The Institute of Strategic Studies Islamabad (ISSI) organised a seminar on a book titled ‘Pakistan in the era of Turbulent Diplomacy’ by the experienced diplomat Dr Samiullah Koreshi on Tuesday. Earlier, the ISSI Chairman Gul Hanif in his welcome remarks said that it was a great pleasure to launch a book on a subject which was relevant to Pakistan. Dr Koreshi in his presentation said that his book dealt with the problems of Pakistan and the surrounding region in this era of turbulent diplomacy. He said that the present form of diplomacy emerged with the weakening of the Soviet Union after the Afghan War. It emboldened the United States (U.S) to go to the Gulf War, he added. After Soviet Union’s defeat in Afghanistan, the era of US-NATO military diplomacy began and implemented its objectives by using its military mussels and that of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) for the recreation of the map of the Muslim region, he said.He said the driving force of this new policy was “Islamophobia” and it appeared in the West even before the 9/11 tragedy. In addition, he said that the U.S planned to restructure hierarchy of powers globally on three levels: First, the existing Five Permanent Members of the Security Council, the second tier of contemplated Five new Permanent Members of the Security Council- with India among them and the third tier consisting of all other countries including all Muslim countries, which would be relegated to the bottom. Dr. Koreshi also discussed U.S plans to establish India as a regional super power. Dr. Koreshi in his book also looked back at Pakistan’s foreign policy from 1947 to 1977, and refuted the totally false statements that Pakistan had always been subservient to the U.S. He also suggested that co-existence with Muslims was the only sensible course for the West to adopt. Furthermore, he said that there was a need for Pakistan to shift its policy and attune it to modern times and join the new trends, as it was vital to be associated with a group of like-minded countries.
The seminar was chaired by Ambassador Akram Zaki, who in his concluding remarks on Dr. Koreshi’s book, said that it was a unique book. He portrayed very briefly the period of crusade as well as the three perspectives of Muslim movements. He said there should be no confrontation and capitulation, and instead dialogue and cooperation must be carried out to co-exist peacefully.
