Pakistan desperately needs a live and resilient foreign policy to ensure its political & economic independence and sovereignty. US's "do more" policy should be dealt with constitutional vision guided by national interest without getting carried away. On the back of Trump's declaration recognizing Jerusalem as capital of Israel, Palestine issue has taken a center stage which will set the tone for future relations between Muslims world and America.
These were the views expressed in the "discussion forum" held by Pakistan Foreign Affairs and Media Institute (PFAMI) here the other day. Ex-Foreign Secretary Shamshad Ahmed, academician Dr Rashid Ahmed, foreign affairs expert and political leader Muhammad Mehdi, Senior anchor Sohail Warraich and other senior journalists joined the discussion.
"If Pakistan wants to live as living nation, live and vibrant foreign policy is a must", Shahmshad Ahmed said while defining how to design foreign policy in the new emerging scenario in which Pakistan is to make sure its survival and freedom. He opined that dream of transforming Pakistan as welfare state may be materialized if Pakistan never let its sovereignty and national interest get impaired by any influence. Relations with countries ought to be on equality basis as envisaged by Founder of Pakistan Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah, he emphasized.
Dr Prof Rashid Ahmed said that new status of Jerusalem was reflective of US president Donald Trump's anti-Islam hostility embedded into his policy from the day first. It repercussions, he said, may be unleashed in the shape of US isolation, EU tension, escalation in terrorism and unrest in the entire world.
Foreign Affairs expert Muhammad Mehdi, who is also founder and chairman of PFAMI, said that foreign policy, true soul of national interest, required to represent Pakistan as responsible and strong country with forwarding looking approach.
Shedding light on the connotation of PFAMI, he said "PFAMI is a Think Tank designed to thrash out serious discussions on Pakistan foreign policy, international relations and diplomacy. It also aims to reinvent role of media in Pakistan foreign policy building up Pakistan-centric narrative with adaptive vision."-PR
No content from Business Recorder shall be reproduced, published, broadcast, rewritten for broadcast or publication, or redistributed directly or indirectly in any medium.
Business Recorder shall not be responsible or held liable for any error of fact, opinion or recommendation and also for any loss, financial or otherwise, resulting from business or trade or speculation conducted, or investments made, on the basis of the information posted here. Nor shall Business Recorder be held liable for any actions taken in consequence." >Copyright Business Recorder, 2017