Pakistan reviews foreign policy with new demands

• Nawaz for making trade, investment and scientific collaboration strategic pillars in new policy guidelines
• Janjua shares challenges in Afghanistan, India and other key areas; recent developments in Middle East

Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif on Friday while reiterating his priority for a peaceful neighbourhood and resolution of disputes through dialogue, directed that trade, investment and scientific collaboration, be the strategic pillars of Pakistan’s foreign policy.

He was speaking here at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs where he was given a comprehensive review of Pakistan’s foreign policy priorities in the wake of recent developments in and around Pakistan and the emerging global and regional scenario.

Adviser on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz recounted the achievements made in the Foreign policy realm under the prime minister’s stewardship. The prime minister expressed satisfaction over the status of strategic partnership with China and the launch of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), reviving the strategic dialogue with the US, strong relations with Russia, major improvement in relations with the Central Asia culminating in Pakistan’s membership of SCO.

The prime minister said that these achievements were facilitated by significant gains made in fighting terrorism and in achieving the economic turnaround. In her presentation, Foreign Affairs Secretary Tehmina Janjua dwelled on the challenges Pakistan was facing in key areas including Afghanistan, India and the US. She also briefed the prime minister on the recent developments in the Middle East.

Prime Minister Nawaz underscored the importance of securing peace and stability in the region through sustained dialogue and the importance Pakistan attached to its continued partnership with the US. In this context, he directed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to prepare initiatives on Afghanistan and also on building economic and trade linkages to promote Pakistan’s development.

He directed the ministry to proactively highlight the serious human right violations being committed in the Indian-held Kashmir (IHK) and the denial of the right to self-determination to Kashmiri people. In this regard, he expressed disappointment over the complete silence in the US-India joint statement on the atrocities being committed by the Indian forces against innocent Kashmiri people.

He appreciated China’s role for improving Pakistan-Afghanistan relations. He also recalled his recent meeting with President Ashraf Ghani on the sidelines of the SCO Summit and their agreement to evolve a bilateral and quadrilateral mechanism for controlling cross-border terrorism. He emphasised the importance of highlighting the contributions and sacrifices made by Pakistan in fighting terrorism and of projecting Pakistan’s soft image.

The prime minister particularly stressed that Pakistan should progressively end its reliance on foreign assistance and funding by developing and generating its own resources. Emphasising the importance of providing efficient and economical consular services to the overseas Pakistanis, he directed the ministry to ensure that their services were duly provided in a befitting manner.

Also taking note of the virtual suspension of medical visas, especially for those needing urgent transplants, the prime minister directed urgent steps to provide such medical facilities across Pakistan at reasonable prices. In this regard, he also directed that a volunteer roster of medical professionals from amongst overseas Pakistani doctors be developed to complement the existing human resource in Pakistan.

Minister for Finance Senator Ishaq Dar and senior officials of the Foreign Office were also present during the briefing. A private TV channel reported that the prime minister was also apprised of the border related matters with Afghanistan and Iran and measures being taken by the ministry.

The channel reported that the prime minister was informed about Pakistan’s efforts to fence the border with Afghanistan and the dialogue process with Kabul. Earlier in June, Pakistan started fencing its border with Afghanistan as a security measure to stop the infiltration. During the briefing, the diplomatic crisis in the Middle East was also discussed along with Pakistan’s position on the issue.