Senators say time to shun US dictation

Upper House calls for reviewing terms of engagement

ISLAMABAD: Lawmakers in the upper house of parliament have unanimously agreed to engage all stakeholders for reviewing Pakistan’s terms of engagement with world powers, especially the United States.

“There is complete imbalance in our relations with the US, which has been shaping and reshaping our foreign policy goals through means of dictation and bullying,” said the Senate chairman on Wednesday.

Raza Rabbani was chairing an important meeting of the Senate Committee of the Whole convened to chalk out policy guidelines in light of the “emerging regional realities”.



Last week, a few US congressmen, including Matt Salmon who heads the Asia and Pacific Subcommittee of House Foreign Affairs Committee, recommended cutting off all American assistance to Pakistan to force Islamabad to go tough on Afghan Taliban. Some harsh comments drew a grim response from the Senate chairman.

“The situation arising after the negative remarks of [US] Congress legislators regarding Pakistan’s role in war on terror has compelled us to determine new terms of engagement to promote our national interest,” Rabbani said.



The unnecessary criticism has become a frequent trend amongst the US legislators and policymakers without realising Pakistan’s efforts for global war on terror. Such irresponsible remarks by US congressmen will only create instability in the region.”

Senator Sherry Rehman, a former ambassador to the US, said “historic cognitive disconnect” existed between the US and Pakistan. “The US has been long seeing us through the lens of Afghanistan and it is time it recognises us as an independent political entity and regional reality.”

However, she also called upon Pakistan’s foreign policy bosses not to indulge in a blame game and “try to put their own house in order first”.



Vehemently opposing the overwhelming interference of the security establishment in foreign affairs, Rehman said formulating foreign policy was the parliament’s job. “A democratic arrangement influenced by any organisation or department that is otherwise subservient to the elected government kills the essence of democracy,” she said. “I strongly believe the foreign policy should not be drafted by the establishment or any other quarters.”

Sehar Kamran wondered if, at all, the world would take a country seriously which did not have a foreign policy. “This speaks volumes about the sheer incompetence of our rulers, who have failed to pick just one person to head the foreign affairs ministry,” she added. “While the states are introducing new foreign policy trends and reprioritising their diplomatic goals, we are living in the past, dancing to the US tunes in submission.”

The Senate panel members unanimously agreed to invite all stakeholders in the upcoming meetings so that comprehensive guidelines could be mapped out for future engagements with neighbouring countries and world powers as well.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 21^st, 2016.