The on-going dialogue with the Pakistan Peoples Party is a step towards ending political confrontation and fostering national consensus as it is dire need of the time to counter internal and external challenges.
Senator Mushahid Hussain Sayed stated this while talking to media after his address on 'key issues and challenges defining Pakistan's foreign policy' at fifth session of the youth parliament Pakistan, organised by Pakistan Institute of Legislative Development and Transparency (PILDAT), here on Wednesday.
He said that resilience and capacity to compromise for the sake of national interests be made integral part of political parties' manifestos. And "I voiced the need of harmony three years earlier asking the government to release all imprisoned leaders to discourage the tradition of sacking each other".
He said that the promotion and stability of democratic culture is the only objective of the on-going dialogue as it is the right of people to choose their ruler through fair and free elections. Answering a question about internal unrest he said, the government should review its strategy pertaining to Waziristan issue and resolve it amicably without using force.
While talking about issues and challenges defining Pakistan's foreign policy, he said that national interest is the main pillar of our foreign policy. He said that historical analysis shows that three factors; India, Islam and our image as Muslims have shaped our foreign policy.
Talking about the India factor he said, it always remained a threat for Pakistan since its emergence as an independent state. Indian establishment lead by Nehru did not give us our due share in treasury and created problems at that time. Since then Indian tradition to damage Pakistan is going on.
During 'cold war' era Indian threat compelled us to join Western camp to have a balance of power in the region. It led us to join hands with China in 1963. But our nuclear capability has changed the scenario bringing us on equal footings with India, he added.
Mushahid said Islam is the second determinant of our foreign policy and our track record proves that we had always helped oppressed Muslim nations like Algeria, Tunisia, Morocco and Palestine despite international criticism.
While talking about the challenges he said the West has launched a campaign to denuclearise us and tagged Muslim community as terrorists. Its so called 'war against terrorism' is focused on Muslim. He said terrorism should not be associated with any religion and Muslim community should take a strong stand against Western propaganda.