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Rare is the minister who goes to parliament and briefs its members in a candid manner.
On Wednesday, Foreign Minister Khawaja Asif briefed the Senate on US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson’s trip to Pakistan and, in speaking with clarity and authority, demonstrated once again what had been missing in the Foreign Office for over four years.
Former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s decision to not appoint a full-time foreign minister was one of the more perplexing mistakes of his third term. Mr Asif’s comments in the Senate, however, painted a picture of a Pakistan-US relationship that is deeply strained, rejecting the Trump administration strategy in the region as a creation of the US military and responding to a list of alleged militants that the US handed over to Pakistan by reminding the Senate that Pakistan has presented its own list to Afghanistan.
If there is a US South Asia strategy that is emerging, it appears to involve the US, Afghanistan and India acting together to put pressure on Pakistan to do more in the fight against militancy, inside Pakistan and regionally.
To push back against the unfair or unrealistic aspects of that strategy, Pakistan ought to consider drawing up its own South Asia strategy: a coordinated approach towards the US, Afghanistan and India, recognising the interconnectedness of its ties with them.
The strategy should also be proactive, suggesting what steps Pakistan can take and what it needs those countries to do for the interests of all to better align. Currently, it appears that Pakistan complains to the US about India and Afghanistan, lectures Afghanistan on India and lets bilateral problems with the latter interfere with the necessary dialogue that needs to occur on Afghanistan.
That has the collective effect of achieving very little in terms of advancing Pakistan’s interests in the region, leaving it vulnerable to concerted pressure from the US, India and Afghanistan.
A South Asia strategy by Pakistan would necessarily entail a domestic dimension too. As the foreign minister has acknowledged before, Pakistan continues to have the problem of some militant and extremist groups being able to operate relatively openly here.
Peace and stability in the region will not be established on a piecemeal basis involving one country at a time. If Afghanistan is unstable and denied peace, there are always likely to be spillover effects in Pakistan. If certain groups are allowed to operate on Pakistani soil, the dialogue with India risks being derailed by regional spoilers. If India continues to see Pakistan’s western border as a weakness to be exploited, Pakistan will be unable to broaden its fight against militancy, which is currently focused on anti-Pakistan militants.
Simply, if Pakistan is to be stable and peaceful over the long term, Afghanistan and India must reassess their policies towards this country and vice versa.
Published in Dawn, October 27th, 2017
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Comments (45) Closed
Oct 27, 2017 04:14am
Well said, DAWN! What a pity that India and Pak behave like tantrumming kids rather than take a wholesome approach, draw out their red lines and do everything within those limits to ease this dysfunction. If we can't solve our issues, make them irrelevant.
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Oct 27, 2017 04:31am
A balanced and pragmatic article which takes ownership of local, short-sighted and destabilizing policies. Now to look at problems through a new and visionary lens - not the one propagated by the 3M nexus of Mullah, Military and Militant.
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Oct 27, 2017 05:23am
The US has dumped several hundred billion dollars in Afghanistan so far for its nation-building project without much success.
The decision-makers in Islamabad look at this largess as a waste; for a mere ten billion dollars a year or so as compensation for its contribution toward peace, Pakistan can be a trustworthy ally and a great neighbor for many decades to come.
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Oct 27, 2017 05:30am
“As the foreign minister has acknowledged before, Pakistan continues to have the problem of some militant and extremist groups being able to operate relatively openly here.”
That, Sir, is the crux of the problem which is under your nose and nobody in Pakistan wants to acknowledge.
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Oct 27, 2017 07:09am
Very confusing for a commoner to understand when the authorities know well that some terrorists are roaming freely in the country - as said by our foreign minister.- then what is holding them to arrest and put them behind the war. Are our dear leaders worried that more powerful institutions in fact are condoning their acts or simply they are worried that a civil war may break out in the country, if civilians act tough and strong.
Most of us are easily swayed by our religious leaders - it becomes rather irrelevant if they have good or evil in mind. We follow them blindly and just can not take that they get harmed. Also as usual India/Kashmir blame/game is played out.
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Oct 27, 2017 08:07am
It is unfair to criticise Nawaz on foreign policy. From experience, he knew that a civilian as FM would be ornamental. The difference compared to now is: Then he was not playing to the gallery.
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Oct 27, 2017 08:08am
The minister went to Parliament and briefed its members. But foreign policy is made elsewhere, in Rawalpindi.
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Oct 27, 2017 08:18am
A point to be noted by all four countries.
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Oct 27, 2017 09:13am
"If certain groups are allowed to operate on Pakistani soil, the dialogue with India risks being derailed by regional spoilers."
This very well sums up the India-Pakistan story.
Ball is in Pakistan's court .
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Oct 27, 2017 09:22am
I guess the Foreign policy for last four years was a turning point , a paradigm shift towards regional forces.
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Oct 27, 2017 09:34am
There is again a veiled threat of militancy. There is wisdom in realizing when to stop.
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Oct 27, 2017 09:39am
Everybody knows who is running the foreign policy of our republic..What a full time minister can do ? what difference it will make?
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Oct 27, 2017 09:42am
Once, my country had a foreign minister as charismatic and smart as Z.A. Bhutto. Today, I have a man as incompetent as Mr. Khawaja, the bearer of the very prestigious office. What a fall, compatriots.
Moreover, for those whose spectrum of knowledge is myopic as mine, foreign policy is indeed a very intricate task. It requires knowledge, which comes from education and reading books. More importantly, the relevant knowledge is required, and when applied leads to wisdom. However, wisdom is a very rare commodity these days, and even more rare when it comes to the foreign policy echelons in Pakistan.
People who talk too often, barely talk well. This is one of the many problems with our foreign minister. Maybe he just loves the camera, or talking.
On a lighter note, if Mr. Khawaja was asked the capital of Chile, the probability of getting a right answer is as bleak as Trump and Kim Jong-un formalising a truce.
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Oct 27, 2017 09:46am
Once, my country had a foreign minister as charismatic and smart as Z.A. Bhutto. Today, I have a man as incompetent as Mr. Khawaja, the bearer of the very prestigious office. What a fall, compatriots.
Moreover, for those whose spectrum of knowledge is myopic as mine, foreign policy is indeed a very intricate task. It requires knowledge, which comes from education and reading books. More importantly, the relevant knowledge is required, and when applied leads to wisdom. However, wisdom is a very rare commodity these days, and even more rare when it comes to the foreign policy echelons in Pakistan.
People who talk too often, barely talk well. This is one of the many problems with our foreign minister. Maybe he just loves the camera, or talking.
On a lighter note, if Mr. Khawaja was asked the capital of Chile, the probability of getting a right answer is as bleak as Trump and Kim Jong-un formalising a truce.
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Oct 27, 2017 09:46am
The Minister and his Government do not have any say in the Foreign Policy. Empty rhetoric
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Oct 27, 2017 10:08am
@R S Chakravarti No foreign policy is complete with out the input of military anywhere in the world including India and USA. Pentagon is making all the foreign policy decisions in USA at the moment. Indian military has always vetoed any agreement on Siachen and kashmir in the past.
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Oct 27, 2017 10:52am
@Watch your step Nawaz did not and will not give a dame about the country he just wanted to steal as much he could
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Oct 27, 2017 10:56am
"""To push back against the unfair or unrealistic aspects of that strategy, Pakistan ought to consider drawing up its own South Asia strategy""" ........ """Simply, if Pakistan is to be stable and peaceful over the long term, Afghanistan and India must reassess their policies towards this country''''"
I thought the author was about to suggest what the south Asia strategy of Pakistan should be. Turns out it's just a lecturer to India and Afghanistan.
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Oct 27, 2017 11:00am
Yes, one country could not advise others how to formulate foreign policy . It is in their own interest the country has to introspect & to devise policies & basis there of ,which can enhance overall peace , prosperity and development in their country.
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Oct 27, 2017 11:02am
Yes, it is true that foreign policy for at least the last 40 years ( 1977 onwards ) is firmly in the hands of the military, and its results are for everyone to see. But if this has to ever change, the first step has to be a civilian foreign minister who at least talks independently even if he and the whole nation knows that he holds little sway. So I agree with the editorial's endorsement of the content of the speech, and of the place where it was given: openly, in the Parliament.
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Oct 27, 2017 11:21am
True. The above sums the present problems very rightly. Pakistan is so obsessed with India that, it is talking to other countries only if these countries are anti-india. In fact, this is observed to be a pre-condition that, the other countreis should have if they want to have any relationship with Pakistan. Is this how pakistan conducts its diplomay? Very immature. This particular attitude is just isolating pakistan everywhere as whether pakistan likes it or not, india cannot be avoided at all. Nations conduct diplomacy keeping their interest in mind and do not openly issue rhetoric statements so that, any other room for peace can be explored. In fact, there are examples of countires which are enemies but still cooperate in trade because it benefits both. Such as India-China, GCC-Iran, China-US, US-Russia, EU-Russia. But it is only pakistan which does not realise this. Hope this article touches the right attitude in pakistan.
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Oct 27, 2017 11:29am
.........................which is currently focused on anti-Pakistan militants. This is the problem. Why not against MILITANTS instead of anti-Pakistan militants
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Oct 27, 2017 11:59am
Kashmir-centric foreign policy that Pakistan is running is not helping Pakistan and its honest tax paying citizens.
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Oct 27, 2017 12:05pm
A frank & truthful assessment of the problem being faced in the region. Cooperation & not confrontation should be the mantra.
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Oct 27, 2017 12:09pm
Great praises for the Foreign Minister and his appointment after 4 years. We do agree on this.
But is he empowered to think & act under Civilian Government set up ? Will he be taking initiatives to start meaningful & sincere dialogues with India without being termed as India's Agent just like Nawaz Shariff.
Time will tell how he manages international relations under unchangeable India Centrist Foreign Policy of Pakistan
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Oct 27, 2017 12:11pm
A well balanced article. Cooperation & not confrontation should be the mantra. A peaceful ,progressive & friendly attitude is key to success.
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Oct 27, 2017 12:14pm
I think this reassessment should have been done long ago. Too long have people of India and Pakistan and now Afghanistan longed for peace. These people deserve peace. The eagerness of Pakistan to get attached with power blocks has left it without a consistent policy for neighborhood.
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Oct 27, 2017 12:32pm
In matters of national security ' Pindi and Islamabad need to redefine and redetermine their respective ambit . This political ' triangle ' of Afghanistan , America and India is bound to have far reaching impact on this region . It's therefore absolutely important for Pakistan to have a foreign policy which must safeguard it's national interests .
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Oct 27, 2017 12:36pm
Nice article but missed the Indian aggressive designs to isolate and kneel down Pakistan at any cost. It is also missed that Pakistan not only a single time but asked many times to India for restorations of dialogues but it is India that wants dialogues on terrorism so that it can malign Pakistan whereas all other core issues should be thrown on a side, which is not acceptable to Pakistan. It seems impossible that dialogues can move ahead if India will not consider Kashmir issue a core problem between both countries. Hopefully both countries will try to show flexible attitude and move towards dialogues.
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Oct 27, 2017 12:48pm
@Amer Please do not forget, for all practical purposes; it is Nawaz who decided to have FM this time around.
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Oct 27, 2017 01:11pm
You go to damn...for which you created yourself
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Oct 27, 2017 01:17pm
@R S Chakravarti " But foreign policy is made elsewhere, in Rawalpindi." Why is it that you know more about where foreign policy is made, than the minister himself? Never heard any present government saying that. Please let us know when did a minister say that. If not, it is just assumption or pretext to cover incompetence of civilians.
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Oct 27, 2017 01:23pm
@aleem You are misrepresenting the facts my friend. Indian Military neither forms a Foreign policy nor interferes in the Foreign policy framed by Indian government.
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Oct 27, 2017 02:21pm
@Watch your step This just contradicts your earlier statement - I agree that Nawaz wanted to keep most of the decision making to a close group of people and only concentrated on what mattered to him the most in terms of personal gain
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Oct 27, 2017 02:33pm
It seems the government of India has come up with a strategy on Pakistan, and the strategy is to raise the cost of war/proxy war. It simply wants Pakistan to go bankrupt and Pakistan surely is obliging by accepting the bait. India with its economic growth would keep spending more and more on its defense, and in order to compete Pakistan would be spending substantial amount of money to compete and surely is likely to go bankrupt in near future.
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Oct 27, 2017 04:57pm
it is compleely and utterly impossible to Trust Pakistan and Pakistanis ..there is zero history it has ever worked and u simply don't know what that word means.
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Oct 27, 2017 05:51pm
Very well pointed
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Oct 27, 2017 07:51pm
All the leading Nations of this World may once begun to think on the lines that LOVE I
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Oct 28, 2017 01:14am
Interesting perspective ...
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Oct 28, 2017 01:44am
Welcome to the club of foreign affairs......
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Oct 28, 2017 07:43am
Like we can. We are not a Super Power. We are just a spoil sport.
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Oct 28, 2017 09:52am
@Syed F, Hussaini ... do you know that US also gave Pakistan similar amounts as aid ?
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Oct 28, 2017 12:17pm
@Siva d ..... ... It is up to Pakistanis and Indians to solve their own problems, not the United Nations or the US secretary of state.
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Oct 28, 2017 04:12pm
Until the boys are under strict control no civilian Govt. can come up with a strategy.
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Oct 28, 2017 10:07pm
Forget SEA policy, for now, Pakistan has to set its domestic government on an even keel, and for it, it may have to climb a large wall created by it. Otherwise, Pakistan will have to grow its tomatoes and eat them for Rs. 300 per Kilo or more! CPEC effect will come in due time and it will also be good to find Chinese goods but fair amount of debt and interest costs to bear.
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