LAHORE: Former foreign minister Sardar Assef Ahmad Ali on Sunday said conflicts between nations always create open space for non-state actors or saboteurs.
“We have to understand that no one will be in a position to control them (the saboteurs),” he stated while addressing a lecture at the Nisar Usmani Auditorium, arranged by the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Lahore Press Club.
He said that India was using tension and conflicts as a ‘staircase’, but they have to understand this would not work.
“A ‘third force’ can take place in this hostile situation,” he pointed out, with a clear reference to the Islamic State terrorist outfit.
He pointed out flaws in Pakistan’s past and current foreign policies, especially their handling of the Afghan war and internal conflicts, the issue of Jammu Kashmir, and Middle Eastern conflicts. He pointed out that Pakistan should avoid sectarian conflicts in the Middle East and General (r) Raheel Sharif shouldnot join the Saudi-led coalition force.
Assef stated that Pakistan and India should adopt a dialogue process to resolve issues. In Pakistan, everyone knows and understands that there should be good and friendly relations with India, he said, adding that the response from the other side is not welcoming.
“Indian government as well as their media are creating aggression against Pakistan,” he said. “This (hostile policy) will not work,” he asserted.
He also shared details of how India is trying to squeeze Pakistan and damage its interests not only in the South Asian region, but internationally.
“They (Indians) are trying to malign Pakistan everywhere in the world and are active to demoralise the Pakistani nation,” he said, and suggested that India as a big country should have to play a more responsible role to create peaceful coexistence in the region.
About another conflict, he suggested Pakistan and Afghanistan sit together on a dialogue table and avoid further tension, as both the neighbours have option policies to resolve contentious issues on the two sides. Both Pakistan and Afghanistan have policies – like one has transit trade as well as good relations with some of militant groups while the other has close relationship with India (mostly based on anti-Pakistan sentiment) as well as base camps of anti-Pakistan groups, he said.
“So we have to sit together and discuss issues and will have to give assurances and to protect national interests of each other,” he affirmed. He believed that as a developed and more organised country, Pakistan will have to start a comprehensive dialogue with Afghanistan, as Pakistan is their only choice to bring peace and stability to their country.
“They (Afghanistan) will have to restrict India and its activities inside their country and must try to stop New Delhi to use their country against Pakistan besides restricting movement and support to anti-Pakistan groups in their country,” Assef said, and asking policymakers in Pakistan as well to influence anti-Afghan groups not to use this land against their country (Afghanistan).
“Pakistan will have to protect its interests and should avoid conflicts as there is no fight against Islam but some countries as well as some ruling families are fighting for their own interests, but using the name of the religion,” the former minister said. “I am sorry to say Pakistan has no strong foreign policy,” he revealed, “We are on the back foot instead of the front foot due to a lack of proper foreign policy,” he added.
“We have to highlight the sufferings of the Kashmiris at all international forums properly and forcefully,” he said. Like other countries, Pakistan also needs a dedicated minister for foreign affairs, he said, while pointing out at the vacant slot at the Foreign Ministry. “Our most important institution (foreign ministry) is headless,” he said.
