Daily Times

ISLAMABAD – National Assembly’s Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs has asked the government to take Parliament into confidence regarding on-going visits of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and Chief of Army Staff General Raheel Sharif to Saudi Arabia and Iran to diffuse tensions between the two countries.

A meeting of the committee was held with its Chairman Awais Leghari in the chair demanded to take the parliament into confidence about the visit. The committee was also briefed about bilateral ties of Pakistan with India. The bilateral relationships between the two countries were unstable due to several issues including distribution of water and Kashmir issue.

The committee was also briefed about a research report prepared by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the National University of Science and Technology (NUST). According to the report, Pakistan and India have differences at national and international level on many issues, including water dispute and Kashmir issue.

Pakistan wants to resolve its all differences with India through dialogue but India was influencing on bilateral relations but also ties with other countries. New Delhi was using its influence to affect trade of different countries with Pakistan, the report said.

Member of the committee Shah Mehmood Qureshi said thT Pakistan should clarify its priorities regarding foreign policy about current situation and changing paradigm of the region. He said that parliament was supreme forum consist of public representatives, therefore, foreign policy should be finalised with discussion of all political parties.

Pakhtunkhwa Mili Awami Party (PkMAP) chief Mehmood Khan Achakzai said that they would not accept foreign policy made by the prime minister, the army chief and some other bureaucrats. He said that situation cannot be improved without improving ties with Afghanistan and India.

He also asked the premier to take Parliament into confidence over the recent developments. He said that Pakistan should not support one country between Iran and Saudi Arabia as it would leave impacts inside the country.

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) lawmaker Shireen Mazari said that Islamabad should have deep look at enhancing strategic ties between Pakistan and India under which they would get access to defence installations of each others.

Committee chairman asked the members to send their recommendations to the committee as these could be considered while formulating a policy.