Pakistan's former permanent representative to the United Nations, Dr Maleeha Lodhi Thursday called for clarity in the country's Kashmir policy and questioned the "inexplicable halt" in the Kashmir strategy.
Lodhi was briefing a meeting of the Senate Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs at the Parliament House on "Pakistan's Foreign Policy, Challenges and Opportunities," chaired by Senator Mushahid Hussain Sayed.
The committee after thorough discussions on foreign policy issues noted that given the volume of work and significance of proactive approach towards all regions of the world there was a need to appoint Minister of State for various subjects and regions.
The Pakistan's former permanent representative to the UN stated that given the unsettled times in international affairs the notion of power was changing and challenges to multilateralism were growing.
She identified four major challenges for Pakistan in its foreign policy engagement including navigating Sino-US competition, the Kashmir issue and relations with India, the Middle East, Saudi-Iran stand-off, and the Afghanistan issue.
Lodhi underlined the need for evolving clarity on the issues facing the country with clear objectives and bringing consistency in diplomacy.
On Kashmir, she said that there was a need for convening the OIC ministerial meeting and Human Rights Council special session on Kashmir.
Calling for clarity and consistency in Pakistan's Kashmir policy, she questioned, "Why is there an inexplicable halt in our Kashmir policy"?
The chairman of the committee, in his remarks, stated that Pakistan had got "strategic space" to pursue foreign policy.
He said that in the changing dynamics of international affairs, especially in the regional context, Pakistan had adequate strategic space and geopolitical breather, which should be used to promote our consistent stand on Kashmir cause so that India was compelled to feel the heat of international diplomatic pressure.
Pakistan needs to engage more proactively with the international community by sending envoys who are capable and can mobilize public perception not only with regards to Kashmir issue but towards Pakistan through soft diplomacy, he added.
Mushahid further said that the US-Taliban peace agreement, Donald Trump's reelection, the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), and Modi looking inwards due to the severe internal and international backlash on abuses against minorities and Kashmiris, provided Pakistan with strategic space.
Senator Rehman Malik pointed out that all stakeholders including the politician, from both sides of the aisle, should be on the same page with regards to Pakistan's principled stand on Kashmir.
He emphasised that Pakistan's foreign policy should be focused on engaging all regions.
Senator Seemi Ezdi recommended that the committee should prepare a set of recommendations for the Foreign Office to provide a policy guideline to develop strategies for addressing the challenges of the foreign policy.
Senator Javed Abbasi raised the matter of fallout for Pakistan after the withdrawal of the United States from Afghanistan given the historical impact of the previous withdrawal wherein Pakistan had to host hundreds and thousands of refugees.
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