Conflict Monitor

EU, NATO Seek Better Ties with Pakistan

EU Promises Pakistan Cooperation, but Free Trade to Wait, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 4 June 2010

EXCERPT: "Pakistan and the European Union have promised to step up cooperation in areas ranging from security to energy during a summit in Brussels. But Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani failed to make noticeable headway on Pakistan's chief aim - securing free trade with the bloc. [...] 'Developments in Pakistan have a direct influence on Europe and in the whole world. Therefore it is in our own interest to be constructively engaged with Pakistan,' noted the summit's host, Herman Van Rompuy, the president of the Council of the European Union. Van Rompuy also observed that the EU is home to roughly a million people of Pakistani origin. [...] The EU today also said it would contribute 69 million euros ($83 million) to the Malakand Fund for the rehabilitation of conflict areas. [...] Although the EU and Pakistan also discussed security cooperation, the bloc's contribution remains limited to civilian matters - training law enforcement officials, assisting in criminal justice reforms, and contributing to 'counter-radicalization' measures. [...] Also in Brussels, at NATO headquarters, NATO Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen assured the Pakistani leader there would be no precipitate withdrawal from Afghanistan. 'I have stressed to the prime minister, and through him to the Pakistani people, NATO will stay in Afghanistan as long as it takes to finish our job, there should be no misunderstanding about that,' Rasmussen said."

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Related articles:
NATO leader says alliance stands ready to assist Pakistan, ChinaView, 4 June 2010
NATO, Pakistan seek to boost non-military ties, AFP, 4 June 2010
Sarkozy queried over Pakistan arms cash, BBC News, 4 June 2010
Spain, Pakistan pledge to fight against terrorism, AFP, 2 June 2010

Related posts:
Mobilizing NATO for Afghanistan and Pakistan, 23 February 2010
NATO, Pakistan pursue closer relations, 4 February 2010
NATO Afghan convoy attacked in Karachi, 28 January 2010
European Union aid to Pakistan: Steadily on the rise, 15 December 2009
EU plans to strengthen action in Afghanistan and Pakistan, 27 October 2009
Prioritize Pakistan: NATO Parliamentary Assembly, 27 November 2009

Pakistan Blasphemy Laws Used to Justify "Murder": EU Parliament

Pakistan Blasphemy Laws Used to Justify "Murder": EU Parliament, AFP, 20 May 2010

EXCERPT: "The EU parliament on Thursday called on Pakistan to guarantee minority rights, claiming that its blasphemy laws could be used to murder members of political, racial and religious minorities. In a resolution adopted in Strasbourg, the assembled Euro MPs expressed 'deep concern' at the Pakistani blasphemy laws, calling for a 'thoroughgoing review' of the legislation which is 'open to misuse.' The laws can carry the death sentence and are 'often used to justify censorship, criminalisation, persecution and, in certain cases, the murder of members of political, racial and religious minorities,' the parliament said in a strongly-worded statement. The texts in question 'are misused by extremist groups and those wishing to settle personal scores,' the EU deputies said. They had also 'led to an increase of violence against members of religious minorities, particularly Ahmadis, but also Christians, Hindus, Sikhs, Shiites, Buddhists, Parsis, Bahais and critical citizens who dare to raise their voice against injustice,' they added."

Read the full story.

Related articles:
Blasphemy laws: European Parliament asked to be consistent about blasphemy, Reporters Without Borders, 21 May 2010
EU Parliament slams Pakistan blasphemy laws that condone "murder" of minorities, OneIndia, 21 May 2010

Related documents:
European Parliament resolution of 20 May 2010 on religious freedom in Pakistan, European Parliament, 20 May 2010

Related posts:
Govt to alter blasphemy law, 25 February 2010
Religion, politics and governance in Pakistan, 23 February 2010
Human rights situation deteriorating: Report, 10 December 2009
2009 Department of State report on religious freedoms in Pakistan, 16 November 2009

Transatlantic Policy on Afghanistan and Pakistan

Transatlantic Policy on Afghanistan and Pakistan [pdf], FRIDE, February 2010

EXCERPT: "In contrast to the enhanced coordination on Afghanistan, the United States and Europe have yet to develop a viable strategy for Pakistan. A fairly strong consensus exists on the nature of the challenges in Pakistan and general prescriptions for dealing with those challenges. There is broad recognition that the threat perceptions of the Pakistani security establishment – particularly its overriding concerns about India – negatively impact broader regional security and have a spillover effect in Afghanistan. In addition, there are few debates about the massive institutional and economic development issues in Pakistan. The US and Europe have outlined general strategies for boosting the civilian government in Pakistan and supporting democratic reform: the challenge is coordinating military assistance to Pakistan, conducting diplomacy with Pakistan and the region and implementing economic and institutional development programs with a meaningful impact."

Read the full policy brief [pdf].

Related articles:
Pakistan receives $349.3 million from US, Reuters, 24 February 2010
Pakistan-EU summit faces protocol hurdle, DAWN, 18 February 2010
Pakistan envoys’ conference kicks off in Brussels, GEO TV, 16 February 2010
US reassures EU over transatlantic ties, AFP, 6 February 2010

Related reports:
Summary of EC-Pakistan Cooperation [pdf], European Commission Delegation to Pakistan, October 2009
A new transatlantic partnership with Pakistan [pdf], The George Marshall Fund of the United States, 29 June 2009. Notes from the "A new transatlantic partnership with Pakistan" conference.

Related posts:
Mobilizing NATO for Afghanistan and Pakistan, 23 February 2010
Pledged aid needed to build anti-Taliban support: Gilani, 5 January 2010
European Union aid steadily on the rise, 15 December 2009
Obama signs US aid to Pakistan, 15 December 2009
EU plans to strengthen action in Afghanistan and Pakistan, 27 October 2009

European Union Aid to Pakistan: Steadily on the Rise

European Union Aid to Pakistan: Steadily on the Rise [pdf], European Union Institute for Strategic Studies, December 2009

EXCERPT: "The European Union (EU), along with the rest of the international community, has become increasingly alarmed over the effects that the combination of political and security instability together with a lack of socioeconomic development 'could have on international efforts to end the insurgency in Afghanistan', as well as on regional stability in general. The EU has made it clear that it is committed to addressing these concerns by supporting Pakistani democratisation and development efforts rather than by promoting a militaristic US approach. Indeed, recent figures show that Brussels and Member Sates are serious about breaking with the tradition of minimalist involvement by significantly bolstering financial aid to Pakistan. . . In line with the recent increase in aid by the EU, its Member States have also seen modest increases in humanitarian contribution levels which traditionally, like the EC, have been limited."

Read the full report [pdf].

Related articles:
Netherlands to extend 30 million euros development aid per annum, The Nation [Pakistan], 11 December 2009
French envoy Ripert to work for UN on Pakistan aid, Reuters, 24 August 2009
Europe pledges more aid for Pakistan at joint summit, Deutsche Welle, 17 June 2009
France promises 12 million euros to help Pakistan, China View, 15 May 2009
Dutch government freezes millions in aid to Pakistan, The New York Times, 5 November 2007

Related posts:
EU plans to strengthen action in Afghanistan and Pakistan, 27 October 2009
Germany commits to more aid for Pakistan, 1 December 2009
Pak PM denies Bin Laden in Pakistan, UK pledges $83 million, 3 December 2009

EU Plans to Strengthen Action in Afghanistan and Pakistan

'Strengthening EU Action in Afghanistan and Pakistan' [pdf], Council of the European Union, 27 October 2009

Pakistan related information begins at page two and again at page 13.

EXCERPT: "3. The Council acknowledges the ongoing efforts of the government of Pakistan to re-establish full control over South Waziristan, as an important step in countering instability, terrorism and cross-border insurgency. The EU urges Pakistan to meet its obligations to protect the civilian population. The EU stands ready to assist all civilians affected by fighting in accordance with basic humanitarian principles and provided proper access can be granted and needs assessed. The EU is concerned about the security situation in Pakistan and regrets that hundreds of innocent civilians have become victims of indiscriminate attacks aimed at destabilising the Pakistani state. The EU is firm in its support of the government of Pakistan and encourages it to adopt a comprehensive strategy to fight terrorism and address its root causes."

Read the full report [pdf].

Related articles:
Press release: Strengthening EU action in Afghanistan and Pakistan, European Union, 27 October 2009
EU to increase support for S Asia, BBC News, 27 October 2009
Pakistan: EU's dilemma, DAWN, 16 October 2009
EU foreign ministers discuss "Afpak" Strategy, Iran, Middle East, Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty, 4 September 2009