Pakistan hints at foreign policy shift away from US keeping national interests supreme
Shares
The Senate was informed on Wednesday that Pakistan has never compromised on its core interests and always responded to the emerging changes in the International environment in line with its National interests.
This was stated by Adviser to the Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz while winding up discussion on a motion moved by thirty Senators regarding implication of the statement of the Chairman U.S. Armed Services Committee in Kabul soon after his visit to Pakistan.
He said alliances shift and transform while interests remain permanent. He said countries adopt their foreign policies according to the overall emerging environment. He said that no single country has the capability to shape according to its wishes and priorities.
Sartaj Aziz said Pakistan's foreign policy is fully cognizant of emergent realities. He said Pakistan faced a decade of sanctions but met the pressure without compromising its core interests. He said when the time came we responded to the Indian nuclear tests, despite global pressure. He said despite these differences we maintained positive relations with USA.
Sartaj Aziz said Pakistan will continue to build and strengthen relations with US and strive to resolve areas of divergences.
He said Pakistan has achieved considerable success in the past few years in controlling terrorism. He said we have taken decisive action against terrorism, cleared thousands of square kilometers of our area in the tribal region of terrorist's network and embarked on a road to economic recovery.
Sartaj Aziz said our policies are aimed at the unity of the Muslim Ummah and we have welcomed all efforts in promoting mediation and reconciliation in different Middle East disputes.
He said the Saudi initiative is the Islamic Military Alliance to fight terrorism and extremism. He said with our experience in counterterrorism and our close ties with Saudi Arabia it was natural for us to join the coalition and contribute to reduce the scourge of extremism and terrorism.
Sartaj Aziz said with Iran our relations are stable and positive. He said our economic cooperation is on the increase and we have agreed to link Chahbahar and Gwadar as sister ports.
He said Pakistan has achieved a number of success and near past including start of China-Pakistan Economic Corridor Project, holding successful ECO summit in Islamabad, our membership of SCO, GSP plus agreement with EU and relations with a number of the world countries. He said these achievement fully negate the perception that Pakistan is facing isolation.
