Appreciating facts
The three-day long envoys’ conference discussed matters which have great importance for the country. These included relationship with India US, Afghanistan, China, Russia and European Union. Also, Pakistan’s membership in the NSG and upcoming SAARC Summit. The idea behind these conferences, which are a regular feature, is to get feedback from the concerned ambassadors. Major security agencies also present their assessments at the meetings. This helps foreign policy makers formulate responses to challenges making use of the opportunities available.
In his concluding remarks Sartaj Aziz refuted the view that Pakistan is being isolated and its foreign policy lacks direction. He has enumerated what he calls his government’s ‘monumental achievements’ beginning with strategic ties with China, leading to the initiation of the CPEC. The relations with China are of great value for Pakistan and need to be further strengthened. There is a need however for good relations with the US and Pakistan’s next door neighbours like India, Afghanistan and Iran. Exporting labour to the Middle East was mentioned as another ‘monumental achievement’ of the PML-N tenure. Instead of living in a dream world Pakistan has to prepare for a reverse movement of labour from the Gulf on account of the impact of low oil prices on Gulf economies.
In his address at the ambassadors’ meeting the prime minister said it is easier now to present Pakistan’s case before the world. This may be true only partially. Neither the US nor EU is willing to accept Pakistan’s view that its fight against terrorist networks is indiscriminatory. The world has yet to differentiate between the freedom struggle in Kashmir and terrorism despite Pakistan’s efforts. Many would readily agree with the PM that resolving disputes through talks is the need of the time. There are however circles in Pakistan which are yet to be convinced of it. Nawaz Sharif has again stressed upon the ambassadors to strive harder to bring investments to Pakistan. What needs to be probed is why earlier exhortations failed to achieve the aim and remove the lingering disincentives.
When there is no law and order, no justice for business to settle disputes in courts they can trust, when there is crony capitalism that rides roughshod over none crony enterprises, obstructing their operations and forcing them to sell at peanut prices, where bribery rules the roost, where the rulers and the elite themselves invest abroad, where everything is rigged by the elite in their own favour, why should anyone in their right mind risk their hard earned money to invest in Pakistan where their investment is neither safe nor protected by law. The only way to succeed is Pakistan is to become corrupt and ruthless, there is simply no other way left.
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