Former diplomats have called upon the political leadership to evolve a consensus agenda to frame foreign policy based on security doctrine and economic vision.
“Foreign policy is the projection and protection of a nation’s sovereignty, security, and its vital political, cultural and citizens’ interests beyond its borders,” said Senator Akram Zaki at a discussion at the Institute of Regional Studies (IRS) here on Thursday.
The former Secretary General of Foreign Affairs said that prior to elections a common national agenda should be established to lay down a foreign policy that can provide a coherent guideline for future developments, stated a press release issued by the IRS. He urged the political leadership to focus on foreign policy as it is linked to our domestic realities, economy and security.
Zaki highlighted the challenges faced by Pakistan’s foreign policy and stressed the need to focus on building and expanding economic relations to overcome these challenges. In this context, Pakistan’s aspiring membership in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) and the recent D-8 initiative has been a positive breath in diversifying its foreign policy, he added.
While talking on challenges from neighbours, Zaki said that Pakistan should strengthen ties with China and Iran. However, he said Pakistan has difficult relation on both its eastern and western front with Afghanistan since independence, which are now extended with the presence of extra-territorial neighbours such as the US and NATO in Afghanistan. On its eastern front with India is a long history of conflict and trust deficit, said Zaki, adding that Pakistan should focus on maintaining its status quo.
On Pakistan’s relations with the Gulf states, Zaki said both sides enjoy good relations. However, he said that western policies which focus on war against radical political Islam and not terrorism are creating confusion among the Muslims.
During the discussion, former ambassador Ali Sarwar Naqvi, of the Centre for International Strategic Stability, pointed out that identity is the most important manifestation of foreign policy. He said the identity does not remain static but keeps on evolving and changing as per changing international realities.
Other Participants were Prof Zhou Rong of the Chinese Guang Ming Daily, Lt-Gen Amjad Shoaib, Fazlur Rehman Director East Asia at the Institute of Strategic Studies and Dr Shabana Fayyaz of the Department of Defence and Strategic Studies at the Quaid-i-Azam University.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 8th, 2012.
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