- Adviser says Pakistan maintains positive relations with US despite differences
Adviser on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz on Wednesday apprised the Senate that Pakistan’s foreign policy was fully cognizant of emergent realities and always responded to the emerging changes in the international environment in line with its national interests.
Winding up discussion on a motion regarding ToRs of the Saudi-led Islamic Military Alliance and its impact on Pakistan and implication of the statement of US Armed Services Committee Chairman John McCain in Kabul, he said Pakistan had never compromised on its core interests.
“We have to face a decade of sanctions but met the pressures without compromising its core interests,” he said. “When the time came, we responded to the Indian nuclear tests, despite global pressure,” h pointed out. Despite these differences, “we maintained positive relations with the US,” he said.
He said that alliances shifted and transformed while interests remained permanent. He said that the countries adopted their foreign policies according to the overall emerging environment that no single country had the capability to shape according to its wishes and priorities.
“We have our concerns and differences with the US, especially with regards to strategic stability in our region but international relations are not a zero-sum game. We will continue to build and strengthen relations with the US and strive to resolve areas of divergences,” he said.
Sartaj said that Pakistan had achieved considerable success in the past few years in controlling terrorism. “We have taken decisive action against terrorism, cleared thousands of square kilometres of our area in the tribal region of terrorist’s network and embarked on a road to economic recovery,” he said.
Regarding the Middle East crisis, the adviser said that the policies were aimed at the unity of the Muslims. “We had welcomed all efforts in promoting mediation and reconciliation in different Middle East disputes,” he said. “The Saudi initiative is the Islamic Military Alliance to fight against terrorism,” he said.
“Its aims are to build narratives, share intelligence and information and training to fight extremism and terrorism. With our experience in counterterrorism and our close ties with Saudi Arabia, it was natural for us to join the coalition and contribute to reducing the scourge of extremism and terrorism,” he said.
“With Iran, our relations are stable and positive. Our economic cooperation is on the increase and we have agreed to link Gwadar and Chahbahar as sister ports,” he said. He said that Pakistan had achieved the number of success and near past including start of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, holding successful ECO summit in Islamabad, membership of SCO, GSP-Plus agreement with EU etc. He said these achievements fully negated the perception that Pakistan was facing isolation.
HURRIYAT DELEGATION: A nine-member delegation from the All Parties Hurriyat Conference (APHC) called on Adviser Sartaj Aziz and briefed him about the grave human rights situation in India-held Kashmir and expressed concern over the Indian policy in the region, manifested in the continued bloodshed of Kashmiris with impunity.
The delegation underscored that the indigenous movement of Kashmiris for their right to self-determination has entered an important phase since the martyrdom of Burhan Wani on July 8, 2016. During the meeting, Sartaj reiterated that Jammu Kashmir remains the core dispute between Pakistan and India.
The delegation informed the adviser that India was using chemicals in ammunition on peaceful protesters. This was confirmed by the charred and unrecognisable bodies of Kashmiris. They highlighted the negative impact of the Indian Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) and the Public Safety Act (PSA) and requested Pakistan to continue to insist on the international community’s intervention.
Sartaj reassured the delegation that people and the government of Pakistan stand behind Kashmiris in extending political, diplomatic and moral support to their just struggle. “Pakistan continues to pursue its principled position on the issue and extends its steadfast support to the Kashmiris in their just struggle, as Kashmir cause remains close to the hearts of every Pakistani,” he added.