Daily Times

Do contours of Pakistan’s new foreign policy seem to be on the anvil in the backdrop of Trump’s mood swing against Islamabad, labeling it as a facilitator to the ‘agent of chaos’? Should it be believed that Pakistan has woken up to reality; that it is high time to liberate ourselves from the outdated foreign policy of saying always ‘Yes’ to the US administration, compromising our own interests.

These questions are unquenched so far as it will take time till the dust settles. Initially, emotions run high. Everybody, including military and political leadership, getting overwhelmed with sentimentality, sounds to be on same page in denouncing US president Donald Trump for those crimes never committed by Pakistan. On fast-paced developments, Foreign Minister Khawaja Asif delayed his US tour and geared up to visit China and Russia and Turkey on the recommendations of National Security Committee. Pakistan also never cared after Acting Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs, Alice Wells’, visit to Pakistan has been held in abeyance.

Pakistan turns lionhearted after receiving upbeat response from China, Russia, Iran and other friendly countries when Trump tried to spell doom revealing when new policy on Afghanistan and Pakistan.

The emerging outlook is good for morale-boosting and mood-lifting. It gives us a silver lining in the gathering storm. However, sense must prevail with its real might, once we thrash out a Pakistan-centric foreign policy to live as respectful nation, instead of caving in to any pressure, come what may.

Under existing foreign policy that needs to be overhauled, Pakistan has lost much and gained nothing in totality. According to report of Washington-based Center for Global Development (CGD), US poured more than $30bn direct aid to Pakistan since 1948. Under a Coalition Support Fund, US released a total of $14bn till 2016 since 2002. Half of the chunk went to military assistance. Ironically, often aid is withheld on various lame excuses.

Recently Adam Stump, a Pentagon spokesperson, announced to stop $350m funds on the pretext that Pakistan failed to take desired action against the Haqqani Network, a group of militants based around the Pakistan-Afghanistan border, alleged for ambushing western and Afghan forces.

In return, war on terror cost Pakistan economy $118 billion as per report of State Bank of Pakistan. That report disclosed that terrorists incurred irreparable losses, badly impacting economic developmentand social sector growth. They also caused massive casualties and mass displacement.

It remains disgusting that US administration always looks down upon Pakistan suspecting its action in eliminating terrorist networks and their sanctuaries. Pakistan launched lethal operations including Rah-e-Nijat, Rah-e-Rast, Zarb-e-Azb, Khyber 1-through-4 and on-going Radd-ul-Fassad reclaiming its land from TTP and their allied groups. These ground offensive and air strikes worked well in booting out senior leadership of TTP from South Waziristan, FATA and other parts of the country. IDPs surged as a result of these operations. This created a humanitarian crisis in Pakistan.

In order to intercept the movement of TTP and other terrorist groups on Pak-Afghan border, an effective border management system was put in place that produced positive results.

Islamabad, in a process of attaining peace, pulled out all stops to initiate talks with Afghanistan Taliban and TTP leadership. Before something positive took place, US played devil with the peace process. From killing Baitullah Mehsud to murdering Mullah Mansoor, Pentagon threw the spanner in the works.

The Pentagon — in its six monthly report to Congress — claim that despite some action by Pakistan, Afghan-oriented militant groups, including the Taliban and Haqqani Network, enjoy freedom of action inside Pakistani territory and cashing in support from elements of the Pakistani government.

In this perspective, a question stems up that 16 years are on and $1 trillion burnt in establishing peace in Afghanistan. America also deployed over 100,000 American troops to erase out terrorists and insurgents. Can the US justify this epic failure before asking Pakistan as to why Pakistan could not come up to its expectations?

16 years on and $1 trillion has been burnt in establishing peace in Afghanistan. America also deployed over 100,000 troops to erase terror from the landscape, to no avail. Would the US be good enough to explain this epic failure before asking Pakistan why it hasn’t managed to live up to expectations?

There are tangible questions that Pakistan need to table everywhere to design new foreign policy. Consultations with candid friends like China, Russia, Turkey, Iran and others will help to shape it better. These points should also be conversed with world community seeking its point of view.

Now, the time is ripe to attend to wits without triggering aggression against the US. Imminent foreign policy should be built on the fundamental ideology of the founder of Pakistan to have a peace with everyone, including neighbours. With an upright image in the world, Pakistan should never let anything compromise its national interests. New foreign policy has greater chance to live up to aspirations of people of Pakistan if parliament is given greater role to thrash out do’s and don’ts. When both houses of parliament — who have the sound mandate of public — will put their heads and action together, sanity always prevails.

The writer is a senior investigative journalist working for China Radio International and South China Morning Post. He pitches articles on diplomacy, security, economy and foreign affairs. He may be reached at yaseerkhan@hotmail.com

Published in Daily Times, August 31^st 2017.