Reframing policies while facing hard realities

Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari in a recent address to the Institute of Strategic Studies on its Founding Day ceremony spelled out his vision and foreign policy goals and how he perceives to conduct it. Indeed, it was a comprehensive and focused exposition of his thinking and that of the Foreign Office and a refreshing change from the past. It was also reiteration of the government’s commitment to find new ways of conducting itself internally and externally.

The fact that the present government realises the importance of think-tanks and is inclined to give due weightage to their recommendations and feedback on internal and external issues was long overdue. However, we cannot overlook the reality that there are not many think-tanks and the one’s that are, with a few exceptions, lack intellectual and material resources for doing serious research.

This weakness has its genesis in something more fundamental that the governments and educational institutions need to address. In most of our schools and colleges, the emphasis is on rote learning which goes against the very fundamentals of developing an enquiring mind. We need to draw the academia and the student community in the realm of research and development while ensuring that the education syllabi and their quality promote research and enquiry.

The foreign minister’s idea of think-tanks engaging with our student community and intelligentsia abroad at an institutional level needs to be addressed seriously. Not only will it be mutually valuable in terms of ideas and recommendations in several areas but also give a sense to the diaspora of their strong links to the country.

The foreign minister also delved at length on the complexities of major power rivalries and how they use economic power to weaken an adversary or strengthen an ally, a phenomenon that has assumed new proportions recently. The Russian invasion of Ukraine has sharply polarised the world and placed countries like Pakistan in a difficult situation. More significantly, it cannot afford to take sides and has taken a wise course of counselling restraint while maintaining close liaison in both camps.

The foreign minister’s meeting with the US Secretary of State in Europe and reiteration of strengthening economic and trade ties needs to be followed up. His recent visits to China and Iran reflect Pakistan’s commitment to maintaining good relations with major powers and neighbours. The FM also spoke about relations with India and how he visualises breaking the present logjam. His advice to seriously assess where the country stands today in the comity of nations and what future lies ahead in the next ten or hundred years is extremely relevant.

Our national leaders and we as a society are so engrossed in day-to-day events that we fail to plan and look into the future for the common good not only of the present but of coming generations. This has been a major shortcoming of our leadership and stands in sharp contrast with those countries whose leaders, besides placing their countries on sound economic and political foundation, are equally cognizant of the future direction.

Pakistan’s geographical location is such that the impact of geostrategic and geopolitical events in the region has a greater impact in comparison with most countries. This factor in itself should be a valid reason for our leaders to exercise caution. The FM emphasises that we have to make the best of our relations with our neighbours — whether it be India, Afghanistan or Iran — as there is no other choice. Fortunately, we have excellent relations with our northern neighbour China. With Iran we have historical and religious bonds and there is considerable scope of giving it greater depth and expanse while working within the limits of the international sanctions. This relationship should not affect our close bonds with other Middle Eastern countries, particularly Saudi Arabia. Fortunately, the Sharif family’s relations with the Kingdom at the personal level are strong providing an additional impetus. What we have to realise to which the Foreign Minister alluded that all these are important factors, but what really matters is political stability, economic viability and strategic prudence which for years the country’s leadership has failed to provide. Sadly, they have been working mostly to undermine it. Are the present and future governments and opposition leadership in a position to correct course, unlock the potential of the country as people anxiously wait?

Not really, even how the present events unfold is so uncertain. Imran Khan is on a political warpath with no desire for engagement or adhering to norms of normal democratic conduct. He is a rebel, unwilling to be a part of the present system. Most problematic is his lack of acceptance of the new government and street protests. Does it make sense for a country to pursue highly confrontational politics whose institutions are feeble, democracy is anemic, economy in deep distress, regional and global environment is unfavorable, vying desperately for international assistance? With enthusiasm of PTI supporters somewhat waning for street protests, one hopes that Imran Khan would review and reassess his policies. Unfortunately, there are no strong institutions to restrain the abuse of power by leaders. Even if there are, these are brazenly set aside. Galvanising people for strengthening democracy, moving in the direction of stabilising the economy with a specific agenda would have made sense. These are the areas our leaders ought to address seriously. With energy costs sky-rocketing, giving rise to galloping inflation, a coordinated approach across the political divide is necessary. Chronic power failures, resulting in blackouts, have reduced productivity and are exacerbating inequalities and adding to the misery of our people.

Instead, intense rivalry between political parties is weaking democracy, creating difficulties in steering the economy and affecting country’s image. What ought to be of great concern there is no sensitivity among certain political leaders about the gravity of the situation that Pakistan is facing. What is not being realised is that no single party or government alone can steer the country from the present impasse.

 

Published in The Express Tribune, June 22^nd, 2022.

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