- Need for a consensus policy
One hour of briefing. Three hours long question, answer session in the Senate Committee of the Whole House. During the last few months Senators had been raising a number of serious issues in the sessions of the Upper House. There were questions about the ToRs of the Saudi-led Islamic Military Counter Terrorism Coalition (IMCTC), the visit of the COAS to Iran, Pak-US ties, Pakistan’s policy regarding the Afghan Taliban and Haqqani Network, Pakistan’s Afghan policy, forced disappearances and the army’s business concerns. Knowing well what kind of questions were going to be asked the COAS had taken with him not only the DGMO but also the ISI chief. The meeting was held in camera.
That the COAS came to the Senate to share information and try to remove reservations was a welcome move. Many observers have termed it as indicative of the present army leadership’s faith in democracy and respect for Parliament. How far the Senators were satisfied with the answers will become clear in days and weeks to come.
As NSA Nasser Janjua put it at a seminar on Monday Pakistan faces a grim security and foreign relations situation. There is no end to hostility from India which has shifted the conflict to sub-conventional level by resorting to terrorism and proxies against Pakistan. The relations with Afghanistan have marginally improved but attacks by terrorists stationed on the Afghan soil continue to take place. In its attempt to maintain good relations with both Iran and Saudi Arabia, Pakistan is required to have a tight rope walk. The US is meanwhile encouraging India to play a larger role in Afghanistan
No single institution has the capacity to formulate a policy that can help Pakistan tide over the challenges it faces. There is a need for a national consensus over the matter confirmed by Parliament. The aim should be to lessen the number of enemies and increase friends. The era of Cold War and military blocs is over. Pakistan has to remain engaged with the US and India to lessen hostility without abandoning a policy that best suits Pakistan’s national interests.