The question whether Pakistan is really being isolated needs a fair answer. Somehow, successful propaganda has been made to give an impression that the Afghanistan-India collaboration has managed to paint Pakistan black in and outside of the US. Moreover, since April when Congress obstructed the Obama administration’s plans to spend $430 million through the US foreign military financing budget to subsidise the sale of F-16 fighter jets, there has been a continuous decline in US-Pakistan relations.
Despite all this, Pakistan is managing well to assert itself in the international diplomatic circles. Though the propaganda is not being given a befitting response because of lack of capacity and capability, it is beginning to pace with the prime minister’s (PM) return after his open-heart surgery in London. The PM’s first public appearance was his sojourn to Muzaffarabad after the PML-N electoral victory. The following day, there was a meeting of the National Security Council in which issues of national interest were discussed, including Indian atrocities in the Indian-Occupied Kashmir (IOK). The PM cautioned India to eschew the path of violence in the IOK, followed by a harsh reaction from the Indian side.
On July 25, the PM telephoned President Ashraf Ghani of Afghanistan, and while condemning the latest bombing of the rally of the ethnic minority, Hazara, he offered assistance in investigations. Reliable sources were quoted as saying that Chief of Army Staff General Raheel Sharif also called Ghani, and condemning the Kabul rally bombings offered assistance in the probe. The president thanked both Nawaz Sharif and Raheel Sharif for their concern, and stressed upon the need to act together against terrorists.
The visit of Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif to China focused on future investments and enhanced bilateral relations. The Chinese have started using a term “Punjab Speed” as a role model, not only for morale boosting of workers but also to motivate them to accomplish their assigned tasks in the extraordinary way Sharif is doing in the Punjab.
Pakistan’s National Security Advisor Nasser Khan Janjua carried PM’s special message to Tehran. While positively responding the Iranian government assured Pakistan that it would not allow a third country to sabotage relations between the two friendly neighbours. It was reiterated that the need of the hour was that Iran and Pakistan should design a joint mechanism to thwart the threat and take measures to deal with the new security situation.
During General Sharif’s two-day official visit to Cairo, the Egyptian government sought Pakistan’s help to transfer expertise and training techniques for fighting terrorists. General Sharif met the Egyptian defence minister and Chief of Staff, and both sides vowed to synergize efforts and resources to fight and eliminate terrorism. Egyptian leaders expressed specific interest in benefiting from Pakistan Army’s experience in all facets of fighting terrorism including countering IEDs.
Recently, a high profile US delegation led by Senator John McCain visited Pakistan and met General Raheel Sharif at the GHQ, Rawalpindi. The delegation also visited Waziristan areas of operation. Senator McCain expressed his appreciation of Pakistan’s efforts to fight terrorists. Pakistan’s Ambassador to the United Nations, Dr Maleeha Lodhi, has vehemently highlighted the issue of Kashmir before the world body. Pakistan needs to gear up its diplomatic efforts in order to effectively and resourcefully highlight to the world the Indian atrocities in the IOK.
Chief of Air Staff Air Marshal Sohail Aman recently visited Russia on the invitation of the Russian defence industry. It could be said that such an invitation is a hint that Russian defence and aviation industry is opening up its products for Pakistan. Air Marshal Aman visited the Air Base and Aviation Industrial Complex in Moscow, and monitored performance of modern fighter jets and other important military hardware. He was briefed about the role and tasks of the Russian Air Force, and was shown various aircraft on its inventory. He highlighted the significance of having mutual training programmes, and conduct of Operational Exercises of the two air forces to benefit from each other’s experiences.
Later, Aman met the aviation industry hierarchy of Russia for exploring multiple options with special regard to enhancing cooperation in technical fields. He also met Colonel-General Victor Bondarev, Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Federation Aerospace Force, and discussed matters of professional and mutual interest. Both agreed upon increasing bilateral cooperation in particular and aviation industry in general, and boosting aviation technology jointly.
Emerging geopolitical dynamics in the region have also witnessed cordial relations between Pakistan and Russia in various fields including the defence sector. Pakistan and Russia had bitter relations in the past dating back to the Russian invasion of Afghanistan when Pakistan was allying with the US and its allies against the Russian onslaught. However, with the changing geopolitics, Pakistan and Russia have come close to each other, with Russia gradually opening up its defence industry for Pakistan. Bilateral visits of high-level defence dignitaries of both the states have taken place in the recent past. Russia is selling Pakistan the state-of-the-art Mi35 combat helicopters, and the defence collaboration between the two states is likely to be enhanced further in coming days. Pakistan Air Force has also shown interest in the latest Russian fighter jets.
The holding of crucial meeting of the representatives of Pakistan, Afghanistan and the United States in the Afghan capital on July 26 was to flesh out an agreement aimed at improving coordination between the border security forces of the two neighbours. The move came on the heels of a border flare-up last month over the installation of a security gate. Pakistan remains firm on its efforts to manage the border on its side to check the crossing-over of terrorists from Afghanistan’s side.
The success of the Zarb-e-Azb and the firm and courageous stand of General Raheel Sharif has played a pivotal role in changing perceptions about Pakistan’s stance towards terrorism. Those who have not been on talking terms are ready to forge an alliance with the army or benefit from its experiences to tackle the menace of terrorism. One is hopeful that if all is not well, all is not unwell either. If there is disappointment, there also lies hope.
The writer is a freelance columnist