NSC to approve new blueprint of foreign policy

The three-day Envoys’ Conference on Thursday finalised a new blueprint of the country’s foreign policy after a thorough policy review with a special emphasis on Pakistan’s relations with United States of America (USA) and other NATO allies.

A well-placed source told Pakistan Today that the recommendations would now be presented in the upcoming meeting of the National Security Committee (NSC) for a formal approval which would be attended by the country’s top civilian and military leaderships.

It would be for the first time that Pakistan has gone for a complete review of its foreign policy following the policy review made by the country under then military dictator General Pervez Musharraf soon after the 9/11 incident in 2001.

“Once the recommendations are approved by the NSC which is to be headed by Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, we would start formal consultations with our friends and allies in the West, especially the USA. This review may prove to be a watershed in our diplomatic handling of issues,” the source added.

Asked to comment on the major recommendations approved in the envoys’ moot, the source refused to comment, saying that anything could be shared once it is final.

Foreign Minister Khwaja Asif also said in his briefing to the media that there would be a policy shift in the country’s foreign relations soon and the new policy will be formulated with the army and the country’s institutions and will keep Pakistan’s interests in view. He also hinted that the policy would also be submitted with the parliament for a review-based on the advice given by the envoys during the three-day meeting.

Asked to share the main features of the recommendations made by the conference participants, the source said that it won’t be appropriate to divulge the sensitive information at this critical stage.

The source said that the envoys from China, Iran, Russia and India also briefed about the new opportunities and challenges due to the fast changing regional scenario and the evolving new alignments between the regional and global players.

Asked to share the salient points of the new policy blueprint, the source said that the policy has been designed keeping in view the fast changing regional and global situation. “You know new alliances are taking shape at the global and regional arena. So the policy would focus how Pakistan would be able to tackle all challenges either in the region or at the world stage. The new recommendations have covered almost all areas of concern. Pakistan’s Afghan policy is pivotal in this regard,” the source said.

The source said that the conference had listed its recommendations to help showcase the achievements Pakistan had made in the war against terrorism and under the new policy framework, its Foreign Ministry would work diligently to promote the successes Pakistan had achieved due to its effective counterterrorism policy.

“We need to tell the world that Pakistan is the only country which has defeated the menace of terrorism on its soil. The success rate of Pakistan against terrorists is unmatched,” the source said and added that in past Pakistan had failed to convince the world about its achievements in this field.