Islamabad: Pakistan will introduce a paradigm shift in its foreign policy in the wake of the US strategy announced by US President Donald Trump last month, Foreign Affairs Minister Khawaja Mohammad Asif has said, adding the country would not allow anyone to make it a scapegoat.
The nation will have to swiftly “change its direction”, Asif said yesterday at the conclusion of a three-day conference of Pakistani envoys in Islamabad, referring to the changing geopolitical situation.
Pakistan’s ambassadors from China, Russia, Afghanistan, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Belgium and the United Arab Emirates participated in the conference to deliberate on key foreign policy issues following US President Donald Trump’s new Afghan policy besides the Kashmir and regional situation.
New narrative
A “new foreign policy narrative” has been evolved which is aimed at bridging the gap between Pakistan and international community on war against terrorism. Since “There is a difference — a distance — between the international perception and Pakistan’s perception [of the war],” Asif said discussing Pakistan’s contribution in the war against terror.
The US policy on South Asia and Afghanistan was discussed during the final meeting of the envoys conference and Pakistan’s ambassador to the United States, Aizaz Ahmad Chaudhry, delivered a briefing on the situation following US President Trump’s statements.
Discussing the new US Afghan policy, Asif said Washington should respect Pakistan’s territorial integrity.
“We are not cutting ties with the US, but will ensure Pakistan’s interests. We want to maintain bilateral relations based on mutual respect with all countries, including the US,” the foreign minister maintained.
“We want to stay engaged with the United States. We have had a long relationship with them, spanning 70 years,” he stated but regretted that Washington does not have a full comprehension of the facts.
“In my personal view, [in the course of this history], we have only incurred losses and haven’t gained much,” he said. However, he added that the consultation process between the two countries must continue as “we are friends”.
He also mentioned the huge losses incurred by Pakistan in the war on terror. “We are the only country in the world which is winning the war on terror, and we will continue winning it,” said Asif while lauding Pakistan’s performance in the war on terror as a third-world nation with limited resources.
The foreign minister also said that coalition forces in Afghanistan numbered more than 100,000 but could not achieve the same level of success. “If more than 100,000 soldiers from 16 countries could not succeed [in Afghanistan], we should not be blamed,” Asif remarked.
“The war can be won with Pakistan’s experience and not without Pakistan’s cooperation,” Asif declared while referring to the 16-year long Afghan conflict.
“They [US] are in a way oblivious to what is happening in the region. We will not accept the scapegoating of the Pakistani nation.”
Besides, US relations, the participants of the three-day conference also discussed the United Nations and India.
Pakistan-India relations have also been reviewed by the mMinistry in the context of the situation in occupied Kashmir.
“Many friendly relations have supported us, including China and Turkey. We have reviewed relations with all countries and have decided to improve relations with those with whom our relations are not that good.”
Geopolitical changes
Keeping in view the major geopolitical changes as well as internal situation, Pakistan will evolve a new paradigm in foreign policy which will be presented in both Houses of Parliament for review, Asif said.
Asif will be leaving for China tonight and will also visit Iran soon as international pressure mounts on Pakistan. During the visit, the foreign minister will hold meetings with China’s state councillor for foreign affairs Yang Jiechi and Foreign Minister Wang Yi.
The Chinese Foreign Ministry has said the visit by Pakistan’s Foreign Minister will help strengthen bilateral relations between the two strategic partners in diverse fields.
