ISLAMABAD: Opposition lawmakers on Tuesday flayed the government’s foreign policy, claiming that the government has totally failed to improve its relations with the world, especially neighbouring countries. They termed Pakistan’s foreign policy a total failure, which, according to them, isolated the country at international forum. Speaking on motion which was moved by PPP MNA Shahida Rehmani to discuss the foreign policy, the opposition members criticized the government for not appointing a fulltime foreign minister. “Pakistan relations with its neigbouring countries are getting deteriorating. Pakistan’s relations are also worsening with Iran while India is committing water aggression on Pakistan. The government was interpreting CPEC as the solution of every issue,” Shahida maintained. PTI legislator Dr Shireen Mazari pressed the prime minister to explain Pakistan’s foreign policy with India. She was of the view that if borders with Afghanistan were sealed because the government believed that Afghan soil was being used for terrorism in Pakistan then Wagah’s border should also be closed. Sahibzada Tariqullah of JI said Pakistan was passing through a critical phase and unfortunately Pakistan had no permanent foreign minister. “Especially Pakistan relations with Afghanistan were the major concerns while Pakistan never had good relations with India,” he observed. He said a peaceful Afghanistan would ensure peace in Pakistan and the government should take the Pakistan-Afghan relations seriously. The lawmakers said closure of Pak-Afghan border would not help in eliminating terrorism. They said that peace in Pakistan was imperative for peace in Afghanistan. They demanded that the foreign policy should be reviewed and good neighbourly relations, particularly with Afghanistan, should be promoted. They also demanded that the government take input from the House for formulating the foreign policy. They said an independent foreign minister should be appointed. “Pakistan had the second safest border with Afghanistan which has become unsafe now.” They also stressed on the requirement of image building of Pakistan before the international community. PPP’s Shazia Marri said the government’s stance on foreign matters had discrepancies as the Foreign Office was saying one thing on closure of border with Afghanistan while Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has another point of view. She said the government has failed to run the portfolio of the foreign ministry. Several others, including Naeema Kishwar Khan, Sheikh Salahuddin and Jamshed Dasti also took part in the debate. PML-N lawmaker Abdul Qadir Baloch said Pakistan never had good relations with Afghanistan since its inception. He said terrorists come from across the border and as Pakistan could not conduct operation against the terrorists in Afghanistan so sealing of border becomes the available option. He also defended the capabilities of Sartaj Aziz and said fewer persons might compete with him as far as competence was concerned. Treasury members said ECO Summit was not only a success for Pakistan but for the whole region and it would help boost trade. They said credit goes to the government that China was investing $46 billion in Pakistan. They said many countries have shown interest to join the CPEC. They said the government was effectively highlighting the Kashmir dispute and atrocities being perpetrated by Indian forces in Indian-held Kashmir at world forums. Winding up the debate on foreign policy, States and Frontier Regions Minister Abdul Qadir Baloch said negotiations were going on with Afghanistan.He hoped that matters relating to border issues would be resolved soon. He said, “Afghanistan has approached us and things were being discussed.” He said Pakistan was ready to remove reservations of Afghanistan. However, he said if Afghanistan wanted to have relations with Pakistan as dictated by India, it was not acceptable. PTI lawmaker Ghulam Sarwar Khan questioned privatisation of three major airports of Pakistan by the government. PPP legislator Ayaz Soomro questioned what would be left for the government when important departments (like airports) would be privatised.