Next two weeks are being seen
significant for the region, which are being regarded as diplomatic victories for
Pakistan. Russia, joined by China, is set to host six-nation talks on
Afghanistan in an unprecedented development where Pakistan and India are also
participating to discuss options for seeking a peaceful end to the lingering
unrest in the war-torn country. The talks involving host Russia, China,
Pakistan, Iran, Afghanistan and India are scheduled to be held in Moscow in
mid-February.
Much of the credit goes to Pakistan’s diplomatic initiatives started during
President Zardari’s administration, and continued by the current dispensation,
as Russia, which for years opposed the Afghan Taliban, has recently changed its
position and now sought direct talks between Kabul government and insurgents. It
also hosted a trilateral meeting in December last year involving China and
Pakistan. The support to peace efforts by two key international players is seen
as diplomatic victory for Pakistan.
Already, warships from the navies of 36 countries, including China, Turkey,
Russian, Australia and America, have arrived at Karachi port for a multinational
naval Exercise ‘AMAN-17’ started on February 10, which is a biennial activity
proudly structured and organized by Pakistan. In words of Taj M Khattak, the
participation of these countries in the maneuvers is “a testimony to acknowledge
Pakistan Navy’s centrality in regional maritime arena and reposing of confidence
by such a large number of nations” in Pakistan’s capabilities to play lead role
in promoting cause of peace on one of the most important oceans of the world.
This also negates the impression that Pakistan is drifting into international
isolation.
Islamabad’s latest initiatives for achieving peaceful environment especially on
the Afghan border, as well as forging a lasting peace with Kabul, indicate
Pakistan government and its security establishment’s pragmatic approach towards
conflict resolution. In the aftermath of last month’s bombings in various cities
of Afghanistan, Kabul had cast aspersions on Pakistan, which were likely to
create further misapprehensions. Pakistan’s Army Chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa
was the first to break the ice. His phone call to the Afghan President and offer
to extend all kind of cooperation in fight against terrorism helped lower the
tensions.
This was followed by diplomatic activity on part of Pakistan Foreign Office as
Prime Minister’s Advisor on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz also called Kabul,
dignitaries visited the GHQ and the Afghan government sent an invitation to Gen
Qamar Bajwa to visit Kabul. The initiative wisely taken by the Chief of Army
Staff helped in toning down Afghanistan’s anti-Pakistan rhetoric. Above all was
Pakistan’s message of peace to Afghanistan, which the Director General ISPR
loudly sent across, through his maiden press briefing at Rawalpindi. Maj Gen
Asif Ghafoor took account of these events, and said Pakistan was not involved in
terrorist incidents inside Afghanistan and would not allow its soil to be used
for such acts. “While several terrorists were killed in the Zarb-e-Azb
operation, many fled to Afghanistan due to weak border system. However, new
posts and border mechanism have been built along the Afghan border to check
illegal crossing.”
Pakistan time and again has felt and expressed deep grief and sorrow over brutal
terror incidents but more painful is the fact that instead of appreciating
Pakistan’s emotions of sympathy and sorrow, the government of Afghanistan has
been blaming Pakistan for a hand in the attacks. Instead Pakistan fears that
Indian RAW is using the Afghan NDS for creating wedge between Kabul and
Islamabad. Given Pakistan’s unprecedented cooperation during the last four
decades with Kabul and Afghan people, logically Afghanistan must have been
closer to Pakistan, but practically it has now gone under influence of India.
In this backdrop must be seen Pakistan Army Chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa’s
20-minute phone call to US defense secretary James Mattis on February 10. The
secretary, according to ISPR press release, lauded the sacrifices and resilience
of the people and armed forces of Pakistan while appreciating the role of
Pakistan Army in battling the scourge of terrorism. Gen Bajwa congratulated
Mattis on assuming his new responsibility and hoped that the latter’s vast
experience in the field would be great value to the region. Matti, who served as
head of the US Centcom, frequently travelled to the region, including Pakistan,
and is well aware of the security dynamics of this part of the world. In his
confirmation hearing before the US Senate, he underlined the need to remain
engaged with Pakistan. And during his talk on telephone with Gen Bajwa, “both
reaffirmed their commitment towards the common goal of peace and stability in
the region and discussed measures towards that end. Both also agreed on
continued engagement at multiple levels,” as the ISPR press release reads.
While appreciating General Bajwa’s timely engagement on both military and
diplomatic levels with the world leaders, in coordination with the government,
analysts and security observers are attaching great significance to Pakistan’s
initiatives towards achieving peace in the region. This comes in the wake of
India’s continued provocations on the Line of Control and International
Boundary, as well as Indian Army Chief’s threatening statement of ‘surgical
strikes’ inside Pakistan under the Cold Start doctrine. The Corps Commanders
conference held on February 10, the top brass expressed the concern over Indian
violations on LoC and WB, saying, it is a threat to regional peace.
Amidst Indian hostility on the borders, the reports of India building ‘secret
nuclear city’ are further disturbing, which will pose a direct threat to the
entire region. The secret nuclear city is being built in south India to produce
thermonuclear weapons, Pakistan Foreign Office spokesperson Nafees Zakaria
expressed his concerns, during a press briefing, citing an investigative report
of the Foreign Policy magazine. “Indian defence build-up, both nuclear and
conventional, is a direct threat to Pakistan and the region at large,” he said
while responding to media reports that New Delhi had recently signed defence
deals woth Rs 200 billion to procure weapons and other equipment.
According to a newspaper report, the perils of such an uncalled for defence
build-up should be seen in the backdrop of Indian defence minister’s statement
on reviewing the ‘nuclear no-first use’ and admission by the Indian army chief
about their ‘Cold Start doctrine’, which confirmed Pakistan’s claims and
justified our credible minimum nuclear deterrence. Pakistan urged the
international community to take note and check India’s rapid expansion in
conventional and nuclear weapons.
Pragmatic approach on part of Pakistan, wisely and timely engagement on
government and military levels with the world capitals, on the sidelines of
vibrant economic activity in the background of building China Pakistan Economic
Corridor, it is hoped that Pakistan will emerge triumphant in many ways. Baron’s
Asia, a financial magazine of America, in its recent article “Forget India,
profit from ‘quiet rise’ of Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh’ has urged the
Trump administration the three countries with a combined 390 million people
represent what Morgan Stanley chief global strategist Ruchir Sharma calls “the
quiet rise of South Asia” as opposed to India which has “flattered by spasms of
hype for years”.
While overshadowed by their larger neighbour, the trio is enjoying fast-paced
growth, embracing much needed reforms, and look set to enjoy a demographic
dividend over the long term. “A substantially higher economic growth rate than
in many other economies globally, coupled with fantastic demographics that will
continue support growth for many years ahead”, the article mentions that
Pakistan is the flag-bearer of the positive changes taking place in the South
Asian nations.
On the other hand US Commission on International Religious Freedom (US CIRF), an
independent, bipartisan federal government commission, noted that religious
tolerance has deteriorated in India since 2014, noting forced conversion of
Christians to Hinduism by Hindu extremists, and torture of Muslims cattle
traders by Indian army and armed Hindu groups. The Commission that advises the
President and US Congress has strongly criticized persecution of minorities
including Muslims and Christians in India and recommended to the Trump
administration to link trade, aid and diplomatic interaction with India with
religious freedom and human rights.
Further gearing up of diplomatic and political move on part of the government of
Pakistan will be helpful to meet the challenges facing the country. Political
leadership has to join hands together towards achieving common goals on foreign
policy matters. (ENDS)