Warrants a once over
There is something seriously wrong with Pakistan’s regional policy. Except for China the country’s relations with its neighbours continue to be less than cordial. This is despite frequent expressions of desire to set the relations on an even keel. Sometime there are problems from both sides as in the case with India. At times lack of sensitivity on our side mars the efforts undertaken to improve the ties. It is sometime forgotten that the conduct of foreign affairs needs finesse, leading to observations that create misunderstanding, the latest example being the over-reaction towards Iran on the discovery that Kul Bhashan Yadav was stationed in Chabahar.
Despite several tours of Kabul by Pakistan’s civil and military leaders and reciprocal visits by their Afghan counterparts the relations between the two countries remain at best estranged – if not totally broken, as Afghan envoy Dr Omar Zakhilwal has put it. These also remain marked by mutual mistrust. In Pakistan there is a perception that a section of the Afghan politicians, government officials and intelligence high ups remains deadly against Pakistan. Last week when law enforcement agencies arrested an Afghan intelligence agent from Chaman with lethal arms and ammunition, the perception was strengthened. Sometime officials on Pakistan side make promises that they cannot fulfill, thus creating suspicions on the other side. There was no need on the part of Sartaj Azia last month to claim at Council on Foreign Relations (CFR) that Islamabad had enough influence on Taliban leaders to ensure that they come to the negotiating table. When this failed to happen, this added further to distrust in Kabul.
When people like JUI-S chief in KP, Yousaf Shah, claim in a public meeting that their party supported the Afghan Taliban and that they are proud of their role, this can only lead to suspicions in Kabul. There is a need on both sides to take note of the matters that cause misunderstanding and remove them through mutual efforts. Unless this is done holding the meetings of the Quadrilateral Coordination Group (QCG) may not produce the desired results.
What does the author expect pakistan do.drop the trousers and bend over ..These are afghan and hindus we are dealing with. .They will see bending over as a god send…grow up you moron if you can’t write about something sense able. Keep quiet.
Totally passimistic approach without talking about Indian and Afghan relations with us, Nepal. Srilanka and Burma. I think some Clerk wrote this on behalf of the Editor.
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