Ties with US not being revoked: Foreign policy to get new direction, says minister 

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan will continue to maintain ties with the United States but these will be conditional, as Washington has to respect its ‘sovereignty’ and all future policies will ensure that Pakistan safeguards its own interests first.

A clear message has also been sent to the Trump administration that Pakistan will cooperate with countries that recognise its tremendous sacrifices made in the battle against terrorism. “Pakistan also has to determine a new and accurate direction. We will not let the nation become a scapegoat. The US must fully respect our sovereignty. We will maintain ties in accordance with our own interests”, Foreign Minister Khawaja Asif told a hurriedly called media briefing at the Foreign Office on the conclusion of three-day Envoys Conference.

“We are not cutting ties with the US, but will ensure Pakistan’s interests. We want to maintain bilateral relations based on mutual respect with all countries, including the US”, the foreign minister added.

“We will defend our territorial integrity and not sacrifice it at any cost. We expect the US to accept that. The US is in a way oblivious to what is happening in the region,” he said. He pointed out that there was no doubt that Pakistan’s foreign policy will see a “shift” and after consultations with the General Headquarters and other institutions, a new
direction in the foreign policy will come forth.

“The world is undergoing a ‘seismic shift’, he pointed out. Overall, the conference shows that the contours of new directions in the foreign policy are a reflection of those that one saw in the first government of Pakistan Muslim League, when former prime minister Nawaz Sharif had focused on relations in the region, including with India while resolving to rely less on Washington.

This time around while India is out of the picture, the government wants to improve relations with Afghanistan and Iran while also strengthening ties with Russia.  Consultations with China are expected to continue and efforts will be underway to have less dependency on the US.

The concluding session on Thursday was chaired by Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi. Foreign Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif, Defence Minister Khurram Dastagir Khan, Interior Minister Ahsan Iqbal, National Security Adviser Lt Gen (retd) Nasser Khan Janjua, former foreign ministers, foreign secretaries and ambassadors attended the conference.

Bilateral ties with the United States were on top of the conference agenda, keeping in mind the policy statement by President Donald Trump in which he had threatened and severely criticised Pakistan’s role in the fight against terrorism. Asif acknowledged that Pakistan’s Ambassador to Washington Aizaz Chauhry’s input had given the participants a clearer picture.

"After the briefing, we have come to understand different dimensions of the problem behind which is a 60-year-long history which is gradually unfolding. In my personal view, we have only incurred losses and haven't gained much”, he remarked, while lauding diplomats at the Foreign Ministry who “sagaciously” helped overcome obstacles.

Recommendations from the three-day brainstorming will be presented in the National Assembly as well the National Security Committee. The foreign minister said time was of essence, as big regional changes were taking place and there was no time to lose.

"We don't have a lot of time. The developing regional situations do not allow us to take our time. We have to change our direction as we are undergoing a seismic shift. Perhaps such changes were not even witnessed after the Second World War. New alignments have been made, strategic policies are dictating national interests,” he said.

As far as Pakistan’s war against terror was concerned, the foreign minister said Pakistan was today fighting a war for its own survival.

“No one can fight this war better than us. There is a difference in how we perceive this and how the perception that the world has. We deeply feel that it is being viewed indifferently despite our sacrifices against terrorism and we need to change this perception.” he added.

The foreign minister leaves today for a day-long visit to Beijing and on his return he will visit Iran after which visits to Russia, Turkey and other countries are being worked out. End of September will see the minister in New York to attend the United Nations General Assembly session.