Islamabad's flawed foreign policy delaying held Kashmir's resolution: PPP

Legislators urge government to give Parliament supremacy; address Kashmir issue internationally

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) criticised on Friday the government for its “flawed” foreign policy, saying the prevailing ‘traditional diplomacy’ on Kashmir issue would not yield any significant result.

The legislators stressed the need for Parliament to take a lead role and redefine national interest, saying the Kashmir issue would take another 100 years to settle if Parliament was not given supremacy.

The joint session of Parliament concluded Friday with adoption of a unanimous resolution over the Kashmir issue.

“Pakistan is in a state of delusion and confusion over the issue of Kashmir,” PPP Senator Sherry Rehman said during the debate. “Sending representatives to foreign countries to advocate Pakistan’s case over Kashmir, or a mere speech at the forum of UN General Assembly delivered by the prime minister, that too in an apologetic tone, will not be considered Pakistan’s foreign policy at any level."

'Indian tyranny at its peak in held-Kashmir'

The senator advised the government to consult former president Asif Ali Zardari to “learn” diplomacy and foreign affairs tactics.

“Foreign ministry and diplomats are considered the first line of defense and unfortunately we failed at this front,” Rehman said, adding that military was the last option. “When a vacuum is created, someone fills it out,” she said, apparently referring to military 'taking over' the Kashmir issue in the absence of concrete steps from the civilian government.

Rehman questioned as to what steps Pakistan had taken so far as they [Indians] used Indus Water treaty as a weapon of war. “Water could not be used as an instrument in war,” she said, asking the government if it took up the matter at any forum.



The PPP leader advised the government to invite other countries in supporting Pakistan on the Kashmir issue.

The senator also pointed out that the National Security Committee of Parliament was dysfunctional for the last three years and government was reluctant to make it functional.

As the House adopted the resolution, the Leader of the opposition in National Assembly Syed Khurshid Shah said it would have been better if the prime minister and other senior Cabinet ministers remained present at the time of its passage.

Resolution available with The Express Tribune: