Pakistan wants relations with US 'in sync with changed priorities': Qureshi

The dire humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan will have consequences for the region and beyond, says foreign minister

Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi said on Tuesday that Pakistan wants a relationship with the United States which is in ‘sync’ with the country’s changed priorities.

Speaking at Margalla Dialogue Forum in Islamabad, the foreign minister said the new approach is in line with Prime Minister Imran Khan’s vision of shifting from geo-politics to geo-economics.

While maintaining that Islamabad values its longstanding relationship with Washington, Qureshi said the country “wanted multifaceted ties that were not susceptible to the vagaries of regional and international policies”.

“Recent strategic rivalry between the world powers has added to the nuances of global peace,” Qureshi said. “The mindset of geopolitics must be restructured and the importance of geo-economics must be acknowledged. The future of a successful foreign policy depends on not repeating the strategic mistakes of the early 1990s.”

The country’s top diplomat added that enhanced trade and investment ties with the US and cooperation with regards to regional connectivity can work to Pakistan’s mutual benefit.

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Regarding the situation in Afghanistan, Qureshi warned that a dire humanitarian crisis is looming in the war-torn country and it has consequences for the region and beyond.

“Pakistan is hosting an extraordinary session of the OIC on Sunday to mobilise support for providing adequate food, medicine and housing to millions of Afghans in dire distress,” he said. “Pakistan continues to work at every level for a stable, peaceful and prosperous regional future.”

He added that Pakistan had been working closely with the international partners for humanitarian outreach and bringing together neighbouring countries of Afghanistan and international stakeholders for a coordinated approach.

The foreign minister also mentioned the role played by Pakistan in facilitating Afghan peace talks and the evacuations of foreign nationals from Afghanistan.

“Pakistan has advocated and worked for the establishment of an inclusive polity in Afghanistan, respecting the rights of all ethnic and religious minorities as well as of women,” he said. “Afghan government has assured all its neighbours that their soil will not be allowed to be used for terrorism. The same message has been given by Kabul to extra-regional powers.”

Referring to Indian atrocities in Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK), the foreign minister said it as the duty of the United Nations and the international community to hold India accountable for the unconscionable state of affairs.

“India must realize that without resolving the Kashmir dispute, we cannot free the peoples of South Asia from perennial instability,” he stressed.

The foreign minister also emphasised on technology and scientific changes, which were already impacting war and peace, climate change, economies and geo-politics.

“Big tech, by amassing and monopolising data is outgrowing capitalism as we know it. By redesigning supply chains, virtual reality and the way we think and live,” the FM said.

He added that it was data control that influenced mindsets and shaped narratives and ultimately crafted the 'perception game'.

“Staying connected, staying ahead and staying alert in the digital space is of paramount importance in achieving foreign policy goals,” he said. “There is no doubt that Covid-19 has accelerated the digital diplomacy trajectory. Diplomacy now does not rely upon the leadership to leadership telephone calls or state visits.”

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Technology, he said, had never played such a definitive role in relationships.

“Perception wars are won and lost on Twitter, so what better place to use fewer resources and achieve great outcomes in a short amount of time. I am happy to share that FO has clearly prioritised digital alliances. Entering for instance, as the founding member of KSA-led digital cooperation organisation in record time,” the foreign minister said.