Pakistan first

This letter refers to the news report ‘Asif sees thaw in Pak-India ties after Indian polls’ (April 2, 2024). According to the report, in response to a question regarding restrictions on the Pakistan-Iran gas pipeline, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif said that the US should provide alternative solutions to meeting Pakistan’s energy needs given the country’s weak economic situation and its right to purchase cheaper gas from its neighbours.

Why can we not have a balanced and non-aligned foreign policy that allows us to protect Pakistani interests and the Pakistani people above all? I can see no difference between the major political parties when it comes to this issue. Although the defence minister appears to be trying to assert Pakistani interests in the face of US pressure, each successive government has only buried us deeper under the US-backed IMF’s loans. I would appeal to our ruling class to finally wake up.

Nayab Ahmad

Rawalpindi