Reversing isolationism

In recent days these columns have reflected our frustration at the seeming impossibility of resolving the problems that beset our relationship with India, and their interconnectedness to a range of other regional issues, one of which is a perception that Pakistan has become isolated. It is not difficult to see why parts of the international community see Pakistan as isolated and out of step; and it appears that the government has finally woken up to this uncomfortable reality. A three-day session which brought together our envoys to nine countries with which we have key relationships has just concluded, and the prime minister addressed the final plenary session. A platter of critical challenges was laid before the ambassadors, principal among which were peace with the neighbours, the defeat of extremism and terrorism on the home front, support for the Kashmir independence movement, the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor and lastly and perhaps most urgently the promotion of a positive image of Pakistan abroad.



The prime minister made acknowledgement that any nation that was not in conformity with what he termed “regional and international character” was going to face isolation, and it was necessary to acknowledge that Pakistan has to honour international values and norms alongside those which are nation-specific to us. It is for our envoys to reach out to our critics and understand and address their concerns — not an easy task given the patently equivocal attitude to some groups and individuals that are perceived elsewhere as terrorists but seemingly have free rein here.

If the prime minister’s words do indeed represent an understanding that the concerns of the wider world about Pakistan can no longer be ignored, then we offer a cautious welcome to them. Cautious rather than unequivocal because we have been here before, and many times. The prime minister’s statement was essentially a reiteration of the blindingly obvious, and the question mark is over just how much his government can deliver on any of the aforementioned foreign policy challenges. Considering the failure to implement key elements of the National Action Plan, it would be fair to say we are not holding our breath.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 5^th, 2016.

Like Opinion & Editorial on Facebook, follow @ETOpEd on Twitter to receive all updates on all our daily pieces.