Pakistan’s Minus foreign minister regime

Pakistan’s Minus foreign minister regime

Dr. Jassim Taqui

A debate has been initiated on the foreign policy of Pakistan by some serving and retired bureaucrats. Former foreign secretary Najmuddin Shaikh described Pakistan’s foreign policy “effective.”

Rustan Shah, former ambassador presumed that foreign policy success with China was enough since China is emerging as a “ power in the region.”

Mushtaq Mehar, a notable analyst paid rich tribute to prime minister’s so-called “ hard work in foreign policy.”

Former ambassador Masood Khan also maintained that the government achieved successes in foreign policy during the last three years.

One would ask all: Who is the foreign minister? Is he Nawaz Sharif or Sartaj Aziz or Tariq Fatmi or Gen. Raheel Sharif? How can the regime achieve such so-called “successes” without a foreign minister? Is there any example in any civilized nation where four persons with diverse views and total lack of understanding of foreign affairs have been a replacement to a genuine foreign minister?

Why would the so-called “democratic regime,” fear to appoint a full- time foreign minister? Is there a dearth of talent in Pakistan or there is a lack of direction?

Pakistan has produced some of the most talented and independent foreign ministers who achieved remarkable laurels for the country. Look to the “ hard work” of former foreign ministers of Pakistan:

Sir Muhammad Zafarullah Khan (1947-1954), Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto (1963-1966), Agha Shahi (1978-1987), Sahabzada Yaqub Khan (1982-1987), Asif Ahmad Ali (1993-1996), Khurshid Mahmud Kasuri (2002-2007), Shah Mehmood Qureshi (2008-2011), and Hina Rabbani Khar ( 2011-2013).

All the above-mentioned  former foreign ministers are stars , renowned and well respected among the comity of nations. However, the present regime is blind. The best description of the regime is “ authoritarian democratic dispensation.”