Defence, foreign affairs: Senate bodies suggest sound harmony between muftis and khakis

A successful foreign policy and national security strategy can be achieved by institutionalising the strength and decision-making of the Foreign Office via National Security Committee, Defence Committee of the Cabinet and the Defence Council so that a reactive, crisis-to-crisis ad hoc approach is replaced by a clearly laid down consistent policy. A joint meeting of Senate Standing Committees on Defence and Foreign Affairs submitted a report comprising key steps for a successful foreign policy and national security strategy with the Senate, following the United Stated (US) decisions to renege on the commitment to provide F-16 planes to Pakistan and to launch a drone strike on May 21 in Balochistan.
The report suggested a sound harmony between muftis and Khakis so that all relevant stakeholders can be brought on the same page when it comes to issues of foreign policy and national security. The joint committee stated that embarrassments like OBL in May 2011 and Mullah Mansour in May 2011 would be handled deftly and swiftly with a co-ordinated response, not the inexplicable 24-hour silence on both occasions.
The report stated that during the start of the Afghanistan War after the Soviet invasion, Pakistan issued identification documents to most Afghan refugees to help them seek employments; Mullah Mansour might be one of such Afghan refugees. The report said there could be no compromise on National Defence and National interest of Pakistan and the parliamentary support is essential to gain, since the concept of strategic depth with Afghanistan has lost currency.
However, the Foreign Office appreciates the efforts towards activation of Pak-US Parliamentary friendship groups. In the report, Secretary Defence stated that the policy in respect of Pakistan-US relations has to be formulated by the Foreign Office in consultation with the Government of Pakistan and the Parliament. He stated that the question of F-16 was almost a closed chapter now as May 24, 2016 was the last day when Pakistan could pay for the aircraft out of its own resources as US has declined to stress review meeting of the Pakistan-US consultative group which was held in the US from May 30 to June 2, 2016.
The committee suggested the strategic vision with clarity on foreign policy and national security to be laid down with clear-cut policy priorities over the next 5-10 years, which is presented to and approved by the Parliament before it becomes state policy to be implemented by all concerned in letter and spirit.
The report brought forth two purposes primarily to get clarity from the government regarding the current status of Pakistan-US relations in the context of what is generally perceived as a drift in our foreign policy and national security. The report also proposed a national strategy to be devised that can preserve, protect and promote Pakistan's core interests in a rapidly-changing region.
The joint committee further proposed that a permanent liaison with foreign relations committees of the Senate and the National Assembly by the Foreign Office on major foreign relations should be formulated while suggesting that the Foreign Office should invite parliamentarians for an input while formulating foreign policy related issues.
The report stated that Pakistan must consider reaching out to the think-tanks of the US Congress and State Department as they play a major role in advising the US administrative and foreign policy making institutions. The report also suggested the Foreign Office to take effective measures to ensure countering strong Indian lobby working in the US.