Foreign Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif met the former Prime Minister Mian Nawaz Sharif at his Jati Umra residence on Saturday and discussed his forthcoming visits to China, Russia and Turkey.
These friendly visits to the said countries are being under taken by the foreign minister to discuss the Afghan and South Asia policy announced lately by President Trump, putting Pakistan at notice.
Minister for Railways, Kh Saad Rafiq told newsmen at Jati Umra that since Mian Nawaz Sharif has vast experience in foreign affairs and relations with these countries, he was consulted by the foreign minister.
Kh Asif is scheduled to leave for China on Saturday night. Thereafter the foreign minister will travel to Moscow and Ankara to meet with leaders of these countries.
The decision to undertake the visit was taken at a meeting of the National Security Committee on Thursday, which deliberated on the new US policy and formulated the response.
The foreign minister’s previously scheduled trip to the US for bilateral talks with his counterpart, Rex Tillerson, has been delayed for the regional tour.
The consultations would be aimed at developing regional consensus on efforts for peace in Afghanistan.
The regional trip, Pakistani diplomats believe, will send a strong message to the US that Pakistan cannot be coerced and that the country enjoys broad support in the region.
Both Beijing and Moscow have criticised the US position on Pakistan and have insisted that Pakistan’s importance for peace in Afghanistan and its sacrifices in the fight against terrorism need to be recognised.
There have been multiple statements from China in this regard, including one by Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi who praised Pakistan’s “great sacrifices” in the fight against terrorism and urged their acknowledgement by the world.
Meanwhile, Russian President’s Envoy to Afghanistan Zamir Kabulov said that Pakistan was “a key regional player to negotiate with” and warned that undue pressure on it could “seriously destabilise the region’s security situation”.
Iran too has joined the countries disapproving the US policy. The Iranian foreign ministry in a statement has denounced the new strategy adopted by the US towards Pakistan and blamed Washington’s opportunistic strategies and unilateral and meddlesome policies for growth in terrorism and extremism in the region.
