The PML-N led government is nearing the end of its five-year term, but it still comes across as unclear on its foreign policy. Fears of an alliance between the US, Israel and India are unnecessary taking the time and energy of the Foreign Office and parliamentarians. In the recent 13th session of the Parliamentary Union of Islamic Countries (PUIC) held in Tehran, Senate Chairman Mian Raza Rabbani warned the Muslim world of a potential nexus between the three countries. Speaker of the National Assembly Ayaz Sadiq also emphasised a volatile regional environment and stressed the need for strengthening relations between Muslim nations to deal with it. Without clear-headed action on the regional front, these concerns of our statesmen won’t count for much. When addressing Muslim nations at such summits, Pakistani leaders remain all too ready to stand united with the Muslim world, but somehow their enthusiasm diminishes when it comes to making concrete economic and trade plans involving Muslim countries in our region. The Iran-Pakistan gas pipeline is illustrative of this. It has often been on the verge of being mothballed due to pressure from the US and Saudi Arabia. The latter has frequently offered lucrative oil deals and financial assistance to prevent progress on the pipeline, whilst the US has often threatened Pakistan with economic sanctions if it does not abandon the project. Our leaders lack of interest in standing up to such interventions in our affairs has prevented us from pursuing projects that are in the interest of the nation and affected our ties with the western neighbours. So rather than obsessing with the US-Israel-India nexus, we must prioritise our interest and pursue policies that enable us to achieve those interest as well as strengthen our ties with all states in the region, including India. * Published in Daily Times, January 22nd 2018.