The new government stands
committed to ensure the better relations with the neigbouring countries as
Prime Minister Imran Khan duly mentioned in his speech as Prime Minister
designate wherein apart from the areas mentioned supra, substantial emphasis
was exhibited by opting for a more balanced and independent foreign policy
stature.
In recent general elections, Imran Khan's party
bamboozled the political analysts and adversaries by taking unprecedented
number of seats nationwide. The manifesto of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf remained
revolutionary and radical qua poverty alleviation, education improvement,
economic amelioration, pragmatic steps to be taken against corruption,
broadening the tax base, zero tolerance about racketeered money, progressive
approach to enhance the health sector, to facilitate the farmers and promote
export activities in the country.
The
new government stands committed to ensure the better relations with the
neigbouring countries as Prime Minister Imran Khan duly mentioned in his speech
as Prime Minister designate wherein apart from the areas mentioned supra,
substantial emphasis was exhibited by opting for a more balanced and
independent foreign policy stature. As Prime Minister elect, in his first
speech to the nation, he reiterated his ambition to take corrective measures
with regard to worsening relations with the neighbouring countries. Regarding
Afghanistan, new government seems determined to maintain more understanding
with Ashraf Ghani government albeit Ghazni and other cities have been invaded
by anti-government forces.
Chinese
government, since ZA Bhutto's era till date, has been extending shoulders to
help out Pakistan to get rid of economic problems whether it be peace or war.
The recent CPEC arrangement is the standing example of friendly gesture on the
part of China. The Finance Minister, Asad Umar, has always been showing
skepticism about advancing of loans by the previous government from China for
the establishment of the economic corridor as a sequel thereto.
Pakistan is under colossal
debt and is constrained to take more loans from IMF. Beijing took this statement
with contemptuous disdain and abhorrence. Mr. Asad Umar intends to table this
issue with the Parliament as well wherein he is of the view that the investment
so made by China on CPEC exceeded the cost of other projects that China
undertook in other parts of the world. China deprecates the same by defending
that CPEC project got undertaken at the lowest rate. China apprehended by Asad
Umar's statement retorted that by issuing this sort of statement may create a
sense of mistrust among the foreign investor. The standpoint of China has been
very clear on the issue of Indo-Pak relationship and is of the view that
Pakistan should improve its relations with neigbouring countries although not
exemplary but at least to the extent of running business with them.
It is a hard fact that
Pakistan is facing gigantic financial instability in its history but according
to credible sources Islamic development bank has happily agreed to advance four
billion dollars to the new government and the said bank is unequivocally Saudi
backed financial institution. Behind this friendly overture, new government
shall have to understand that the loan extension by Islamic development bank
has manifold objectives.
Firstly,
to prevent Pakistan from extending any friendly step towards Iran in order to
keep out Iran from exerting influence of any sort on the present government.
Secondly, Saudi Arabia seeks more military cooperation from Pakistan as its
horns are locked in Yemen and Qatar along with ongoing war in the middleast regarding
hegemonistic designs. So, this monetary help to Pakistan may have strategic
implications as well. Conversely, Iran has not been too happy during Sharif's
regime as unpleasant incidents still echoes during the visit to Pakistan by
president of Iran, Dr. Hassan Rouhani.
The
foreign policy of India has been not only wicked but astute. When India saw
that Pakistan backed out from Pakistan-Iran gas pipeline project entered into
by the then Zardari government and the Iranian leaders. India trebled its
efforts by not only maintaining business relations but also concretely
contributed in establishing Chabahar episode by virtue whereof India will try
to use this port to extend its business to Afghanistan and Central Asian states
and this is a hard fact that China is not happy with it and may ask Pakistan to
create equilibrium between Iran and Saudi Arabia so that the business ambitions
of China may not get jeopardised. And now the real test for the new government
shall be to treat both countries even handedly failing which Chinese interest
shall have nevertheless be safeguarded.
The
new gov...