Narrow foreign policy

TORONTO: Ibrahim Sajid Malick’s “Pakistan’s narrow foreign policy” (June 25) was an excellent piece on a topic which is seldom elaborated upon. Former Prime Minister Zulfikar A Bhutto was probably the only politician who devised an independent foreign policy for the country. Despite my reservations over his foreign policy, no leader matches Mr Bhutto when it comes to foreign policy.

Even if one disagrees with Mr Malick’s recommendations, one cannot deny that he raises relevant issues and makes original suggestions. Globalisation has opened up new possibilities for south-south diplomacy.

Turkey and Brazil have offered to help Iran develop its civilian nuclear energy facilities in line with international proliferation protocols, adding a new dimension to the debate over sanctions on Iran. Pakistan should follow suit, and engage in more south-south diplomacy to find new partners to support its prospective civilian nuclear energy venture with China.

Published in The Express Tribune, June  26^th, 2010.