Domestic and regional challenges for new government of Pakistan

Col (R) Muhammad Hanif Pakistani leadership and the people have shown lot of patience and maturity in rendering numerous sacrifices in fighting war on terror, tolerating functional insufficiencies of the previous government and contributing towards holding general elections. During last five years Pakistani people and its industry have immensely suffered due to weakening of economy and institutions, rising prices, acute power shortages and deteriorating law and order situation.

The new leadership taking over the reins of the central and provincial governments in Pakistan, although faces many challenges, has given a lot of hope to the people of Pakistan. Since the new governments in the centre and provinces are going to be functional with effect from 6 June 2013, the people of Pakistan are anxious to know the steps likely to be taken by the governments for their welfare and for the betterment of Pakistan. Suggesting the priorities to the Central government for addressing the pressing domestic issues, this article focuses on the foreign policy initiatives which are required to be taken by the government with the objectives to achieve peace in Afghanistan and own FATA area and South Asia and consolidate Pakistans strategic regional influence and role.

To meet expectations of Pakistani people, it is necessary that the incoming government

of PML (N) pays immediate attention towards following domestic issues: reducing load shedding of electricity in the industrial sector and for the domestic consumers; the worsening economic situation should be arrested by refurbishing Pakistans foreign exchange reserves, reducing large budget deficits and making major institutions such as Pakistan Railways, PIA and Pakistan Steel Mills profitable; improving countrys poor law and order situation especially in Karachi city; addressing rampant corruption; and improving governance which is the major reason of these ills.

In addition to giving attention to above mentioned domestic challenges there is also a dire need that the government focuses on the existing regional issues and scenarios to consolidate Pakistans strategic influence in South Asia and other neighbouring regions. In this context some significant foreign policy initiatives should be taken on priority. The post withdrawal evolving scenario in Afghanistan is going to be very complex. President Karzai went to India and asked for weapons and training of more number of Afghan Army officers and personnel in India. He also said that very soon Indian Army may be training Afghan Army in Afghanistans Military Academy and training institutions. The US is negotiating for signing an agreement with Afghanistan for retaining nine military bases after withdrawal. Indian officials and scholars are saying that the US and Indias objectives in Afghanistan are similar. This means that under the cover of building economic and trade relations India is also trying to have its military foot print in Afghanistan. India is also struggling to reduce Pakistans influence in the Afghan peace process which Pakistan is trying to restart in cooperation with the US. While Pakistan is endeavouring that withdrawal should be preceded by a peace agreement based on consensus of all ethnic groups in Afghanistan, India, Karzai government and some other likeminded elements in Afghanistan want to sabotage this process to retain power and influence in Afghanistan. They are probably hoping that after the withdrawal Afghan army will be able to resist Taliban operations and they will be able to govern Afghanistan without giving share to almost 42 percent Pashtun population. This power struggle is likely to prolong ongoing Afghan war which has direct bearing on stability of Pakistan.

This situation with Indias military influence in Afghanistan will also have further negative impact on stability of Balochistan. Therefore for the sake of peace in Afghanistan and the region Pakistan government has to adopt pro active foreign policy to take the US, other major powers and regional players into confidence in favour of restarting negotiations initially with the Taliban and subsequently with other ethnic groups to arrive at a peace agreement preferably before withdrawal. This is very important because stability in Afghanistan is necessary for creating peace in FATA and other parts of Pakistan. In its regional diplomacy Pakistan should develop close coordination with China, Iran and Russia. From the regional security perspective Pakistan and these three countries are in favour of a negotiated reconciliation in Afghanistan. In this context, India seems to be out of step with these regional players. While these countries favour that Taliban should be convinced to join Afghan mainstream politics through constitutional means, India opposes any meaningful negotiations with the Taliban. It appears that India wants Afghanistan to enter into power struggle of 1990s. For this purpose it is trying to influence Iran and Russia. In this scenario Pakistan should go ahead with the laying of Iran-Pakistan gas pipe line so that Pakistan and Iran develop stakes with each other. In that case Iran will cooperate with Pakistan to bring peace in Afghanistan rather than favouring Indias Pakistan specific negative strategy in Afghanistan. Russia is already inclined to gain Pakistans support in maintaining post withdrawal peace in Afghanistan and Central Asian states. Therefore Pakistans consultations with Russia will help in developing further consensus.

To resolve Pakistans disputes with India, Pakistan should try to restart composite dialogue with India. During this dialogue Pakistan should discuss all issues simultaneously considering Kashmir as the core issue. Also Pakistan can enhance trade relations with India keeping in view WTO rules and interest of all stake holders in Pakistan. Pakistan should conduct negotiations with India not as a junior partner but as an equal power and partner. Both countries have come a long way in nurturing mutual enmities basically over Kashmir issue. In the process Pakistan has greatly suffered from Indian military aggression in 1971 in the then East Pakistan. Now both countries are nuclear powers and they have to behave maturely to ensure regional peace and

stability. This is to ensure economic development and addressing poverty in South Asia. Both countries have to resolve their issues with pragmatism respecting each others national interests. While resolving Kashmir issue India has to compensate Pakistan by at least regretting its aggression on Pakistan in 1971 and has to be serious on finding out a mutually acceptable solution of Kashmir and other issues. This is the only way that durable peace can be established in South Asia. To build durable good relations with Pakistan, India should also not try to harm Pakistans interests in Afghanistan. Both countries should be sensitive to each others interests in the region. India should not try to dominate Pakistan as it was doing in the past. Pakistani leadership has to be bold in discussing issues with India as an equal military power. Both countries have to understand that their friendly relations based on justice and fair play is the only way to have mutual and regional peace.

Regarding Syrian situation, currently Pakistan is maintaining its principled stance that every countrys integrity and sovereignty should be respected. But this inactive policy is not sufficient because this issue has already created differences between Gulf States including Pakistans very close friend Saudi Arabia and Iran, our close neighbor. In the context of Syrian situation Pakistan should display active diplomacy with the objective of creating better understanding between these countries which could have better effect on resolution of Syrian conflict through negotiations rather than continuing the civil war.

In this regard with close consultations with Saudi Arabia and Iran, Pakistan should try to assume the role of a facilitator between these countries to bring their perceptions closer to each other. While Pakistans this role will help in removing misperceptions of Gulf countries and Iran on Irans nuclear position and Syrian situation it will also raise Pakistans political stature in the region. Pakistans this role will also help in maintaining good relations with both Saudi Arabia and Iran. The writer works for Islamabad Policy Research Institute. This article was published in The Frontier Post, June 7, 2013.