Spokesperson of foreign office Dr. Muhammad Faisal has said that National Security committee has directed for changes in the foreign policy which envisages closer and strong relations with countries of this region. He said although Pakistan came into the grey list of FATF but there are no chances of coming on to black-list of this organization. He clarified that matters pertaining to FATF will be dealt with by the Finance Ministry.
The warmth in relations with Russia and Pakistan’s greater reliance on Beijing indicate gradual shift in foreign policy. Pakistan and Russia held joint military exercise last year and a Russian military delegation was given an extensive tour of Waziristan. Foreign Minister Khwaja Asif has vested Moscow a week ago. Moscow and Islamabad are cooperating for the early resolution of Afghan Conflict. Russia has supplied a few helicopter gunships to Pakistan and there are greater opportunities in defense matters. JF-17 Thunder fighter aircraft is now the main stay of Pakistan Air Force. Russia made Klimov Rd-93 engine is fitted in this aircraft besides some avionics. US President Donald Trump’s tough stance, accusing Pakistan of “lies and deceit “, makes substantive changes in the foreign policy inevitable.
The recent debacle at the 37 nations Financial Action task force meeting in Paris leaves no doubt about the bitter fact that Pakistan stands isolated in the international community. China has gone out of the way to protect Pakistan from international criticism, isolation and punishment despite its grave concern about the latitude extremists and terrorists enjoy in Pakistan, some of whom directly or indirectly pose threat to the stability in its western region. China once again stood by Pakistan at FATF meeting. But as a result of an egregiously misleading and triumphant tweet by the Foreign Minister from Moscow, which was apparently against the procedure of FATF, ensured the reversal of face saving reprieve for Pakistan. The myopic and inept civilian leadership forfeited, at least for the moment, the confidence of our staunch friends Saudi Arabia and most important China itself.. The very considerable abilities and passionate commitment of the foreign office are simply not availed by the incompetent and arrogant political masters who do not either understand or listen to the professional input of career diplomats. Their commitments are devoted more to blowing their own trumpet than to serving their nation.
Pakistan may find itself on the black-list of financial watch-dog if it does not prepare a comprehensive plan to eradicate terrorist financing. The remarks of the spokesperson of foreign office imply that the formulation of this plan is the sole prerogative of the Ministry of Finance. The statements of State Minister for Finance, Rana Muhammad Afzal and De facto Finance Minister Miftah Ismael reflect that they do not give much importance to working out an action plan for anti-money laundering and countering the finances of terrorism deficiencies. Does Pakistani political leadership have the spine and capability of making drastic changes in the foreign policy, demonstrating a paradigm shift from West to the East, is a million dollar question? The diplomatic fiasco in the wake of stopping NATO supplies to Afghanistan in 2011 after the Salaa Check attack by US helicopter gunships is a grim reminder that the leadership of the two mainstream political parties cannot perform this job. Changes in the foreign policy require strong economy, whereas at this point of time it is debt riddled. BRICKS Bank and Chinese banks are not alternative to International Monetary Fund (IMF), World Bank and Asian Development Bank for giving massive financial aid enabling Pakistan to pay its liabilities on account of alarming current account deficit, debt servicing of $ 90 billion foreign loans and financing the resource gap in the budget for the next fiscal year. Beggars are no choosers. Pakistan cannot afford estranged relations with the United States and our leadership must capitalize on the positive signals emanating from Washington.
