Charlie O'Connor (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)
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Question 90: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will report on his contacts in respect of the situation in Pakistan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25844/07]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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Ireland and Pakistan established diplomatic relations in 1962. Pakistan opened an Embassy in Dublin in 2001, headed by a resident Ambassador, with whom senior officials of the Department are in regular contact.

Our Ambassador in Tehran is accredited to Pakistan on a non-resident basis. He pays regular visits to Pakistan and keeps in regular contact with the authorities there, with the resident diplomatic community, with the media and with civil society. Senior officials from the Department also visit Pakistan from time to time.

As part of our ongoing contact and dialogue, we share our concerns with the Government of Pakistan regarding the struggle against terrorism in Pakistan and on its border with Afghanistan, radicalism and extremism in parts of the country, military rule, and issues relating to human rights and fundamental freedoms. In all our recent contacts we have expressed our strong hopes for successful, free and fair elections and a return to democracy and civilian rule. The development of economic and cultural links is also discussed. Pakistan is a country of high strategic importance and, when the country has returned to civilian rule and democracy, we would be interested in strengthening our relationship still further. We are hoping to hold political consultations at official level in Islamabad next year to discuss this further.

In addition to Ireland's bilateral relationship with Pakistan, the EU also has an important and active relationship with the country. Given Pakistan's strategic importance, the EU has recently agreed to further develop its relationship with Pakistan.

As regards the political situation in Pakistan, I outlined my views on the current situation in my response to Parliamentary Questions regarding Pakistan in Dail Eireann on Tuesday, 23 October.

In that statement, I expressed our strong hope that In that statement, I expressed our strong hope that Pakistan is on a course back to democracy. The road to democracy, stability and economic and social development will not be an easy one. A particular problem in the lead-up to parliamentary elections, expected to take place in January, is the subversion and havoc that militants and extremists can create. We saw the appalling massacre that militants mounted on Benazir Bhutto's return to her country last week but attacks on the authorities, military, the media and civilians take place almost daily. Although such militancy is shared by only a small percentage of Pakistan's population, the ability of the terrorists and radicals to inflict devastating damage is deeply troubling. Other problems include restrictions on the freedom of expression and the media, widespread corruption, and near-feudal conditions, accompanying undeveloped party political traditions, in some of the more remote rural and tribal areas.

But there are also some positive developments that have taken place in the country, particularly President Musharraf's recent commitment to withdraw from a military role and his nomination of a successor as Army Chief of Staff, which increases hopes that here will be an end to military rule in the coming months. The political parties and the public are intensely engaged in what will clearly be a hotly-contested election campaign. The Pakistan Elections Commission, with some external help, has been working to put systems in place to ensure that these elections are free and fair. The role of the Supreme Court over recent months has also demonstrated its very clear independence. And despite the obstacles that exist to freedom of expression, there is a vibrant and independent media in Pakistan, which speaks out very openly on all aspects of Pakistani life and politics — an enormous tribute to the commitment, professionalism and courage of those involved in the media in Pakistan and very encouraging for the future of democracy in Pakistan.