David Miliband

Waziristan

Gideon Rachman of the FT says the Pakistan Army’s action in Waziristan is the most important thing happening in the world at the moment.

This article by Anatol Lieven focuses on the key points. The links between the insurgency of West Pakistan and East Afghanistan are key to the future of both countries. And the links of government and population in each country - and the loyalty government commands – the essential resource for the future.

Posted at 13:32 06 November 2009 by David Miliband  |  Comments[0]

Modern Madrassas?

Pakistan's massive young population needs schools and teachers. Their absence has led to the growth of a large madrassa movement - some 18,000 strong. These religious institutions have become a byword in the West for indoctrination of an extreme and dangerous kind. In some cases the reputation is well merited. The replacement or regulation of these madrassas so that they fulfil a constructive not destructive mission is an overridingly important issue in Pakistan.

Multan's Al-Khair public school and madrassa sets out as its mission "enlightened minds and a Muslim heart". I visited yesterday. On first blush the swaying 8-16 year olds memorising the Qur'an seems a long way from a model of inquiring education. The youngsters said they committed themselves to 8 hours a day memory work out of religious devotion. But the director talked openly and publicly of his condemnation of 9/11 and 7/7 and presented me with his book on inter faith dialogue. It sits alongside the public school, in the public school in fact. The pupils were enthusiastic. The issue is not religion but violent extremism.

Posted at 14:06 09 July 2009 by David Miliband  |  Comments[6]

Own it, fight it

There has been a big change in Pakistan since my last visit in January. The scale of engagement between the Pakistan army and the insurgency in the north west of the country is considerably expanded. I met some of the victims - internally displaced persons driven from their homes now sheltering in 45 degree heat in a camp north of Islamabad. They said they had lost relatives to the Taliban - one old man said his wife and two daughters had been killed. They wanted to go back - as soon as the government's 25000 rupee (250 pounds approx) grant was delivered. The government/army want them to go back as soon as security, governance and services are established.

The chief minister of North West Frontier Province says that Pakistanis now own the struggle and need to fight it. At the moment there is public revulsion at Taliban excess and support for the army, despite big losses. The emphasis on governance and security is key to sustainability but as one of the leading army commanders said, without social equity there will not be stability. The refugees from Buner have in significant numbers returned; the test of progress is the return of refugees from Swat, 80 per cent of whom are staying with relatives and friends. Our aid and the big American effort is for the short term; our reconstruction spending will be key to the long term.

Posted at 09:30 09 July 2009 by David Miliband  |  Comments[4]

United effort in Afghanistan

The Italian chairmanship of the G8 group of industrialised countries brought over 40 delegations to Trieste to forge common ideas on Afghanistan and Pakistan.  For Afghanistan, I stressed the importance of credible elections on 20 August. We do not support any particular one (of the 41) candidates but instead are working for a process that commands the confidence of Afghans.  On the civilian side I emphasised: a) governance at provincial and district level; b) reconciliation of former Taliban willing to live by the constitution; and c) the economy and especially the renewal of agriculture.
The leadership in Pakistan has succesfully reached out across the political spectrum to rally popular opinion behind a surge in military activity against the militants.  The people and government of Pakistan need our help to support and then resettle internally-displaced persons as soon as possible.
Strong and credible political leadership is the best antidote to the fear of the war-weary people of both countries. That is what we are trying to support.

Posted at 19:44 27 June 2009 by David Miliband  |  Comments[0]

US/Pakistan - a reply to Alex Evans

Last week Global Dashboard's Alex Evans asked me in a comment on this blog what I thought of Australian analyst David Kilcullen's argument on US use of drone attacks in Pakistan - see this post: 

I don't recognise the statistics but the overall point is important. From our point of view this is first and foremost an issue that calls for US-Pakistan cooperation.  The threat to US and Pakistani (and UK) interests is real, the danger and damage of civilian casualties serious, and the range of options limited. 

US technology is vitally important, but Pakistan is fighting its own struggle against violent extremism.  The drone attacks have undoubtedly hurt the core of AQ, but I see the dangers.  The first best solution is obviously to build up Pakistan's capacity, but first best solutions are not always immediately available.

Posted at 17:52 02 June 2009 by David Miliband  |  Comments[0]

Mortal Threat To Pakistan

I said on Radio 4 on Friday 6 March that domestic terrorism posed a mortal threat to Pakistan, especially combined with economic travails. The way out requires a huge act of will from the leading politicians - to come together and bury their differences in the face of a greater threat. This is all the more difficult in the light of the supreme court judgment that has barred opposition leader Nawaz Sharif, and his brother, the Chief Minister of the Punjab, Shahbaz Sharif, from contesting elections and holding public office.  But it is all the more necessary.  The people of Pakistan need their leaders to unite around a common platform to push back terrorism even where they compete on the terrain of normal political debate.  Terrorist threats to the integrity of Pakistan and the sustenance of its political systems are a bigger threat to the country than any politician can handle on his own.  The parties and politicians need to find a way to come together to take on the shared threat that democracy faces.

Posted at 13:34 08 March 2009 by David Miliband  |  Comments[1]

In India: An Update

Amethi

I am at the airport on the way to Amethi district in Uttar Pradash. 800m Indians live on less than 2 dollars a day, 450m on less than 1 dollar. Today I will get a chance to see some of the gap that exists between metropolitan middle class India and the rest.

The Anguish of Mumbai

I think that many in Britain do not realise the scale and depth of Indian anguish over the Mumbai attacks. The Prime Minister came to India in December to show his solidarity and sympathy, and I will be at the the Taj Hotel tomorrow. But India has been struck to its core: its people want a hearing, and they want action from Pakistan against those involved. The anguish is doubled because of the efforts India has made to work with Pakistan. Those need to continue. The support by the Indian government for the Pakistani IMF loan is real leadership and real vision.

Sunny Gavaskar or Kapil Dev?

I recorded for New Delhi TV a question time session with Indian students this morning. We talked terrorism but also climate change - a shift in attitudes since 2007 - and cricket. I was lucky: the High Commission residence had a copy of Mihir Bose's book on the history of Indian cricket and I had a look last night - so I was refreshed on Dilip Doshi's time out of the side while Bishan Bedi reigned (he played 33 tests and took 114 wickets after BB retired). I confessed that I am a fan of tests rather than one day cricket. 

Posted at 14:28 14 January 2009 by David Miliband  |  Comments[25]

Too Long since the last visit to Delhi

I put this right tonight when I fly to Delhi for three days in India.  I will be in Delhi for meetings, and in Mumbai for a day to show solidarity with the people of that city and to reflect on what the Mumbai attacks tell us about terrorism and the so called 'war on terror' (it is not Al Qaeda that has made India a substantial terrorist target practically every month for the last 12).

I was last in India two years ago trying (not very successfully) to argue that India should put itself at the forefront of the campaign against climate change - what with melting glaciers in the Himalayas and people moving from Bangladesh.  Two years on the government of Manmohan Singh has significant achievements to its credit but now faces a huge challenge to find a way to engage with Pakistan after attacks whose planning finds a route back to nationals of that country.

This matters a lot to Britain - for our diaspora communities of Indian and Pakistani origin, but also for the region.  It is crazy if these countries cannot find a way to try and help each other.  I will try and blog en route and in situ.

Posted at 18:35 12 January 2009 by David Miliband  |  Comments[11]

Islam of the West not in the West

Questions of identity are always difficult. Last week in Islamabad I was privileged to sit on a panel with four successful young British professionals of Pakistani origin, in front of several hundred students from the International Islamic University.
 
The audience asked a series of searing questions about being Muslim in Britain, and about British attitudes to Islam. My co-panellists were equally searing in their answers. They said they were comfortable in their multiple identities - as British nationals, as Muslims, as women, as doctors, as television producers. They talked honestly about the issues facing the British-Pakistani community. They demanded that Muslims lead by example, and have a duty to demonstrate what it means to be both Muslim, and to be a British Muslim.
 
The discussion was not an easy one. We covered hard questions about what causes terrorism, and about perceptions of the West among Muslims. But the event gave me real hope. The four young British Muslims on the panel were deeply impressive, and offered a clear and compelling vision of what the future might be for Muslims in the UK. And the audience was willing to debate all these questions, and listen, even where many did not agree.
 
Its a discussion I'd like to continue. Have a look at the video of the session. Are there other questions you would like me and the panel to answer?

Posted at 15:12 05 December 2008 by David Miliband  |  Comments[10]

Mumbai Burning

I spent last Wednesday night - as the Mumbai attacks were starting - having dinner with President Zardari of Pakistan in Islamabad. We talked about the central importance of Pakistan-India relations to the future of the region. Little did I know that the attacks would put Indo-Pakistan relations under the most severe strain since 2002, when the two countries came close to blows.

Pakistan is now fighting on several fronts: against Taleban in the West, against domestic terrorism in the centre, and now there is renewed tension over its border with India. Saturday's statement from the Pakistani Foreign Minister after a Cabinet meeting about the barbarity of the Mumbai terrorism was the sort of undiplomatic language that is needed. But actions will be needed to build confidence with India.

The hostage taking and the loss of Hindu, Muslim, Jewish and Christian life shows clearly the shared threat. But it is also a threat to the integrity of two nations with a huge amount to lose from renewed tension. The ball is now in the Pakistani court to follow up the allegations concerning Pakistani nationals' involvement in the Mumbai attacks.

Posted at 09:52 03 December 2008 by David Miliband  |  Comments[4]

EU and US: focussing on working together

Despite the impression given by some press reports this morning, EU Foreign Ministers meeting in Marseilles agreed our own priorities for joint work with a new US administration, including Middle East Peace Process and Afghanistan/Pakistan. Not a shopping list of asks, still less demands. The focus is on how the transatlantic alliance can work together. And that means Europe living up to its responsibilities. And we have not written an open letter.

Posted at 10:00 04 November 2008 by David Miliband  |  Comments[4]

Afghanistan: Canard by name....

Afghanistan and its neighbour Pakistan have been top of my agenda since last year. They were top of the agenda in talks this week with General Petraeus. And he got a more accurate representation of UK concerns than the garbled reports in the French Private Eye Le Canard Enchaîné.

The future of Afghanistan is not about appointed dictators or foreign occupation; it is about building Afghan capabilities with the confidence of the Afghan people. This is a long haul - and it would not be possible without international aid workers, diplomats and soldiers. But they need strong partners nationally and locally in Afghanistan. And as I wrote last week, one bright spot is the new relationship at Presidential level with Pakistan.

Posted at 11:16 03 October 2008 by David Miliband  |  Comments[4]

UNGA Re-Cap 3: Friends of Pakistan

I have spent more time on Pakistan than any other issue in the last few weeks, including two meetings with the newly elected President Zardari. He has one of the toughest jobs in government around the world. In the wake of the Marriott bombing in Islamabad governments around the world want to help - on the economic as well as the security front.

Friday saw the launch of the new 'Friends of Pakistan' group Britain participates but so do the Emiratis, China, the US and half a dozen others. The agenda is central to the success of the new civilian government: economic modernisation, with real investment especially in young people on the back of economic stabilisation, alongside security enhancement to address the huge challenges Pakistan faces. No one can now fail to see that the terrorist threat to British service personnel (and diplomats and aid workers) in Afghanistan is also a threat to Pakistan and its people.

Posted at 12:11 01 October 2008 by David Miliband  |  Comments[3]

President Zardari

The accession of President Zardari to the leadership of Pakistan is a key moment for Pakistan. His election with a 68% majority completes the transition to full democratic civilian rule for the first time in 9 years. It is vital that the Pakistan government does not suffer the fate of previous Pakistan governments.

I spoke to President Zardari yesterday and the Prime Minister is speaking to him today to emphasise Britain's commitment to work with the people in Pakistan at all levels, above all on the twin issues of the economy and security. My two visits to Pakistan revealed a country of teeming energy but also unfulfilled aspirations. The striking thing is that political, economic and security aspirations go together. Polling in the FATA shows that politics as well as security are top of the agenda.

Civilian rule needs to show itself up to the task of short term improvement as well as long term legitimacy. Britain can and will help through official channels and development aid and security support, but also through the unofficial channels of people-to-people links from our own British Pakistani community.

Posted at 14:19 08 September 2008 by David Miliband  |  Comments[10]

The Non-Proliferation Treaty: an unsung success story

The Non-Proliferation Treaty is 40 years old today. We should celebrate that. 189 countries are members. That’s everyone except India, Israel and Pakistan.
President Kennedy spoke in 1963 about "the possibility in the 1970s of ... a world in which 15 or 20 or 25 nations may have these weapons" (1).  But in reality, 45 years later, there are fewer than ten. The NPT helped bring this about.  It created a 'grand bargain' where those states with nuclear weapons would work towards a world free from nuclear weapons and those without would have equal access to all the benefits of the peaceful uses of nuclear energy in return for implementing safeguard and non-proliferation obligations.
We shouldn’t take this for granted. Look at the nuclear ambitions of North Korea and Iran.  We need to make sure the likely expansion of nuclear energy around the world brings prosperity and lower carbon emissions - not insecurity and weapons proliferation.
And we need to strengthen the three pillars of the NPT: zero tolerance of proliferation; a clear forward plan on multilateral nuclear disarmament and supporting the right to the safe, secure and peaceful use of nuclear energy . We’ll hold a big international conference on nuclear energy later this year to help take this forward. 
 
(1) News conference remarks by President Kennedy on nuclear testing March 21 1963

Posted at 09:38 01 July 2008 by David Miliband  |  Comments[7]