Speakers at a seminar said here on Friday that Pakistan could no longer afford to continue with its decades-long policy of hostile relations with its neighbours at the cost of good relations with them in economic, trade, and cultural fields
They said it was about time when Pakistan would have to choose to live amicably with its neighbours or continue its journey on the path to ‘international isolation and ultimate self-destruction’.
They were speaking at a two-day international seminar entitled “Securing a Frontline State: Alternative Views on Peace and Conflict in Pakistan”, which was jointly organised by Heinrich Boll Stiftung, Pakistan, and Centre for Research and Security Studies here at local hotel.
US scholar on the foreign affairs Jeffrey Laurenti underlined that Pakistan should awaken to the new reality that medieval fundamentalist regime in Kabul would not unlock economic and social potential of that state.
“For two decades Islamist generals in Pakistan supported radicals in Afghanistan and the legacy continues to haunt Pakistan even today”, he noted.
He emphasised that Pakistan would find it utmost difficult to carry on its past policies of ‘double-dealing’, especially when America was on one side and radical Taliban were on the other.
Highlighting the importance of Pakistan-Afghanistan relations for both the states and the region, Abdul Rahman Habibzui from Kabul noted: “Afghanistan acknowledges strategic strengths of Pakistan and in return wants Pakistan to take into account the transit vitality of Afghanistan.” He explained that Afghanistan could potentially link the future energy hub of the world, Central Asia with Pakistan and the rest of the region. CRSS Executive Director Imtiaz Gul was of the view that Pakistanis should look afresh at their socio-economic, political and security policies and there was a thumping need for re-evaluation of our policies in the context of emerging global realities.