FM links foreign policy success to strong economy

Qureshi says India’s BJP facing defeat in Delhi polls due to contentious laws

KARACHI: Linking the success of foreign policy to a strong economy, Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi on Monday said that world community would take Pakistan seriously when the country was strengthened economically.

Addressing a ceremony at the Federation of Pakistan Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) in Karachi, Qureshi that the government had asked China to help Pakistan and it was expected that the country could export textiles, sugar and potato to the neighbour under the free-trade agreement.

“The international community is well aware of what is happening in occupied Kashmir. Countries talk about human rights and ethics but no practical steps are taken [because] they realise that Indian is a huge market, so they end up taking steps to protect their own economic interests,” he said.

“We have learned a lot during this one year-and-a-half [in government],” he said. “Economic stability is essential for Pakistan so that it is taken seriously in the foreign affairs,” he added. “The world links its foreign policy to its economic interests.”

Qureshi apprised the participants of the steps take to highlight the Kashmir issue at the world level. He said that had written several letters to the UN Security Council to highlight the Indian brutalities.

He warned that India might try a false flag operation to divert attention from its internal turmoil.

The minister said that Narendra Modi’s actions have damaged the economic conditions of the people in Occupied Kashmir (IOK), adding that the six-month clampdown on the occupied territory had left millions of Kashmiris unemployed. “It has caused the loss of $2 billion to the economy of the valley and 400,000 people have been deprived of their jobs,” he said.



Qureshi told the participants that India’s ruling Bhartya Janata Party (BJP) was facing an imminent defeat in New Delhi state elections because of Modi’s contentious moves, particularly the government’s “cruel” policies in occupied Kashmir and new citizenship laws.

Since the BJP’s victory in the 2019 general elections, the party had to “face difficulties” in three state elections, he said. “As for the Delhi elections, where results will be announced tomorrow (Tuesday), it is expected the BJP will face a lot of difficulties and is facing a huge defeat,” he added.

Dilating on the measures to stabilise economy, he said Pakistan has seen de-industrialisation in recent years. “The question is about when this process started. If industries are shutting down now, something must have happened in the past few years to have triggered the process.”

However, he added: “The present government has repaid $10 billion in loans”, and stressed that “Pakistan has to look for a way forward now”.

Speaking of economic growth and stability, Qureshi said, “The world will take Pakistan seriously when we are financially stable.
“I am here today, so that we can come up with ways for the foreign ministry to facilitate the finance ministry and other ministries in establishing contact with other countries and forging better ties with them. This will help us learn from them and also work with them.”

He told the audience that trade officers have been appointed in the Pakistani missions abroad in a transparent manner and their posting had been linked with their performance. He added that the missions had been directed to give priority to Pakistani businessmen and the labour.

In later he spoke on topic of ‘The Strategic Importance of Economic Diplomacy for Pakistan in the 21st’ Century, at the Institute of Business Administration (IBA). The event was attended by scholars, diplomats, corporate sector representatives, media persons, and the IBA faculty and students.

“The 21st century is different from the old times as borders have now become fluid,” Qureshi said. Emphasising the importance of economic diplomacy, the foreign minister said: “In one word, it is ‘opportunity’.”

He also discussed about the economic challenges to Pakistan, including the current account deficit and falling exports. He mentioned that Pakistan secured over $10 billion in loans to overcome balance of payments crisis, and secured oil supplies on deferred payment.

He said that Pakistan would no longer fight other countries’ wars and maintain its stance for peace.

While talking about the future, he said that Pakistan must climb up by upgrading technology, using the talented youth and by capitalising on the export-related opportunities which were being created by the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).