In this globalised world where everyone is focused on developing strategic relations and inter-state and intra-state relations are experiencing new equations every now and then – Pakistan has been facing international loneliness by and large. A majority of the experts (especially the opposition) are of the opinion that it is crucial for us to build stronger ties with other countries, and yet no one is ready to present a sustainable solution. Be that as it may, it may safely be said that Pakistan does not have an unambiguous foreign policy, and it is also not incorrect – by any stretch of the imagination – that disparity is rife throughout our state actors and security forces. Believing otherwise would be tantamount to living in a fool’s paradise.
Meanwhile, both internal and external forces endeavour, by all means, to keep the government occupied in parochial and provincial matters so that they don’t have time to focus on other important issues, thereby incapacitating them to dismantle the international seclusion we are facing. Keeping government internally busy and then expecting them to prioritise on foreign relations is very contradictory to say the very least.
Hence it is well to note that the next big challenge that Pakistan is facing – proxy wars and militant fiefdoms – just becomes part of the aforementioned problem. Our enemies are fighting proxy wars in our country and leave no stone unturned to sabotage the image of Pakistan. Americans knew about the whereabouts of Mullah Mansoor and his travelling plans from Iran to Pakistan and then to Afghanistan and yet they decided to kill him in the territory of Pakistan just to let Chinese know that the pertinent area under discussion is still insecure and unsafe for CPEC. Another attack was recently made on the highly esteemed legal fraternity of Pakistan, and that too when they were performing sacred funeral rites for their martyred colleague. Quetta lost a generation of its lawyers and apathy to which in any way can undermine the importance of lawyers’ huge social roles in the society by all means including the oversight of decadency that society is subjected under the obliterating effect of terrorism and sectarian warfare. Furthermore, Balochistan is of paramount importance due to CPEC and, undoubtedly, is the centre of attention for the rest of the world, but it is being hit every now and then, sometimes through terrorist attacks or other times through contentious statements. The authorities concerned are working tirelessly to tackle this issue. Pertinent to which is the statement of Army Chief General Raheel Sharif on Defence day of Pakistan, as it has clearly given our enemies the message that they should not entertain the illusion that we cannot attack them back with a befitting response to any possible hostilities.
Yet the biggest of all challenges is to have the right balance between the two colossal problems prevailing in Pakistan. Wherein the question of eradicating the international loneliness and developing relations with other countries come into question, and yet at the same time, the question is to keep them at a safe distance, so that they should not be allowed to see us with an evil eye or cast covetous eyes on our natural resources along with an additional and thoroughgoing eradication of proxy wars. Because the irony is that when we have a fight in our own home – Pakistan – it is our neighbours who always take a lead to determine the principles on which the circumstances are being developed and take whatever steps that suits them. A major inciting stimulant is that different stakeholders in this country are not on the same page and our differences throughout the society are exploited by the external forces to the point of inflicting and damage both to the name and state of our country. Nationalism is most certainly the need of the hour. Rather it has become a rude practice of “If you scratch my back and I will scratch yours” or you protest against me and I will protest against you or you file reference against me and I will file against you. Any one of which is hardly conducive to prosperity, our focus is on rallies and protests and defaming each other rather than creating stability in our country. If the politicians are so pure and have made headways in their respective provinces, why do they need unnecessary jalsas or electronic advertisement to show that they have done a lot? The exhibitionary statement of imaginary developments is the biggest problem of all. And if the progress is really there, let people see and decide for themselves. Furthermore, laws should be made and implemented and there should be a complete constitutional way to abide by them. Unnecessary jalsas, protests and rallies are not more than wastage of money. Let the true democracy survive which is dedicated to serving the people and subsequently any government who does not perform henceforth will be out of the race automatically. The nation has reached a level of awareness that they can think and vote for whoever they want. Politics just for the sake of politics is not good for our country. The other countries get a strong message that we are internally disunited and hence they don’t bother to bring foreign investment to our country.
Even one derogatory statement of politicians and senators against the country creates instability in our economy. At one time we are talking about the volatility of our economy and at other time we give statements and create an atmosphere of apprehension, instilling a feeling of instability not only in our people but also in the foreign investors of other countries due to which FDI is shockingly low. A case in point is the fateful fact that China’s current CPEC investment is equivalent to all FDI in the country since 1970. Which makes one to ask inevitably that are we really the destructors of our own country?
The National assembly is a platform for politicians to discuss problems and come up with solutions. And it should be used for that very purpose only. All the parties need to sit together and nobody should be allowed to leave parliament until and unless all the solutions of the problems are discussed and unanimously agreed upon. No party should be allowed to walk out of the Parliament and no government should be allowed to bypass any answer to the question posed by the opposition.
The day all parties will be on the same page, only then will we be on the way towards real progress and development and this is the formula through which we can have accountability, right to question anybody, defeat corruption and get rid of unnecessary protests and rallies. And this is the very way forward that follows to strengthening foreign relations for our benefit. Internal unity is the need of the hour. The ruling party, N-league, should come forward and satisfy all the stakeholders in this country over Panama papers. It is their mandatory responsibility as people’s representatives. The constant blame-game should end once and for all and whosoever is found involved should be punished therewith. It is the time that we understand what it means to follow the writ of the law.
Don’t become so addicted to becoming a prime minister, show progress in your area first. How can the third time elected prime minister be a traitor? The party leaders should think before they speak. Such statements do nothing but sabotage the image of our country. Even if we have internal conflicts, they should be resolved internally. There is no need to air our dirty laundry in public. Stop letting the world think deliberately that we are a weak nation internally. Internal conflicts and disputes give rise to chances for other countries especially enemies to come forward, divide us or take advantage of our disunity.
126 days of dharna in Islamabad (the hub of foreign dealings) did nothing but give a message to the world that there is instability here. This is a reason that the Chinese delayed coming to Pakistan to appendage their signature for CPEC, and the reason that the international vultures are circling the valuable territory with the perceived weak leadership. It is our time to unite and stand strong against all threats to our sovereignty, both internal and external.