パキスタン情勢 対米修復が地域の安定を導く

The Yomiuri Shimbun June 8, 2013
Pakistan must improve relations with U.S. for regional stability
パキスタン情勢　対米修復が地域の安定を導く（6月7日付・読売社説）

If political instability is to continue in Pakistan, on the frontline of the United States’ war against terrorism, regional stability is almost hopeless.
　米国の対テロ戦争最前線のパキスタンで、政情不安が続くようでは、地域の安定は覚束(おぼつか)ない。

Nawaz Sharif, former prime minister of the country and the leader of the largest opposition party, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz, which won the May general election, was elected as prime minister after his party won support from many independents to gain a majority in the National Assembly.
　５月の総選挙で勝利した最大野党の党首のナワズ・シャリフ元首相が、無所属議員を取り込んで議会過半数を制し、首相に選出された。

In a country that has seen repeated coups, a military government did not come into power again and a peaceful administrative change was realized. This shows the country’s democratization movement has further taken root.
　クーデターが繰り返されてきたパキスタンで、軍政が復活せず平和的な政権交代が実現した。民主化がさらに定着したことを示すものである。

The winning factor for Sharif was that he criticized the administration of President Asif Ali Zardari as blindly following the United States and succeeded in currying favor with anti-U.S. voters.
　シャリフ氏の勝因は、米国と連携して対テロ作戦を進めたザルダリ政権を「対米追従」と批判し、反米票を吸収したことにある。

Two years ago the United States killed Osama bin Laden, the mastermind of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks in the United States, who was hiding in Pakistan, without informing the Zardari administration of the attack. In addition, the United States continues drone bombings against Taliban armed antigovernment rebels in areas bordering Afghanistan.
　米国は一昨年、パキスタン国内に潜んでいた米同時テロの首謀者ウサマ・ビンラーディンを、ザルダリ政権への通告なしに殺害した。加えて米軍はアフガニスタンとの国境地帯で反政府武装勢力への無人機空爆を続けている。

In his inauguration address, Sharif emphasized, “The drone attacks must now stop.” However, he avoided naming the United States in the speech. We think he is trying to mend relations with the United States, which extends the most assistance to Pakistan, while considering the anti-U.S. sentiment strongly rooted in the nation.
　シャリフ氏は首相就任演説で、無人機空爆について「すぐにやめるべきだ」と強調したが、米国を名指しすることは避けた。国内に根強い反米感情に配慮しつつ、最大の援助国、米国との関係修復を図ろうとしているのだろう。

Sharif’s leadership test

The U.S. military’s withdrawal deadline from Afghanistan is the end of next year. Will it be possible for Pakistan to improve the security situation in the country, which is aggravated by the terrorism of the armed rebels, by the deadline and contribute to regional stability?
　米軍のアフガンからの撤退期限が来年末に迫っている。それまでに、武装勢力のテロによって悪化した治安を立て直し、地域の安定に貢献できるようになるのか。

Sharif’s leadership ability is now under scrutiny. To demonstrate strong leadership, it is critical for him to establish a relationship of mutual trust with the military forces, which have been engaged in operations to clear out the rebels.
　シャリフ氏の指導力が問われよう。それにはまず、武装勢力の掃討作戦に当たっている軍と、信頼関係を築くことが不可欠だ。

Sharif emphasized during his campaign the importance of having dialogues with the Taliban rebels. However, the Taliban refused to enter into dialogue with the Sharif administration because one of its top commanders was killed in a recent U.S. drone attack. The future of the policy of holding dialogues faces a difficult challenge.
　シャリフ氏は選挙戦で武装勢力との対話を訴えたが、武装勢力は米軍の無人機攻撃で最高幹部が殺されたとして対話を拒否した。対話路線の前途は険しい。

Relations with India, a neighbor Pakistan has fought in three wars, have been rocky. We hope tensions between India and Pakistan, which both have nuclear weapons, will ease as soon as possible.
　３度の戦争を経た隣国インドとの関係もぎくしゃくしている。核兵器を保有する印パ両国の緊張緩和が望まれる。

Balanced diplomacy key

Meanwhile, Sharif has also announced a plan to complete the construction of a road and a railway network connecting Gwadar Port, a strategically important facility, with China, with assistance from that country.
　シャリフ氏は、中国の支援で、戦略的要衝のグワダル港と中国を結ぶ道路や鉄道の建設を完成させる方針も表明している。

It is important for Pakistan to improve relations with the United States and India, while not overly strengthening relations with China further, to develop a well-balanced diplomacy.
　これ以上、中国への傾斜を強めることなく、米国やインドと関係を改善し、バランスある外交を展開することが重要だ。

It is also an urgent task for the country to boost the economy. With a low economic growth rate of less than 4 percent a year, the country’s foreign currency reserves have sharply declined. Power shortages are also a serious problem. Expectations are running high for Sharif, a former business owner with experience tackling the country’s economic reforms, to restart a suspended International Monetary Fund loan package.
　経済へのテコ入れも、急務である。年率４％を下回る低成長で外貨準備が減少し、電力不足も深刻だ。中断した国際通貨基金（ＩＭＦ）の融資再開に向けて、実業家出身で経済改革の経験があるシャリフ氏への期待は大きい。

The Japanese government needs to extend indirect support for the country’s economic reconstruction, by deepening cooperation with the country in such ways as helping to provide a stable supply of electricity.
　日本政府は電力の安定供給などの分野で協力を深め、経済再建を側面から支援する必要がある。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, June 7, 2013)
（2013年6月7日01時35分  読売新聞）