Foreign Minister Khwaja Asif on Thursday urged the United States to respect Pakistan's territorial integrity, making it clear that the country would defend its territorial integrity at any cost. The Foreign Minister, before leaving for China on a day-long visit to discuss the situation arising out of US President Donald Trump's new South Asia and Afghanistan policy, also told a media briefing at the conclusion of a three-day Envoys' Conference that Pakistan is the only country winning the war against terrorism.
"We want to stay engaged with US. We have had a long relationship with them [US] for the last 70 years...there had been ups and downs in it [relationship] but survived and it will survive," he said while responding to a question as to whether Pakistan is contemplating revisiting its relationship in the wake of President Trump's tough talk against Pakistan.
He said that Pakistan wants a relationship with the US which is based on mutual trust and respect. "The US is a superpower and we recognize it...but the people sitting in Washington do not have a full comprehension of the facts...They [US] are in a way oblivious to what is happening in the region. They must respect our sacrifices," he said, adding "we will not allow anybody to make Pakistani nation a scapegoat".
At the same time, the Foreign Minister added, "we will defend our territorial integrity at any cost. We also expect the US to respect it". "I am proudly saying that Pakistan is the only country winning this war [against terrorism], no matter what the world says [about it], whether they recognize it or not, we are winning the war", he stated.
Asif also stated that Pakistan's perception is being viewed differently in the world and the envoys in the conference have been tasked to apprise the leadership of their respective hosting countries regarding Pakistan's perception on the war against terrorism and the achievements gained after the enormous sacrifices of our security forces, civil law enforcement agencies, people, including women and children. "There is a difference between the perception of Pakistan and the world," he added. He said that Pakistan has to determine a new but correct direction in the backdrop of emerging alliances. He said that a new foreign policy narrative has been evolved and this would be finalized after inputs by National Security Committee and the Parliament.
He said the new narrative is aimed at bridging the gap in the perception of Pakistan and some members of the international community on the issue of fighting terrorism. "We don't have a lot of time and the developing regional situations do not allow us to take our time," he said, adding in the coming days there will be a policy shift in the country. The new policy will be formulated keeping in view Pakistan's interests in consultations with all stakeholders and the country's institutions.
"We are undergoing a seismic shift," he said while referring to the changing regional and international situation. The geopolitical changes taking place in the world are unprecedented, he said, adding such changes were not even witnessed after the World War II. New alignments have been made and strategic policies are dictating nations' interests, he added. "Pakistan will cooperate with countries that recognize its sacrifices," he said.
The Foreign Minister said that Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi chaired the concluding session of the Envoys' Conference, which discussed the changing scenarios in detail following the Trump administration's new South Asia and Afghanistan policy. After a briefing, he said that they have come to understand the different dimensions of the problems being faced by the country. "There is a 50 to 60 years long history behind the Washington policy and the regional situation, which is gradually unfolding," he said, adding, "in the course of this history, it is my personal opinion, we have only incurred losses and have not gained much".
Responding to a query, he said that Pakistan's dependency on the US has been greatly reduced. However, Pakistan's relationship with the US has not ended and future communications will be made keeping in view Pakistan's interests. He said that the US has a major market and Pakistan always desired to have a greater access to the US market. About his visit to the regional countries, he said that after China, he would also be visiting Iran and some other regional countries while discussions would also be held with the leaders of other countries on the sidelines of the upcoming UN General Assembly session in New York later this month.
In China, he said, he would discuss all the issues of mutual interests including the situation arising out of the Trump administration's new policy for the region. He said that many friendly countries have supported Pakistan's stance, including China and Turkey. During the conference, he said that the participants have reviewed relations with all countries and have decided to improve relations with those with whom our relations are not that good. He said Pakistan's Ambassador to the US briefed the participants on the US policy, which helped crystallize many issues. Similarly, Pakistan's High Commissioner to India also briefed the conference about Pakistan-India relations.
He said that Pakistan's relations with India revolve around Kashmir issue. He said Kashmir issue will also be highlighted in the UNGA session and on the sideline meetings. To a question regarding the recent BRICS summit declaration in China in which Pakistan-based militant groups were mentioned, he said China has issued a clarification and the same words were used in Pakistan's presence during the last Heart of Asia conference in Amritsar. He said the groups named in the statement have already been proscribed by the government of Pakistan.
To another question, he said that Russia is among the regional powers which is playing a vital role in the region and it has improved its relations with regional countries. He further said that Russia can further improve its relations in the region as it is deeply affected by what happens in region. About the relations between Saudi Arabia and Iran, he said that both are the brotherly countries and Pakistan values its relations with both the countries. He also said that Pakistan stands ready to play a mediatory role between the two countries.
Indirectly referring to former High Commissioner to India Abdul Basit's letter to Pakistan Ambassador to the US Aizaz Ahmad Chaudhry, he said that the envoy has expressed his personal grievances in the letter and it should not have been placed in the domain of media.
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