Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif (R) and US President Barack Obama (L). PHOTO: AFP
In the current scenario, Pakistan will need to practise artful diplomacy to convince the world of its stance and diversify its foreign policy to protect its interests.
There was a general consensus by speakers and foreign policy experts that Pakistan should improve strategic relations with major powers other than the US at a seminar, “Pakistan-US Relations: Status and the Road Ahead,” held on Thursday.
Former senator and foreign affairs secretary Akram Zaki said it was becoming increasingly difficult for Pakistan to maintain a stable relationship with the US which was apparently only interested in counterterrorism and nuclear non-proliferation.
There are no friends or enemies in international diplomacy and states
forge alliance based on their national interests, he added.
Zaki termed the revival of strategic dialogues to be held between Pakistan and the US by the end of January as a step in the right direction. He was of the view that despite ups and downs in their relations the two countries have a future of long-term cooperation.
Quaid-i-Azam Institute of Pakistan Studies Director Dr Tahir Amin said, “In Ziaul Haq’s time, the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) was not allowed to operate inside Pakistan and relations with mujahideen and other groups were managed by the Inter Services Intelligence, while Musharraf allowed them free movement.” Pakistan has been infiltrated by the CIA, he remarked.
Speaking on convergence between two countries, he quoted Vali Nasr, a US professor that Pakistan should not be underemphasised with regard to stability in Afghanistan. Pakistan should minimise conflicts with neighbours and evolve its foreign policy, he added.
According to Edward Snowden’s revelations 50 per cent of CIA’s black budget is spent on surveillance of Pakistan’s nuclear programme, he stated.
The event was held at the Institute of Policy Studies.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 10th, 2014.
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