The world has been divided today into global regions. Asia, in which we are living shall be the region where the national interests of big-powers China, Russia, U.S, and India shall converge in the future. Therefore our politicians should foresee it now and plan their national policies accordingly.
Pakistan today, faces grave challenges of terrorism, an energy crisis, water shortage, a population explosion and the menace of illiteracy, as a result of which the entire national industrial network is at a stand still, dangerously increasing unemployment, crime, and war. Illiteracy and population growth are co-related. Therefore a free, essential basic public education should be the top priority of the government.
China is known for its large population. However they have not only succeeded in controlling it further. but wisely planned the channelization and utilization of its man power in their industrial network and have thus absorbed the major portion of their population. China’s leadership, their excellent planning and priorities have led China into becoming a world power today; economically sound, prosperous and scientifically highly advanced. After the completion of their successful project of the Gawadar seaport along with rail road links, China will have achieved tremendous future trade and strategic geo-political gains. I can foresee one day, a constant flow of Chinese trailers loaded with goods travelling around the clock, passing through the corridors of Pakistan towards their destination: Gawadar sea-port.
According to a report of the counsel of Pakistani engineers, Pakistan is in urgent need of at least twelve dams and water reservoirs. At this juncture, the government can request only the Chinese government for financial and technical expertise for their construction. In case China agrees, our leadership must boldly declare their construction as top priority and complete this project on a war footing.
Diplomatic relations between Pakistan and Russia are excellent. However, as a result of changing geo-political developments in the region, we might well be witnessing the beginnings of a cold war between Russia and the West. Therefore, Russia is facing difficulty in its oil and gas exports. The Pakistan government, in consultation with its foreign office, after doing its homework and future planning of course, must avail the opportunity and start negotiations with the Russian Government, offering them access to the warm waters through the corridor of Pakistan for the export of their oil and gas in the future. I am convinced that a great boost to trade and prosperity can be achieved in the entire region if Pakistan succeeds in convincing the Russian leadership in constructing another deep water sea port in Pakistan alongside railroad links. All that is required, is an end to our myopia.
Pakistan has been fighting wars as a US ally in Afghanistan for about sixty years. It is shameful that during this period, none of our rulers had the vision to convince the US to settle our long standing border disputes with Afghanistan or to finance the construction of at least some kind of boundary wall between Pakistan and Afghanistan inside our own territory, to reasonably cease the infiltration of terrorists with whom the entire nation is fighting a full fledged war today.
Pakistan and US relations have always been good, at least on the surface, and in politics, the surface is significant. However, in the present rapidly changing geo-political landscape, as US and NATO forces are vacating Afghanistan, a megalomaniac India is desperate to fill the role that Pakistan had so far occupied as an important regional ally. The current Indian administration is aggressive, and is struggling to become a regional power and leader in Asia.
If the relations between Pakistan and India do not improve, and if the statements of certain government experts are anything to go by, they seem to be showing no signs of improving, India’s big dream of access to an Afghanistan of the future, and the central Asian states will never be fulfilled. With the vacuum left by the US and NATO in Afghanistan, regional stability, and at least a measure of peace is crucial to any prosperity on both the Indian and Pakistani fronts.