Senators want new terms of engagement to end abusive relationship with US

• Senators say US Congressmen are getting into a habit of criticising Pakistan without reason and without regard for our sacrifices; Call for reviewing relationship with the US
• Farhatullah Babar says contradictions within state institutions have resulted in botched up foreign policy; says parliament needs new terms of engagement with military before it needs them with the US

Senators on Wednesday expressed anger over the recent negative remarks of the US Congress members regarding Pakistan’s role in the war on terror, saying it had compelled Pakistan to determine new terms of engagement between Pakistan and the US to promote our national interests.

Senate committee of the whole met at the Parliament House to chalk out policy guidelines in light of the emerging regional realities. Senate Chairman Mian Raza Rabbani while chairing the committee said that the situation arising out of the negative statements from US Congressmen had urged Pakistan to review its relationship with the US.

He said that unnecessary criticism of Pakistan has become a frequent trend among the US legislators and policymakers without realising Pakistan’s efforts for global war on terror. Such irresponsible remarks by US congressmen will only create instability in the region, he asserted.

Senator Sehar Kamran criticised the government for its inability to nominate a formal foreign minister. She said that we cannot move in the right direction without identifying our weaknesses and challenges. Pakistan has failed to invest in ‘perception management’, which is why it stands isolated internationally, she said.

Senator Mushahid Hussain Sayed said that although for the first time we are hearing critical voices against the Modi government at the international level, Pakistan still has to boost its efforts to project the Kashmir cause at the international level. He said Pakistan needs to make serious efforts to improve its relations with Afghanistan and Iran.

Senator Taj Hider while expressing his views on the subject said that the US foreign policy is controlled by military industrial complex that benefits from instability in third-world countries. Therefore, peace in this region is not in their interest.

‘GET CONTROL OF YOUR OWN HOUSE FIRST’:

Senator Farhatullah Babar said that more important than framing new terms of engagement with the US was that the civilian leadership frame new terms of engagement with the military leadership regarding the formulation and implementation of the foreign and security policies.

“No matter what terms of engagement with a foreign country are framed, it will serve no purpose unless the first step of reformulating the terms of engagement between state institutions within the country is completed,” he said.

Senator Babar said that the foreign policy formulation in critical areas including relations with countries in the region, Kashmir as well as nuclear policy had been taken over by the security establishment.

The contradiction within state institutions has resulted in a botched up foreign policy as was evident from the fiasco of Mullah Akhtar Mansour and tweets that only generated tensions with Iran, he said.

“For how long will we continue to deceive ourselves by pretending that there are no issues of serious disconnect in policy formulation?” he said.

‘NEW TERMS OF ENGAGEMENT FOR CIVILIAN AND MILITARY LEADERSHIPS’:

Farhatullah Babar proposed to set up a bipartisan parliamentary committee comprising all political parties to discuss in camera and to forward recommendations for resetting the new terms of engagement between civilian and military leaderships. He proposed that all the stakeholders including the leadership of the security establishment, the ISI, the ISPR, the academia, civil society organisations and others be invited for a frank, free and in-depth discussion on the issue.

He said that the balance of power within the region is shifting towards India while in Pakistan, it had already shifted dangerously towards the military. This is a deadly combination that calls for urgent corrective policy measures in consultation with all the stakeholders, he said, stressing the need for a parliamentary committee to address the issue.

Senator Sherry Rehman also called for promoting national interests and said that for the purpose, Pakistan should be focusing on domestic research rather than the traditional approach of relying on foreign research papers.

She credited former prime minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto for laying the foundation of Sino-Pakistan ties which have today reached unprecedented levels. She urged the Foreign Ministry to play an effective role in policymaking.

PROMOTE TRADE, ECONOMIC INTERESTS THROUGH FOREIGN POLICY:

Senator Karim Khwaja called for launching fresh efforts to seek international cooperation for expansion of economic and trade relations. Senator Azam Khan Swati urged the government to speed up trust building efforts with the neighboring Afghanistan, keeping in view the regional developments.

Senator Hasil Bizenjo said that economic policy was interlinked with the foreign policy and hence a new debate should be initiated to review the foreign policy guidelines. He urged for sovereign role of the parliament and said its guidelines should be incorporated in policymaking.

Senator Nuzhat Sadiq called for broader cooperation with the international community rather than relying on a few traditional allies. Shahi Syed pointed out that there was a need for unity of political, religious, military and other stakeholders to frame the foreign policy.

Senator Hafiz Hamdullah was of the view that the US wanted to keep the region burning so that there is no economic development and that India had been given the same role of destabilising the region as had been assigned to Israel in the Middle East.

Senator Kalsoom Perveen expressed concern on the drone strikes. Atique Shaikh, Lt Gen (r) Salahuddin Tirmzi and others also gave their proposals.

Concluding the debate, Leader of the House Senator Raja Zafarul Haq said that the debate was beneficial for policymaking for the government. He said these proposals will help frame concrete proposals for policymakers. Senate Chairman Mian Raza Rabbani also hailed the input of the members.

The members agreed to invite all the stakeholders in the upcoming meetings so that comprehensive guidelines may be provided for future engagements with neighboring countries and world powers especially the US.

The committee also shortlisted names of the concerned departments, ministries, civil society organisations, think-tanks and experts who will be invited to take part in the proceedings of the committee of the whole House.