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Experts say high time for Pakistan to frame a more vibrant foreign policy
LAHORE - Analysts have said that Pakistan must adopt active diplomacy to neutralise Indian efforts for getting Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) membership, besides making endeavours to get the same status for itself.
They say it is high time for Pakistan to frame foreign policy in its own interest which is not possible unless freedom from foreign financial aid is achieved.
After US president last year’s visit to India, the recent open and unconditional support by Barack Obama for India joining the NSG is another effort which has brightened New Delhi’s chance to get member status in the body. However it is not all for India as China has yet to give a formal nod to its membership. China is strongly pleading Pakistan’s case for NSG membership for which Islamabad had applied in May last. China wants the world to consider Indian and Pakistani request for admission to NSG on equality basis but the group members dominantly do not support this idea.
Former foreign secretary Shamshad Ahmad Khan said, “Although US-India ties at present are strong and the latter’s desire to get the NSG membership is not new, yet things are not that simple as they look. America’s huge favour to India is mainly because of the fact that Pakistan failed to get economic uplift which could have enabled it to command the same respect and position in the world.” “In the modern era, inter-relations in the world are 90 per cent dependent on economic self-sufficiency which unfortunately is our dark area at present,” he said.
On Indian overtures for participation in NSG, Shamshad said, “It is absolutely unlawful and illegal as India is not signatory to Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty and CTBT, but it launched efforts for membership in 2008 when New Delhi struck a deal with US for civil nuclear technology and we failed to rise to the occasion.” He said Pakistan must lobby to dissuade America from meting out preferential treatment to India and adopting a criterion-based approach to granting NSG membership. On criteria, he said, India does not disqualify for the membership for infringing the covenant in 1974 by way of exploding first nuclear bombs which had alarmed the world to set up the NSG (first name London Club) to prevent future proliferation and regulate the technology. As against India, he said, Pakistan meets the required criteria as it acted in a sagacious manner and judiciously after India tested nuclear bombs in 1998 and adopted threatening tone on Pakistan vis-à-vis Kashmir, and also for having a better record of atomic safety.
The former foreign secretary said if India gets NSG membership, it will disturb nuclear blanche in the region. He said economic self-sufficiency regulates foreign policy in the national interest but unfortunately it is not in the interest of ruling elite.
He said, “Our foreign policy will be in the national interest when rulers will shun looking at America to save them and frame their policies accordingly. This policy has kept Pakistan dependent on financial aid of others and deprived of independent policies. So putting our own house in order is first to have a say in the world. Our geopolitical location is our biggest asset that will be exploited to fullest if we maintain law and order and get rid of terrorism.”
“Our wrong policies have made the friends our foes.” he lamented. Despite this negative image, he said, “Our diplomacy and foreign policies are still respected in the world but the point is, we must not use it for personal benefit but for the benefit of the country.”
He said when personal relationship determines policies then national interests are comprised and it is the case today. However, he said, all is not lost as China will not allow India enter into group and the situation can pay Pakistan off if Islamabad internally sets things right and gets financial autonomy.
Former army general Ziauddin But says that NSG status is in fact a ploy to encircle China as well as give India upper hand when Pakistan and China will stand more closely on CPEC. He said US undue favour to India also stems from latter’s obedience to former which now wants India to play a bigger role in the region. China, he said, well aware of the design and will not like India to get through so easily. General Butt also touched the economic uplift of India which he added, had possibly allured US to sell arms to India keeping threat of China looming large on it. The former general also warned Pakistan saying that if India got entry into NSG, it would clandestinely continue to use nuclear material obtained for peaceful purpose for proliferation and manufacturing nuclear weapons. Pakistan must oppose Indian entry to the group at every forum as well as through active diplomacy making the point it will destabilize the whole region. He said America may turn its face to other side if India does so to counter China. He said American policy is quite clear that it has to safeguard its own interests no matter which way is adopted as such it has ignored the fact the India is not signatory to NPT. He said first the US wanted Pakistan to rollback the nuclear programme and now is the CPEC which has become another eyesore for it therefore it wanted to build India against Pakistan and China.
General Zia on Chinese role said, Beijing would be very effective to contain India. He said Russia may also oppose Indian entry as Moscow is offended after India started arms purchases from America. He said if correct approach is adopted Pakistan can brought home even America on its national interest that can jeopardize if India was made NSG member.
Political analyst Prof Hassan Askari Rizvi says Indian entry into NSG is not so soon and if New Delhi got, it would not allow Pakistan to be part of the group ever. He said India can take short advantage if gets entry despite not signing NPT and CTBT, although on later stage Pakistan can also use this precedence in its favour for entry into group. He said from the defence point of view, Indian entry will not affect Pakistan’s nuclear capability but New Delhi will certainly use the status for nuclear diplomacy and clout in the world. He said there is no chance for India to emerge as a new nuclear power after getting entry into the group. However, the difference would be judged from standpoint of cooperation which India and US will have in nuclear field.
Published in The Nation newspaper on 09-Jun-2016
http://nation.com.pk/national/09-Jun-2016/pakistan-needs-active-diplomacy-to-foil-indian-nsg-bid
LAHORE - Analysts have said that Pakistan must adopt active diplomacy to neutralise Indian efforts for getting Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) membership, besides making endeavours to get the same status for itself.
They say it is high time for Pakistan to frame foreign policy in its own interest which is not possible unless freedom from foreign financial aid is achieved.
After US president last year’s visit to India, the recent open and unconditional support by Barack Obama for India joining the NSG is another effort which has brightened New Delhi’s chance to get member status in the body. However it is not all for India as China has yet to give a formal nod to its membership. China is strongly pleading Pakistan’s case for NSG membership for which Islamabad had applied in May last. China wants the world to consider Indian and Pakistani request for admission to NSG on equality basis but the group members dominantly do not support this idea.
Former foreign secretary Shamshad Ahmad Khan said, “Although US-India ties at present are strong and the latter’s desire to get the NSG membership is not new, yet things are not that simple as they look. America’s huge favour to India is mainly because of the fact that Pakistan failed to get economic uplift which could have enabled it to command the same respect and position in the world.” “In the modern era, inter-relations in the world are 90 per cent dependent on economic self-sufficiency which unfortunately is our dark area at present,” he said.
On Indian overtures for participation in NSG, Shamshad said, “It is absolutely unlawful and illegal as India is not signatory to Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty and CTBT, but it launched efforts for membership in 2008 when New Delhi struck a deal with US for civil nuclear technology and we failed to rise to the occasion.” He said Pakistan must lobby to dissuade America from meting out preferential treatment to India and adopting a criterion-based approach to granting NSG membership. On criteria, he said, India does not disqualify for the membership for infringing the covenant in 1974 by way of exploding first nuclear bombs which had alarmed the world to set up the NSG (first name London Club) to prevent future proliferation and regulate the technology. As against India, he said, Pakistan meets the required criteria as it acted in a sagacious manner and judiciously after India tested nuclear bombs in 1998 and adopted threatening tone on Pakistan vis-à-vis Kashmir, and also for having a better record of atomic safety.
The former foreign secretary said if India gets NSG membership, it will disturb nuclear blanche in the region. He said economic self-sufficiency regulates foreign policy in the national interest but unfortunately it is not in the interest of ruling elite.
He said, “Our foreign policy will be in the national interest when rulers will shun looking at America to save them and frame their policies accordingly. This policy has kept Pakistan dependent on financial aid of others and deprived of independent policies. So putting our own house in order is first to have a say in the world. Our geopolitical location is our biggest asset that will be exploited to fullest if we maintain law and order and get rid of terrorism.”
“Our wrong policies have made the friends our foes.” he lamented. Despite this negative image, he said, “Our diplomacy and foreign policies are still respected in the world but the point is, we must not use it for personal benefit but for the benefit of the country.”
He said when personal relationship determines policies then national interests are comprised and it is the case today. However, he said, all is not lost as China will not allow India enter into group and the situation can pay Pakistan off if Islamabad internally sets things right and gets financial autonomy.
Former army general Ziauddin But says that NSG status is in fact a ploy to encircle China as well as give India upper hand when Pakistan and China will stand more closely on CPEC. He said US undue favour to India also stems from latter’s obedience to former which now wants India to play a bigger role in the region. China, he said, well aware of the design and will not like India to get through so easily. General Butt also touched the economic uplift of India which he added, had possibly allured US to sell arms to India keeping threat of China looming large on it. The former general also warned Pakistan saying that if India got entry into NSG, it would clandestinely continue to use nuclear material obtained for peaceful purpose for proliferation and manufacturing nuclear weapons. Pakistan must oppose Indian entry to the group at every forum as well as through active diplomacy making the point it will destabilize the whole region. He said America may turn its face to other side if India does so to counter China. He said American policy is quite clear that it has to safeguard its own interests no matter which way is adopted as such it has ignored the fact the India is not signatory to NPT. He said first the US wanted Pakistan to rollback the nuclear programme and now is the CPEC which has become another eyesore for it therefore it wanted to build India against Pakistan and China.
General Zia on Chinese role said, Beijing would be very effective to contain India. He said Russia may also oppose Indian entry as Moscow is offended after India started arms purchases from America. He said if correct approach is adopted Pakistan can brought home even America on its national interest that can jeopardize if India was made NSG member.
Political analyst Prof Hassan Askari Rizvi says Indian entry into NSG is not so soon and if New Delhi got, it would not allow Pakistan to be part of the group ever. He said India can take short advantage if gets entry despite not signing NPT and CTBT, although on later stage Pakistan can also use this precedence in its favour for entry into group. He said from the defence point of view, Indian entry will not affect Pakistan’s nuclear capability but New Delhi will certainly use the status for nuclear diplomacy and clout in the world. He said there is no chance for India to emerge as a new nuclear power after getting entry into the group. However, the difference would be judged from standpoint of cooperation which India and US will have in nuclear field.
Published in The Nation newspaper on 09-Jun-2016
http://nation.com.pk/national/09-Jun-2016/pakistan-needs-active-diplomacy-to-foil-indian-nsg-bid
