And add to enemies
The civil-military divergence of views on foreign policy issues is best illustrated by the statements of Sartaj Aziz and two former defence secretaries on the Chabahar agreement. Aziz had said Pakistan welcomed projects of regional connectivity which have potential to generate economic activity. Further that Pakistan was considering linking Gwadar with Iranian harbour Chabahar and declaring Gwadar and Chabahar as “sister ports”. Lt Gen (r) Asif Yasin Malik on the other hand has called the “alliance between India, Afghanistan and Iran” a “security threat to Pakistan”. According to Lt Gen (r) Nadeem Lodhi the existence of such a “formidable bloc” in the neighbourhood had “ominous and far reaching implications” for Pakistan. Malik blamed the situation on the “dysfunctional foreign office” and the absence of a full time foreign minister.
A full time foreign minister will make little difference if he is required to sell unworkable policies made by an inflexible establishment. While dealing with sovereign countries, irrespective of their size or strength, there is a need for patient bargaining. When a fait accompli has taken place, irrespective of its being undesirable, diplomats do not lose calm and try to find a way out. The establishment on the other hand remains inflexible and insists on having the results of its own choice even if this leads to useless confrontation.
Pakistan faces isolation today. The US Congress has put restrictions on the sale of F16s to Islamabad through American funding and has also put conditions on disbursement of a big chunk of aid. Action against the Haqqani Network and the release of Dr Shakil Afridi are not issues on which the FO can take a decision. Kabul insisted on access to its trucks carrying goods to Indian cities. When this was denied by the establishment it decided to go for the Chabahar route. Lodhi suggests Pakistan use China’s influence for fixing problems. Despite its longstanding border dispute with India, China has good working relations and a booming trade with India. We continue to ignore Beijing’s suggestion to have a similar policy towards New Delhi.