Pakistan’s Fractured Foreign Policy

            Pakistani leadership headed by Gen.Musharraf seems to be inadequately equipped when it comes to dealing with international issues, and this is evident the way the issues of profound importance are being handled. Pakistan despite the fact being an ally in a Washington led war on terror is unable to concede substantial benefits from American govt, though it is note worthy that Pakistan has been declared major non-NATO ally. Indian acquisition of advanced fighter aircrafts from US and Phalcon AWACs from Israel is a major diplomatic feat at which their Pakistani counterparts seems to be at immature. Access to American markets is still not all that deep and talks are still going on between concerned departments of both countries to accomplish this target, recent accord between India and US is an alarming development in Pakistan’s neighbourhood that has shaken the Musharraf regime to the core. India has been allowed access to American nuclear technology, this agreement must have sent shocking waves throughout Pakistani establishment and subsequently forced Pakistani military top brass to seek access to American nuclear hardware or perhaps the need to strike similar kind of agreement with their long trusted natural ally China, and according to unconfirmed reports Pakistan has initiated the dialogue with Chinese leadership but it has not concluded yet. Pakistan allowing US forces to operate at Jacobabad Air field has come under scathing attack, because it has been reported that from this facility US is keeping an eye on Chinese military movement that has put Pak-China relations in a strain. In another mess created by Pakistani foreign ministry is that on one side Pakistan is a major non-NATO ally of US and on the other Pakistan has undergone a strategic agreement with China that states neither side would join any alliance that has the potential to compromise security concern of either side. What would be the course of Pakistan in case of Sino-US rift is the scene that has yet to be unfolded. Recent intrusion in the Pakistani airspace by American forces located in Afghanistan has not come as a major surprise because of too much pro American stance adopted at highest levels in the establishment, I was literally in a state of shock that not only Musharraf but also whole of the Senate seems to be have more concern of their seats than territorial integrity of the country, the unanimous resolution adopted by Senate that has spared US is by any stretch of imagination is a regrettable step, I still remember that when American military jeep in South Korea crushed two local girls, such a great degree of protests were organized that it forced the govt. to step down, but in Pakistan the case is opposite. The behaivour metted out  with the Pakistani foreign secretary is indeed a matter of shame for the nation, he was in the Prime Minister’s entourage to US and was asked by airport authorities to hands up during checking on their arrival in the New York, but still the silent exercise by the govt. is surprising. At this, I would like to label Pakistani leadership as gullible fools, who does not know anything but YES SIR to American Congress.

Written By: SHOAIB IKRAM AHMED

BSc.Hons Textile Science, Textile Institute of Pakistan, Karachi