Welcome to the second installment of these notes from “Sharm,” as they call it–from the World Economic Forum’s conference on the Middle East. The WEF–the Davos gang–comes to the Middle East each spring. They hold other “regional” conferences too (as distinct from the big Annual Meeting in the Alps, in January), but the Middle Eastern one is the biggest. Twelve hundred people are here, to discuss the future of what many consider the make-or-break region of the world.

The first installment of this journal appeared yesterday, and may be found here. And where was I?

‐You have met the PM of Egypt–how about the PM of Pakistan, Shaukat Aziz? He is a smooth, smooth performer, once a top exec with Citibank. Like Nazif, his counterpart in Egypt, he meets with some of us journos. And as you observe him in action, you understand why he rose so high, in finance and politics. A smooth operator–refined, elegant, canny, informed, slightly cool–indeed.

He discusses Iran at some length. Pakistan is a warm ally of Iran–even a partner, you might say–and Aziz makes no apologies for this. In fact, he expresses the hope that Pakistan will “expand” its relations with the mullahs.

At the moment, these parties are working on a pipeline deal, for “gas is what we need to fuel our growth,” says Aziz.

About Iran’s nuclear program, the PM says two things (repeatedly): Pakistan is opposed to Iran’s acquiring an A-bomb; and Pakistan is opposed–absolutely opposed–to any use of force to stop such acquisition.

Well, what if that stance is untenable? What if you can’t prevent Iran from acquiring an A-bomb without the use of force? What is Pakistan’s preference: that the mullahs go nuclear or that force be used against them?

That question is unaddressed.

I ask how the fight against al Qaeda is going. Aziz does not care to talk about al Qaeda in particular, but about terrorism in general. He says that governments have to fight terrorism–but then delivers a sermon on “root causes.”

So he is a root-cause man, the prime minister. I used to be big on root causes, too–back when I was in college, I’d say. But then the realization set in: Lots of people have grievances, including very severe and justifiable grievances. And they don’t commit terror. They don’t go on mass-murder sprees, or behead.

Besides which, a lot of these Islamist terrorists are downright wealthy.

Anyway . . .

Aziz never answers my question about how the fight against al Qaeda is going. My impression is, fairly well. But the PM of Pakistan would know a lot better.

Later, Aziz is pressed on Israel: What does he think of the Iranian president’s vow–and Aziz has met repeatedly with Ahmadinejad–to destroy Israel? The prime minister will say only that he thinks every nation has the right to exist, and in peace.

Which is something.

These matters aside, Shaukat Aziz, like Ahmed Nazif, seems the very model of the Muslim-world reformer (and I will have more to say about him later in this journal). Over his coffee, at the session I’ve been discussing, he recites the following string of words: “liberalization, deregulation, privatization, transparency, improvement in governance.” This is sweet, sweet music. And it’s what you could call the World Economic Forum’s theme song.

And I’ll be back tomorrow, friends, with Part III.