PROVO — Pakistan sits at the crossroads of several international conflicts and can be a critical player in sustaining global stability, said Husain Haqqani, Pakistan's ambassador to the United States, during a recent Utah visit.

Because of its geographic location, Pakistan finds itself linked to the Middle East, Central Asia and South Asia, Haqqani said to a crowd of nearly 100 at the David M. Kennedy Center at Brigham Young University. In terms of politics and strategy, Pakistan's stability is essential to the rest of the globe.

"If Pakistan starts to splinter apart, that does not bring stability to the world," he said.

Haqqani — a professor at Boston University, adviser to former Pakistani Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto and former war correspondent — also said Pakistan has importance because it is a nuclear-armed country, and it is the second largest predominantly Muslim country.

Haqqani said three transformations need to take place to ensure the stability of Pakistan. First, the country needs to make the complete transition from an authoritarian state to a democratic state. The country had free elections Feb. 18, the people selected Prime Minister Syed Yousaf Raza Gilian, a man who believes in reaching out to Western countries.

Next, he said, Pakistan needs to develop a culture of productivity and entrepreneurial spirit rather than a culture of militancy. The county got off to a rocky start, he said, and focused on developing its army. As a result, it underinvested in schools and today only 58 percent of children go to school.

"Something's gone wrong," he said.

Now the government is focused on education. With education comes improved methods of production, Haqqani said. In a nod to the BYU audience, he mentioned he's familiar with a group of people who were able to make the desert "blossom like a rose."

Haqqani said the next transition requires Pakistan to change its mindset from being at crossroads of conflict to being at crossroads of opportunity. For example, he said, neighboring India and Asian countries are major consumers of oil from the Middle East. Pipelines need to be built to feed those needs.

"Where will they run?" he asked. "Pakistan."

However, one obstacle prevents the fruition of these transformations, Haqqani said.

"We have to finish a little war," he said. "... That is the war against terror."

Haqqani said he thinks the war will go on for a long time, but progress is being made.

"Within the last few weeks, we have been able to take out several important al-Qaida figures," he said. "Including one last night."

BYU student Nephi Henry, who is majoring in French studies, asked Haqqani about Pakistan's relationship with the U.S., given the country's courtship with India.

"We look upon the U.S.-India relationship as a positive thing for our region," Haqqani said.

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