Pakistan to pursue diplomacy on CPEC

Civil-military conclave evaluates policy options in response to different foreign policy challenges

ISLAMABAD: The country’s top civil and military leaders have decided to pursue effective diplomacy to counter the challenges faced by the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) which has been dubbed a ‘game-changer’ and ‘destiny changer’ for the region.

“CPEC is the cornerstone of our own quest for regional connectivity and shared prosperity,” read a statement issued after an important conclave at the Prime Minister House.



Premier Nawaz Sharif presided over the huddle where attendees included army chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa, DG ISI Lt Gen Naveed Mukhtar, and the premier’s advisers Sartaj Aziz, Tariq Fatemi and Lt Gen (retd) Nasser Janjua.



It was the first civil-military conclave on foreign policy and CPEC since the change of military command.

The meeting “evaluated policy options in response to different challenges in regard to foreign relations” and “reviewed the current status of Pakistan’s relations with its neighbours and strategic partners”, according to the statement.

“The meeting focused on issues pertaining to regional, external and internal security situation. It also reviewed bilateral and multi-lateral relations with neighbouring countries, future road-map for regional stability and maintenance of mutually beneficial relations with all countries in the region and beyond,” it added.



Sources say the role of Afghanistan and India figured high during the discussions and the meeting discussed how to counter ‘hostile diplomacy’ aimed at undermining Pakistan’s counter-terrorism gains as well as sabotaging CPEC.

Defence analyst Brigadier (retd) Said Nazir Mohmand says diplomatic patterns are being reshaped in the region with the formation of new alliances. “A multi-polar world is in the offing in which Pakistan will have a central position,” he told The Express Tribune.

Pakistan, China and Russia are coming together to forge close relationship. “This means Pakistan would enhance its defence ties with China and Russia in addition to pursuing economic and strategic goals,” he added.



“Afghanistan is an irritant where India wields influence. Pakistan knows the importance of stabilising Afghanistan to secure its western front which is necessary for regional stability.”

Of late, media reports have been doing rounds that Iran and Russia want to be part of CPEC and Pakistan is considering engaging the two countries in the project.

Sources, however, say it is too early to give a definite reply but stakeholders share a strong willingness to work with mutual cooperation for pursuit of shared goals.

“The bad thing is: There are some hostile states that are out to sabotage CPEC. The good thing is: there is willingness among the stakeholders to act in mutual cooperation,” one source said. Pakistan believes in peaceful co-existence with all countries of the region and looks forward to establishing strong and mutually beneficial relations, reads the PM House statement.

“Peaceful coexistence, mutual respect and economically integrated region must be our shared objective and we must strive for realising this objective. This could be possible only when we demonstrate a commitment to our aspirations of peace, progress and prosperity,” it adds.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 4^th, 2017.