US, Chinese pressure means terrorists need to be tackled
The US Secretary of State John Kerry choice of not coming to Pakistan and China’s pressure on the Pakistan government to ensure the safety of its citizens after Saturday’s attack on tourists in Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) has suddenly thrust Pakistan into international isolation. John Kerry is currently on a three-day tour of India and promised India a ‘central role’ in the upcoming Afghan elections. With the Taliban increasingly active in Pakistan, the US insistence that India’s concerns will be addressed in any negotiations with the Taliban shall be create apprehensions for the Pakistani authorities, who have a big stake in quelling the Taliban insurgency. The Taliban are also the cause of the Chinese government being agitated after two of its citizens were killed by the TTP at a resort in GB.
The pressure will be telling, as Kerry’s choice of not coming, after much furor was made that he would visit this country after Nawaz Sharif’s swearing in to address Pakistan’s concerns over drones. The visit apparently did not go ahead due to apparent Pakistani opposition of the US involvement in aiding the Syrian insurgency. The hard line stance appears to have lost Pakistan another opportunity on the foreign relations side, while India appears to have come out the better. Kerry told Indian authorities, “The world’s largest democracy can play a central role in helping the government of Afghanistan improve its electoral system and create a credible and independent framework for resolving disputes,” as Afghanistan is set to go to election on April 5, 2014. Indian officials have raised concerns over the US withdrawal and potential negotiations with the Taliban, sworn enemies of India. Kerry promised that no agreement would be rushed through and that “a final settlement may be long in coming,” and made it clear that “any political settlement must result in the Taliban breaking ties with al Qaeda, renouncing violence, and accepting the Afghan constitution – including its protections for all Afghans, women and men.”
All of this means that the talks are unlikely to yield much fruit, and also Pakistan will continue to face the Taliban threat. The Chinese Foreign Ministry has also put pressure on Pakistan to apprehend those responsible for the attack on its citizens. The task will be hard, since the current Pakistani government is stalling on a clear National Security Policy. In any case, the point is that action on the part of Pakistani authorities is required on an urgent basis. Peace and stability in Pakistan will be the precondition was improving foreign relations – else Pakistan will face further isolation. Firm action against terrorists is what is needed for Pakistan to improve relations with its neighbours, who remain concerned about Pakistan’s apparent dual policy with the Taliban. Action will speak louder than words.