Whether Pakistan has a foreign policy or not-- is a question that is being debated intensely at various forums. Killing of our “strategic asset” Mulla Akhtar Mansoor, leader of Taliban in a drone attack in Balochistan in possession of Pakistani passport National Identity Card was as much of a bolt from the blue as was the targeting of OBL as a sitting duck in his well-camouflaged enclave in the cantonment area of Abbottabad (May 2, 2011).
We are traditionally supposed to be an American ally standing by it through thick and thin—be it Jihad against erstwhile Soviet Union or war on terrorism in which we are the worst sufferers-- and yet we are not taken into confidence by Washington when it comes to an important decision pertaining to our sovereignty.
One felt pity for Prime Minister’s Adviser Sartaj Aziz when one heard his pathetic lamentations in a press conference. He put it straight that Pakistan cannot do much about when it comes to United States.
“US approaches Pakistan whenever it needs it, and abandons it when it doesn't need Pakistan.” He could not be blunter in accepting Foreign Office’s dismal failure.
To launder our blackened face Washington was kind enough to send a delegation to wipe our tears post-Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent triumphant visit. Not only that the US delegation—while appreciating our efforts in eliminating terrorism—repeated American mantra to do more. Obviously, DC wants Pakistan to stop supporting Haqqani Network considered as the main hurdle in restoration of peace and stability in Afghanistan.
Besides the message conveyed to us was that such drone strikes may not be the last one and that any Taliban based in Pakistan and Afghanistan involved in attacks on US and allied troops in Afghanistan will not be spared. Pakistan has been told to root out terrorists who allegedly enjoy safer sanctuaries in Pakistan.
In their statement President Obama and Prime Minister Narendra Modi pledged to bring to justice the ‘perpetrators of terrorism anywhere in the world and the infrastructure that supports them’.
It also urged upon Pakistan ‘to bring the perpetrators of the 2008 Mumbai and 2016 Pathankot (though India says Pakistan had no hand in it) terrorist attacks to justice’. It specifically called for action against ‘Jaish-e Mohammad, Lashkar-e-Tayyaba, D-Company and their affiliates’ among others.
I am sure Sartaj Sahib must have forcefully put across Pakistan’s concerns to the US delegation over the latest issues in the bilateral ties including the US volte face on F-16 fighters’ sale. While that being that, Army Chief General Raheel Sharif was blunter in conveying to the delegation that another drone attack could be the last straw.
The question rightfully raised was why US does not use drone to eliminate Mulla Fazlullah responsible for terrorism in Pakistan. No doubt American attitude is a manifestation of unilateralism in its policy towards Pakistan.
However, it does not mean that Pakistan should not have a policy vis-à-vis the Americans at all. The inmates of former Hotel Scheherazade should get out of their Arabian nights fantasy, get their act together and reframe Pakistan’s foreign policy with Washington on the pattern of its China policy. In that it shall have to stop its running with the hare and hunting with the hound—the so-called strategic assets or non state actors.
Former President Asif Ali Zardari who has been recently speaking up on foreign policy issues is right in advising the government not to let its masterly inactivity fritter away the advantages of its strategic placement in the region.
It, indeed, needs to be recalled how skillfully Zulfikar Ali Bhutto had veneered away Pakistan from being an apron string of the United States, develop all-weather-proof ties with China. Pakistan needs to get out of its in-depth strategic cliché vis-à-vis Afghanistan.
How fallacious it was can be seen by the fact that first the Taliban terrorists used Pakistan as their strategic depth and now India has found its strategic depth in Afghanistan to negate Pakistan’s regional importance. And lately Torkham border has become volatile touching Pakistan-Kabul ties all time low.
Let’s leave Afghans to be on their own, let them decide whatever they want. To secure ourselves we should do fencing of our Afghan-Pakistan border like the Indians did on the LoC. As a pre-requisite to a pragmatic policy the Jehadist syndrome of the 70/80s that has ingrown tentacles in Pakistan especially in its security establishment--shall have to be uprooted.
Americans should also need to understand that after 15 years of 9/11 they have failed to find an answer to their own multifaceted failings including growing domestic terrorism. They can bomb Iraq, they can destroy Afghanistan but they can't counter a suicide bomber or a young man like Afghani American – Omar Mateen--who gunned down 50 innocent people in Orlando.
Had they invested billions they spent on war in winning the hearts and minds of the people who are victim of their policies across the globe—it would have been different and safer world altogether.
No doubt CPEC is a game changer for China, Pakistan and other countries in the region. Gwadar is destined to be the gate way to trade and economic development ushering in well-being and prosperity for millions.
We must understand that Iranian port of Chabahar in collaboration with India would not undermine Gwadar. Both would facilitate greater economic activity in the region and globally. Pakistan’s relations with India have been on the snake and ladder mould since last 67 years.
We need to give up India-centric approach and perception of one Pakistani is equal to six Indians. Lack of trust between the two countries and failure to resolve Kashmir issue is the main stumbling block.
There have been three wars and the next one could be nuclear boom to doom. The Chinese have shown great wisdom in dealing with India and their border dispute. They don’t talk of war or conflict, their language is that of trade and more trade.
Foreign policy of a state is an extension of its domestic policy. We don’t have the first as we don’t have a clear domestic policy in view of the fundamental ideological contradictions.
In order to overcome the fallacious contradictions we shall have to revert back to Quaid's vision of secular Pakistan and translate his dream of an egalitarian state into reality. Those institutions that had used clergy as a means to superimposing the idea of a garrison state-shall have to find their strength in a democratic Pakistan.
[The author is a former High Commissioner of Pakistan to UK]
