Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar on Thursday declared that the recent launch of Iran-Pakistan gas pipeline project will be a good omen for peace and co-operation, and made it clear that the only force that defines the country's foreign policy is the national interest.
Addressing her last press conference as the country's foreign minister, she said: "The (Iran gas pipeline) project is certainly in Pakistan's national interest should not be portrayed as hostile to any other country or any region or any other entity abroad... Pursuing national interest should not necessarily be defined by hostility towards any other country. So, the pressure that defines a country's foreign policy is the national interest," she said, adding that there was nobody to convince her that Pakistan should not go for a cheaper and quickest source of gas.
Currently, she pointed out that 50 percent of the industries do not have the gas because of the shortage. "Now can we allow our GDP to dwindle away...? Or can we allow our export to continue to suffer...?", she asked, adding that Pakistan will pursue what it considers in its best interest.
She said that Pakistan was also working on all other options to cope with the energy crisis. She said relations with Iran are extremely important for Pakistan and the recent launch of IP will be a harbinger of good news for peace and co-operation. Khar said that she did not see that the next government will face difficulties with the US or any other country because of the project.
At the same time, she pointed out that Pak-US relations are extremely important and Pakistan considers the US as its best friend and will continue to have a strong relation with it. She said that the engagement with the US was guided by Parliament and is based on mutual respect, adding that both the countries recognise each other's importance and have complete alignment of interests in Afghanistan.
To a question, she said as the ROZs did not happen and now Pakistan was hopeful to have preferential market access to its products in the US market, adding that US Secretary of State John Kerry was also a strong supporter of greater market access. Khar also referred to initiation of strategic dialogue with Gulf Co-operation Council (GCC) countries and focus on improving economic ties with the Russian Federation.
She hoped that the European Union would grant GSP Plus status to Pakistan in the beginning of next year, which will give boost to the exports of Pakistan. To a question regarding the involvement of the military establishment in the country's foreign policy, she said that military has no constitutional role and it is consulted for its input on issues relating to security and defence.
Giving an overview of the challenges confronted in the domain of foreign policy during the last five years and how they were dealt with and converted into major opportunities, she said that the democratic government pursued a proactive foreign policy focusing on region and taking decisions purely in national interests. She maintained that the foreign policy was driven by confidence rather than fear and the parliament provided guidelines for intensive engagement with the world.
She said the priority of the foreign policy has been to provide peaceful and stable regional environment so that people could concentrate not on borders‚ disputes and animosity but on internal growth and stability. In the regional context‚ she pointed out that China has been our strategic ally and the present government focused on transferring politically strong relations into economically strong ties.
In this regard‚ she particularly referred to historic Gwadar Port agreement‚ Chinese investment in energy and infrastructure projects and President Asif Ali Zardari's 9 visits to China. About India‚ Khar said the leadership decided to start investing in friendship and trust building instead of traditional hostility and animosity that the two countries witnessed in the past. She said many steps including improvement of trade relations were taken to build trust.
To a question, she acknowledged that there were disappointments vis-à-vis relations with India including unfortunate and hostile statements that emanated from that country on cross-LoC incidents. The Foreign Minister said Pakistan wants resolution of Kashmir dispute but pointed out that there was not required level of trust at the moment for resolution of the issue through dialogue. She said Pakistan is willing to work on Sir Creek and then Prime Ministers Benazir Bhutto and Rajiv Gandhi were close to agreement on Siachin but the progress was later marred.
About Afghanistan, she said the democratic government demonstrated its commitment to have relations with Afghanistan on the basis of sovereign equality and this context Pakistan considers Kabul is the most important capital for it. "We aspire for no role in Afghanistan than to facilitate Afghan people on the course chosen by them for peace and reconciliation", she added.
Responding a query, she said on the desire of Pakistan‚ Afghanistan conveyed in black and white that it wanted co-operation of Pakistan in direct talks with Taliban‚ holding of Ulema conference‚ safe passage for Taliban that wish to travel for peaceful purpose and release of all Taliban prisoners. She said Pakistan accepted all the demands and started responding positively immediately.