Ambassador Crocker Salutes Hospitality, Generosity Of Pakistani People

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Islamabad - The outgoing U.S. Ambassador to Pakistan, Ryan C. Crocker, has said that "Pakistanis are enormously welcoming and hospitable people" and it is something "quite extraordinary." He made these observations during an exclusive interview with the U.S. Embassy’s monthly publication, "Khabr-o-Nazar," released here Monday.

"Individualized anti-Americanism virtually does not exist here. When Americans, either from this Embassy or the community are out in the streets, the markets around the city, in the country, they encounter nothing but hospitality and generosity," the Ambassador observed.

The Ambassador said that Pakistan "is an incredibly diverse country and society" and like the United States "if you hope to understand Pakistan, you have to travel."

"From Gwadar to Peshawar and all the places in between you get a sense of what life is like away from the great cities of Pakistan," Ambassador Crocket said. "The time I have spent out of this office traveling around the country is actually the best times I have had."

The interview has appeared in the latest issue of monthly "Khabr-o-Nazar," published by the Public Affairs Section of the U.S. Embassy in both Urdu and English languages. The current issue is dedicated to the outgoing U.S. Ambassador Crocker, who has now been confirmed as the new U.S. Ambassador to Iraq.

"Pakistan in the years to come is going to be a regional leader and we look forward to being a partner," Ambassador Crocker predicted. He said, "I have enormous confidence in the future of this country, the capacities and the intentions of its people."

In response to another question, the Ambassador stated that the relationship between Pakistan and the United States "has developed significantly during the last two-and-a-half years." Saying that "it is not really a question of credit to one particular individual" he noted that more important has been the "development of the institutions of our relationship."

"You are going to see a progressive strengthening of understanding and, through understanding, friendship at a people to people level," Ambassador Crocker added.

"If I have to pick one single element in relationship which stands out for me, it would be the earthquake relief and reconstruction effort," the Ambassador noted in response to a question as to what were the highlights of his tenure as U.S. Ambassador to Pakistan.

"The size and speed of the U.S. response was an indication of how deeply affected Americans were by what happened to people in Pakistan and readiness on the part of our government and our people to stand up to that and do everything we could to help Pakistanis put their life back together," the American Ambassador said.

When asked about the "several misperceptions and reservations among the people of Pakistan about the U.S." the ambassador said "there are several things that we have done here that I think are quite important." In this regard he specifically noted the expansion in travel to the U.S. and in the Fulbright scholarship program in Pakistan.

Ambassador Crocker noting that Pakistani civilization is very, very old and very rich said, "I am impressed by just how far back civilization extends in this country and how important those civilizations have been for all of us in the world community."

"I see more similarities than I do differences," the Ambassador said in response to a question about the major differences between the American and the Pakistani societies. "I see in Pakistanis and Pakistan a tremendous sense of individual freedom. Pakistanis are never afraid to speak their mind."

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