ISLAMABAD: The discussion that took place between Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and US President–elect Donald Trump on Wednesday evening caused great discomfort to India and detractors of the prime minster and his government.
A high-level representative of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif is arriving early next week in the US capital to have meetings with a number of significant stalwarts in Washington, including top think-tanks that matter in policy formulation in the United States. The representative who is leaving tomorrow (Sunday) will also examine the working of Pakistan’s embassy in the United States. It would be first such high echelon mission from a country of the region except the visit by Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe who had a meeting with Trump last month in Washington by dashing to the city.
According to the reported conversation, the US president-elect talked high of Pakistan, its people and Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Wednesday. The Indian media has termed it a failure of the Modi government that had launched diplomatic offensive against Pakistan and particularly Nawaz Sharif for his supportive role for struggle of oppressed people of Indian Held Kashmir (IHK) struggling for their birth right to self-determination ensured by the United Nations Security Council (UNSC).
The critics are of the view that the reported conversation of the two leaders wasn’t an agreed draft of the release but incidentally the Trump camp hasn’t disputed the transcript that has not only appeared in Pakistan but also published across the world. Donald Trump's presidency is yet to attain the official sanctity as his views are not of a president sitting in the White House. The Indian media and foreign affairs experts are raising the question that Pakistan was being termed by them as a leader of terrorism in the world and Nawaz Sharif who is heading the country, both have been eulogised by a person no less than the president-elect of the United States.
The Indian observers are considering it a slap on the face their diplomacy. They are finding it difficult to comprehend the development since they were expecting contrary to what Trump reportedly said the other day. They recalled the conversation that took place between Trump and Indian Prime Minister Modi who also made a phone call last month immediately after the outcome of the polls but incidentally the president-elect contented with formal exchange of greetings and no special word was offered by the leader sitting in Washington.
The Indian media highlighted the conversation as an achievement since Modi was among the first foreign heads of the government who spoke to Trump. Likewise, in Pakistan, hue and cry was seen from a particular camp of Nawaz Sharif's opponents who had to believe what was attributed to both but made obnoxious remarks without taking into consideration the national interest. They termed it against the diplomatic norms because it had the component of praise for Nawaz Sharif and his administration. The remarks of Donald Trump were highly appreciated by the people across the country in Pakistan.
Interestingly, Trump has interacted with several world leaders who called him to felicitate on his election victory but the controversy that has been generated by certain elements is unique in its nature by the detractors of Pakistan and its leader, the sources reminded. They said had there been any discrepancy in the reported talk with the actual one, the office of the president-elect would have issued a clarification or contradiction forthwith. But nothing of the sort has yet been reported anywhere except heavy criticism from India and by some opponents of Nawaz Sharif. Independent observers are surprised to see the unfortunate spin given by certain quarters to the very positive and warm exchange between the president-elect and the prime minister.
The read-out issued by the president-elect's transition team clearly acknowledges that the two leaders had a productive conversation on how the two countries can build a strong relationship in future. More importantly, President Trump was looking forward to building a lasting and strong personal relationship with Nawaz Sharif. No diplomatic norm or ethics have been defied in the released text of the talks.
In case of sitting heads of the state/government, such release is issued through mutual consensus in advance but the principle doesn’t apply here, they said. The positive thrust of the exchange between the two leaders is obvious and augurs well for the future trajectory of the relationship between the US and Pakistan.
In congratulating the president-elect, the prime minister conveyed his desire to work closely with Trump in bringing the two countries closer and making the bilateral partnership an important vehicle for realisation of peace, security and prosperity in the region and beyond.
The negative twist that detractors of Pakistan are trying to give to the constructive exchange between the two leaders is designed to serve their narrow political ends. This is truly regrettable, they reminded.
