Former Chairman Senate Raza Rabbani on Friday proposed to reframe the country's foreign policy to break US-Israeli nexus, which is trying to make India policeman of the region in order to pressure Pakistan to "do more." Taking part in a debate in the Senate on the ongoing tension between Pakistan and India, Rabbani said that Indo-Israel-US nexus would jeopardise regional peace and developments make it abundantly clear that the US is making New Delhi a 'new policeman' in the region.
Citing media reports, he said that US-Israel-India nexus has been gaining momentum for the last few years, both on military and economic fronts. He said that upcoming election in India is just one issue as then main reason behind all this is the US desperation to make India policeman of the region to contain China, which is not acceptable. "Indian spy agency RAW has been aiding and abetting terrorism in Pakistan, besides increasing LoC violations. India refused to attend the SAARC summit in Islamabad under the pretext of terrorism. Then India kept on propagating that Pakistan has safe havens of terrorist which is completely incorrect, he added.
He continued that India violated water accord, besides threatening to stop water to Pakistan, as well as boycotting bilateral talks, adding the neighbouring country also remained active to put Pakistan on black list of FATF. The lukewarm response from international powers, especially the US, in wake of recent escalation between the two nuclear powers, Rabbani maintained, shows there should be a new strategic shift in Pakistan's foreign policy.
"We need to study the lukewarm response [from international powers]...they want India's supremacy to enable it as a policeman of the region, which we completely reject, as friendship between Pakistan and India is possible only if it is based on equality," he maintained.
Pakistan People's Party (PPP) Senator Sherry Rehman said that the government should share the details with Parliament, as it must have asked something for the release of Indian pilot Abhinandan.
"Although he [Indian pilot] should be released, what was the hurry to send the Indian pilot back? India did not even bother to call or show any intent to have a dialogue," she added.
She expressed hope that the crisis would end and all will play their part in it. "This latest crisis showed that Pakistan is not only more politically mature but is strategically superior to India. But what has Pakistan asked for? This is hard politics. Consider what India would have done," she added. Sherry said that Pakistani Parliament, military leadership and civil society showed far more maturity, adding but it was quite unfortunate at least Modi should have at least returned the phone call of Prime Minister Imran Khan.
Dr Ashook Kumar of National Party lauded the peace gesture shown by Prime Minister Imran Khan to deescalate the tension between Pakistan and India. He regretted that not a single minority member was invited for a briefing ahead of joint sitting of the Parliament. Senator Mir Kabir Shahi said, "If India makes any further blunder, we would not stop here as we will be left with no option but to remind India its worth."
The lawmakers belonging to both treasury and opposition said that peace is the ultimate objective of Pakistan which India must not construed a "weakness" as Pakistan is fully capable to defend its borders. Kabeer Muhammad Shahi said return of Indian pilot is a good gesture. He said the entire nation, political parties and Armed Forces are united under one flag to defend the motherland. He said Kashmir is the real issue between Pakistan and India, which needs resolution through talks. He said peace will remain a dream without resolution of Kashmir issue as per aspiration of Kashmiris.
Senator Muhammad Akram said peace is imperative for development, progress and prosperity of any country. He said both Pakistan and India should take steps to bring their people out of poverty. Senator Rehman Malik said Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi should know that the Pakistani nation is united having the capability to respond to any misadventure from India. He said that Modi is whipping up anti-Pakistan emotions under political compulsions in the wake of upcoming general election there.
The reports of monitoring on the implementation of 7th National Finance Commission (NFC) award and reports of Auditor General for the year 2017-18 were also presented in the House. State Minister for Revenue Hammad Azhar laid the reports including Biannual Monitoring on the Implementation of 7th NFC Award, for the period July to December 2016, January to June 2017 and July to December 2017, before the Senate on behalf of Finance Minister Asad Umar, as required by clause 3B of Article 160 of the Constitution.
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