PAKISTAN- SOMALIA with a Common Path Forward.

Byline: Khadar Dheen Gulled

As a diplomat closely involved in the bilateral relations between Somalia and Pakistan I often reflect on missed opportunities. From my post in Islamabad I see students and businessmen, travellers, and others from Somalia and it is most heartening to see their positive sentiments as their lives have improved and so have those of their extended families over the globe and within Somalia. I have every reason to believe this to be a continuing trend and as I will show you.

Somalia is opening up to the world right now. In living memory other countries in the horn of Africa have opened up, and relations between neighboring countries have resolved long standing tensions to create a stable and prosperous regional economy in the Horn. Somalia joins Ethiopia, Djibouti, Kenya, and other economic success stories with an enviable financial position, and large untapped reserves seeking foreign investment.

I refer here specifically to the IMF debt forgiveness plan, which we will attain in a month with the most stringent requirements being met by us and having taken many years to achieve. This effectively makes Somalia a blank slate relative to its more heavily indebted neighbors. Further, I would highlight the recently released offshore seismic surveys confirming over 30 billion barrels of oil. To that effect The President has signed the petroleum bill into law on February 8th of this year, with the offer of licenses starting soon. To the many energy entrepreneurs and larger firms in Pakistan, this is an opportunity to build great wealth for future generations. The significance of these events will not escape those in Pakistan who are concerned for the future of their country.

The time I have spent here has confirmed to me the widespread patriotism of those who live here and the far sighted plans many envision for the future. The development of the Gwadar port project and the proximity to Somali ports makes a natural alliance feasible, but the economics of petroleum consumption make an even stronger case in my belief.

According to current estimates, Pakistan meets only 15% of its current petroleum needs, with the remaining 85% through imports. Importing from Somalia, where the opportunity to have a larger stake in a burgeoning industry represents a major advancement for...