ISLAMABAD: Foreign Minister Khawaja Asif on Wednesday said the United States (US) should provide concrete and actionable intelligence rather than mere talking and assured the legislators that the government would protect the country’s interests at the international forum.
Giving policy statement in the Senate, the foreign minister said that the US policy for South Asia was actually targeted for Afghanistan. He also said that Pakistan wanted regional solution to Afghan crisis. The minister assured the senators that their concerns had been heard and Pakistan’s foreign policy would be devised keeping their guidelines in mind.
Asif briefed the lawmakers that Pakistan s foreign policy would be designed in accordance with the necessary guidelines and mutual consent.
Rubbishing PPP Senator Farhatullah Babar’s assertion that he had “unwittingly” criticised American generals for their failures in Afghanistan, Asif stated unequivocally that he firmly believes in the statement he made: that the new US policy is ineffective because it was influenced by generals who have been frustrated in the Afghan war.
“The Americans have devised a framework for their policy for South Asia, which is in fact focused on Afghanistan. It was devised by generals who have struggled in Afghanistan for the last 15 years. I do not think any policy can be made by people with that baggage and mindset,” he said.
“I made this clear both in America and in Pakistan, and continue to do so on media,” he asserted. He suggested that the US State Department should take control of the foreign policy of the country rather than such generals coupled with US President Donald Trump. “If America frames its policy free from the influence of these generals, it would be much more successful and effective. When they make Pakistan the scapegoat, they are in fact covering their own failures in Afghanistan,” he repeated.
“The Pakistan’s foreign policy is being evolved through a consultation process through discussion in the Senate, the National Assembly, and the National Security Committee,” he remarked. He stressed that the foreign policy’s ‘sole charge’ doesn’t lie with one institution.
The foreign minister assured the senators that their government was in talks with the US to discuss security policy for Afghanistan, adding that Pakistan would defend its interests at all forums.
“The discussion (with US) will be according to Pakistan’s policies. The sovereignty and interests (of Pakistan) will be kept in mind while framing policies,” he stated. Expressing his hopes for a better future, he said things have already started getting better in Pak-US ties and that the inclusion in Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) would yield good outcomes.
“The entire region has a role to play in the Afghan process, and Pakistan wished for a regional solution to the security challenges faced by the country,” he asserted. “We will use the SCO platform to Pakistan’s benefit, and we have been very active there,” he assured.
“The American secretary of state has told the US Senate that Pakistan needs effective communication on intelligence matters. If intelligence is shared with us effectively, we can expect better results in the future,” he stated. “We are involved with America in the Afghan peace process. We share a boundary with the country and cannot change our geographical proximity to it,” he observed.
Meanwhile, the House approved formation of the Ethics Committee for the accountability of senators. The historical decision was made during the Senate session, which was chaired by Raza Rabbani. The committee, with full authority to take action against senators, will be responsible for reviewing any complaints filed against members of the Senate. Any citizen will be able to file a complaint against Senate members, while the senators would also be able to file petitions against each other. The committee will investigate any complaint and would present the investigation report before the House.
Published in Daily Times, November 2nd 2017.
