‘Countries faced with terrorism should invest in education’

Daily Times

Dutch Ambassador to Pakistan Gajus Scheltema has said that terrorism could be eliminated from the society if quality education is imparted to the people. Scheltema, who was on a short visit to Karachi, expressed these views while talking to the senior journalists here at a local hotel the other day. He further said, “I strongly feel that if a country succeeds in prospering, terrorism would itself lose its roots.” Talking particularly about Pakistan, he said that a sense of insecurity was prevailing as an impact of terrorism and nation has to eradicate it itself. He further said that it was time for Pakistani society to set its dimension. Scheltema said although he found it very difficult judging the country, people in Pakistan including representatives of politico- religious parties were very polite and nice. To a question about foreign impacts of terrorism, he said that terrorism in Pakistan was not an outcome of 9/11 but a product of imbalance in religious, political and social viewpoints. In response to a question about drone attacks and some cases in Afghanistan in which coalition forces targeted innocent citizens in wedding ceremonies, he said that they (citizens) were killed in mistaken drone attacks so these examples, known as collateral damage, do not fulfill the definition of terrorism, however the opponents of coalition forces were terrorists as they kill intentionally, he added. When asked about the Dutch model of progress, he said that they had been a trading nation for long. He said, “Trade is the key to prosperity,” adding that terrorism could also be curbed through trade, particularly export. He further said that the core reason behind Dutch progress was its traders’ yearning for foreign investment opportunities. Responding to a question about Pak-Netherlands bilateral relations, he said that the relations between two countries were in transitional phase. The Dutch government supports Pakistan in its bid to enhance Pakistani exports, he added. He further said that it would be mutually benefiting for both countries, as an economically strong Pakistan would be a great market for Netherlands. Scheltema further said that neighbouring countries were considered as best markets and Pakistani government was moving in the right direction by enhancing trade relations with India. It would not only support the economy of the country but also help increase the trust level for increasing prosperity at both sides of the border, he said. Talking about the energy sector, he said that energy crises were very critical in the country and Pakistan has to mend investment-friendly climate inside the country, if it wants itself out of crises. Political uncertainty and deteriorating law and order situation are the core obstacles that hinder foreign investments, he maintained. Scheltema was of the view that lack of investment was one of the core reasons behind energy crisis in Pakistan.