A strong part of thinking about the engagement is to understand the nuances taking place in different regions - I think it's nuance, respect, listening and being creative.

WASHINGTON: A US envoy assigned to improve America’s relations with the Muslim world on Wednesday vowed to pursue an out-of-the-box approach with a special emphasis on listening to the Muslim youth worldwide.

Farah Pandith, a diplomat of Kashmiri origin, has been assigned by Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to work on the agenda outlined by President Barack Obama in Cairo last month on engaging with Muslims.

In her first appearance before the media since her appointment last week, Pandith emphasised understanding, listening, respect and creative approaches but said there were no specific ways to reach out to people in different regions.

On how she intended to approach people in conflict-hit regions including Afghanistan and Pakistan, Pandith said she would devise ways after consulting US diplomats adding, “It’s definitely an important priority”.

“A strong part of thinking about the engagement is to understand the nuances taking place in different regions – I think it’s nuance, respect, listening and being creative. And I think it requires different types of initiatives to be able to do that.”

She said the ways she would reach out to the Muslim youth could include creating a town hall interface at a university and meetings with like-minded thinkers. “It’s really listening.

It’s really understanding that’s taking place on the ground. It’s finding opportunities … to get to know what others are saying, thinking, dreaming and believing, and acting as a facilitator, convener and an intellectual partner when we can.”

(Source: Daily Times)