The government on Wednesday categorically ruled out any change in the current foreign policy, arguing that the existing policy was a 'balanced' and based on the 'supreme national interests'. Winding up the two-day debate on the foreign policy, with particular reference to the relations with the United States in Senate.
Foreign Minister Khursheed Mehmood Kusuri claimed that Pakistan's foreign policy does not serve the interests of any other country rather it revolves around the 'supreme national interests' in the globalise society.
The motion to debate on the foreign policy of the country was forwarded by the Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Dr Sher Afgan Khan Niazi, whose statement hit the headlines the other day for criticising the government regarding the controversial relations with the United States.
The Foreign Minister, in his brief but vocal speech with arguments, tried his best to respond what the critics termed weak points of the foreign policy, which were raised by the Opposition and some of the treasury members. "Pakistan has done whatever it could do for the supreme national interest and would continue it by taking rational rather emotional decisions ", he informed the House.
He claimed that Pakistan had unprecedented cordial diplomatic ties with all the countries like China, Europe, Russia, and US as well as the Islamic countries due to its successful foreign policy.
Kusuri was of the view that a country could not live in isolation in the globalise society, however, he added that Pakistan has informed all the countries about its redline and any kind of its violation would not be acceptable.
Responding to the statements of the US presidential candidates about Pakistan and Islamic world, he said that such remarks of politicians do not reflect the policy of any country and state department has already condemned it.
Asserting independence in decision making, Kasuri referred to a number of occasions when Pakistan disagreed with the United States whether it was decision not to send troops to Iraq war or Iran's nuclear issue and recognising of Hamas regime, which all were against the will of the super power.
About the war on terror, he said that Pakistan has supported the world community for its own 'interests' and it could not come out from the 37-country alliance.
"We neither bow to United States nor want to develop any un-necessary animosity with it", he remarked. Minister said that businessmen, students and other Pakistani settled in the US would be badly suffered had Pakistan took any emotional decision, which should be taken into account.
"We don't afford kutti (severing ties) with the United States and international community. Nearly 7.2 million Pakistanis live abroad therefore, the government cannot afford isolation," he told the upper house.
Besides, the Minister vowed to acquire more nuclear capability to maintain parity in South Asian region following US-India civil nuclear deal. "We will take every step to maintain nuclear parity in South Asia through our indigenous human and material infrastructure," he added.
Kasuri categorically denied the statements of US State Department's officials that Pakistan was a safe heaven for al Qaeda operatives and direct strikes would be launched inside its territory. "No country has the right to use military force in Pakistan's sovereign territory... any counter-terrorism measures to be taken inside our soil had to be taken by Pakistani troops," he vowed.
Earlier taking part in the debate, Opposition leader in Senate, Mian Raza Rabbani alleged that the government uses Parliament as a tool to perpetuate the regime of General Pervez Musharraf, which he said proved from the speech of a sitting Minister.
"Relations with United States are not wrong but the manner we reacted on a single phone call from the State Department to tackle the 9/11 incident was against the very interest of Pakistan and the relations emerged between the two countries are questionable as far as the sovereignty of the country is concerned", he added.
Despite being front line state against the war on terror, we are being pressurised to do more, he noted. All these machinations are being exercised to control our nuclear assets, to use hot waters, access to Pakistan market, maintaining Indian hegemony in the region as well as to enter the multinational companies here, he added.
Rabani underlined the need to redefine the war on terror along with the territorial status of all the states involved in the so-called war.
The solution to counter these diplomatic tactics is there should be a democratic government and a sovereign parliament in the country for which free and fair elections under a caretaker government of the national consensus is a prerequisite, he concluded.Senator SM Zafar said that there is no permanent friend and enemy as far as the foreign policy of any country is concerned and it depends on the national interests with the changing circumstances. Pakistan saved itself and its nuclear assets by taking prompt decisions after 9/11, he observed.
However, he noted that after 9/11, US has adopted a policy of 'might is right', which needed to be reviewed. He also sought end to the American policy of pre-emptive actions against other civilisations. Zafar recommended having more closeness in the ranks of all political parties at home to counter such actions.
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