Saturday, 29 March 2014 |
Saturday Special this week focusses on the changing trend in Pakistan’s foreign policy with Islamabad’s greater thrust on China (Main), removing sticking points in its relations with Iran (The Other Voice), and whether Pakistan will stop using terror as a foreign policy (Perspective)
In the run up to the Lok Sabha elections in India, issues like cross-border terrorism and “AK 49” being “an agent of Pakistan” have stirred debates not only in India but in our western neighbour too. Pakistan’s foreign office on March 27 expressed dismay over “Pakistan” being a poll issue in India. Pakistan foreign office spokesperson Tasnim Aslam said: “Unlike Pakistan, where India is not an issue; in India, Pakistan has become a poll issue unfortunately.”
Pakistan’s official statement — though a blatant lie as India has always occupied the mind space of state and non-state actors in Pakistan — is intriguing as it is yet to be established whether the new regime led by Nawaz Sharif really wants to attenuate animosity towards India or the assertion was aimed at the US which is pushing Pakistan to improve ties with India.
Whatever be the reason, the fact remains that India is still being targeted by non-state actors aided and abetted by Pakistan’s ISI. The spate of arrests of Indian Mujahideen commanders, three of whom are Pakistani nationals, within a week indicates the ulterior motive of Pakistan. But more alarming is the debutant intrusion of Taliban attackers via Nepal border.
Old habits die hard
There is nothing extraordinary in Pakistan’s sinister design to weaken India as it is widely known that Islamabad’s foreign policy revolves around New Delhi. In fact, during the last parliamentary elections in Pakistan, India was one of the prime focus and almost all Islamist groups had offered their support to political parties in lieu of intensifying covert war on India.
Even though Nawaz Sharif has been considered as one of the most moderate politicians as far as animosity towards India is concerned, considering the past record of mutual hatred between him and the powerful Army, it is premature to expect there can be a sea change in the course of their foreign policy, particularly against the wishes of the Pakistan Army.
As a matter of fact, even though all clandestine anti-India activities in Pakistan are backed by its Army, India had found the last military regime in Pakistan more soothing owing to a simple reason that while in government, they were accountable to the US for every misdeed. But the coercive approach of the military only built up anger among Islamists for later use.
Therefore, we have to rely on a democratically elected civilian government there to deal with issues of our concerns even if it just shoots off its mouth, as at least it reflects the aspirations of the masses. In this case, Pakistan PM Nawaz Sharif’s claim to working towards diminishing tension with India seems to have some truth. Probably the changing dynamics in its West has warranted a shift in Pakistan’s policies.
Agents of change?
The most prominent reason that may influence Pakistan’s policy seems to be the prospect of Taliban’s rise in post-Nato Afghanistan. At a time when Pakistani authorities are leaving no stone unturned to buy peace with the Pakistani Taliban (TTP), they can’t afford tensions on both sides of the border.
Moreover, India’s constructive role in Afghanistan has earned it brownie points at the cost of Pakistan. And they don’t know how to contain India’s influence there — by giving Taliban safe passage through their soil to enter India or by emulating India’s constructive activities.
The second most important event that has affected Pakistan has occurred in West Asia. Even as the Syrian crisis has vertically divided the Arab Muslim world on sectarian lines, the Saudi-Iran rivalry for supremacy in the region has changed the approach of world powers. With the US soft-pedalling Iran and Syrian issues under pressure from Russia and China, Saudi Arabia is looking east to make up for the loss.
The same Saudis which used to always side with Pakistan against India’s interests have modified their approach to such an extent that they are now extraditing Pakistani terrorists wanted in India despite protest from Islamabad.
Although, post-9/11, Saudis have been able to divert US anger towards Afghanistan, now they understand the legacy of terrorism. Moreover, the realisation that Pakistan is unable to control its militants who are now targeting Pakistani government has rung alarm bells in Saudi Arabia, and they are wary of terror elements boomeranging on them too.
As per a Dawn online report on Friday, Pakistan People’s Party leader Bilawal Bhutto Zardari posted a tweet on Thursday
claiming that he had received a threatening letter from the Lashkar-e-Jahngvi. It is interesting to note that the scion of Bhutto family had recently expressed anger over Pakistan’s inability to prevent non-state actors’ interference in deciding Pakistan’s foreign policy towards India. As the civil society in Pakistan has started questioning the necessity of trying to strike a compromise with the TTP, we can only hope that Pakistani leadership will understand the cost of raising a Frankenstein.
(The writer is News Editor & Associate Editor, The Pioneer)
http://www.dailypioneer.com/columnists/oped/can-pakistan-shift-focus-from-india.html
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