Daily Times

The robust change in foreign policy has started bearing fruit for Pakistan since the countries like the US and Russia have appreciated Pakistan’s role in peace process as well as in the War on Terror.

The World has started to appreciate the positive image projected by PTI Government under PM Khan. Undoubtedly, a new chapter of peaceful Pakistan has unfolded where the peace has a central role to play.

The opening of Kartarpur Corridor, peace efforts for Afghanistan quagmire and propagating peaceful settlement for Indian-Occupied Kashmir (IOK) on the basis of UN resolutions will certainly bear fruit and carve the way of progress and economic boom for crisis-ridden Pakistan.

Luckily, the diplomatic relations in the existing circumstances have been very effective due to PTI’s effective implementation of external policy to engage with world powers including the all-weather friend China. The Prime Minister’s visits to Saudi Arabia, China, UAE and Turkey have painted a positive image of Pakistan Globally and even in his poll victory speech had drawn the attention of the world that Pakistan intends to enjoy friendly and peaceful relations with the world especially China, Iran, Afghanistan, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, US, Central Asian States, the Middle and the Far East .

The opening of Kartarpur Corridor, peace efforts for Afghanistan quagmire and propagating peaceful settlement for Indian-Occupied Kashmir on the basis of UN resolutions will certainly bear fruit and carve the way of progress and economic boom for crisis-ridden Pakistan

Imran Khan’s speech was also welcomed by India since he had offered India to initiate strategic dialogue to restart the stalled talks. He went on to say that if India comes forward one step he will advance twice.

Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi has so far played the instrumental role by visiting the Kabul and holding a meeting with President Ashraf Ghani to ensure Pakistani role in peacebuilding process especially the US phased withdrawal plan and influencing the Taliban to come to negotiating table.

With Russia taking lead in hosting the Afghan Taliban moot after almost 30 Years of Afghan invasion with an aim to find a peaceful political solution to the Afghan mess. Historically, the Soviet Union disintegrated after sustaining a humiliating defeat at the hands of the Afghan Mujahedeen and insurgent groups.

It is like history repeating itself since unlike Russia, the US plans to initiate the phased withdrawal. The US has fought the longest war ever in Afghanistan but consequently lost the war morally that prompted it to pull its forces out of Afghanistan in phases so that civil administration may take the charge of security.

The US intention for regime change was half fulfilled in terms of toppling the Taliban regime but it has not been able to suppress or weaken the insurgent Taliban rather they have become little stronger and controlling vast areas.

That was the reason that after his twitter tirade against Pakistan, Donald Trump changed its aggressive stance against Pakistan and wrote a letter to PM Khan for help to bring peace in war-torn Afghanistan. That is really a tragic and dismal end to US-Afghan war since the US mission remained impossible due to strong Taliban. Trump Administration followed aggressive policies that led them to isolation.

In this connection, two sessions of talks were held. The first round of talks was hosted by Russia in Moscow and the second was held in UAE with Taliban Leadership.

Pakistan will keep on playing its role for peace in Afghanistan since it’s in best interests of the country to secure its borders especially the trade routes of CPEC. Pakistan’s surging balance of payments issue was resolved with the assistance of Saudi Arabia, the UAE and China which is the result of the robust reshaping of foreign policy making it independent based on equality. Pakistan’s recrafted and redesigned foreign policy serves its interest in the best manner and all credit goes to PM Imran Khan, Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi and his Foreign Office team for projecting the positive image of Pakistan in the world. This positive image will attract more foreign investment in the country since apart from external policy, the internal policy has also improved manifold and so far no great incident of terrorism has surfaced thanks to our brave soldiers of the Rangers, Army and the Police who are always ready to sacrifice their lives to defend the dear homeland with true spirit of Patriotism.

The writer is a a freelance columnist having interests in policy research, governance, education and development

Published in Daily Times, January 18^th 2019.