ISLAMABAD - The nation on Friday celebrated yet another Pakistan Day amid diplomatic challenges as Islamabad struggles to cope with Washington, New Delhi and Kabul.

For the last many months, Pakistan has had troubled ties with the United States, conflict with India, tension with Afghanistan and misunderstandings with Iran.

While there has been some improvement in ties with Iran, the relations with the US and India have gone from bad to worse. The ties with Afghanistan have never been stable.

Top Pakistani diplomats have been running from post to pillar to placate the US – which they believe is key to normalising ties with India and Afghanistan. Senior officials at the foreign ministry told The Nation that the first priority for Pakistan was to improve the trust level with the US and enhance cooperation with Russia.

One official said: “Of course we are facing big challenges on the diplomatic front. A lot of efforts are needed to come out of it. We are eyeing to placate the US and normalise ties with India and Afghanistan. With Iran, we are doing much better.”

He added: “Other big aims are to enhance bilateral ties with Russia and retain China as the closest friend. Our ambassadors in these countries and the diplomatic officials in Islamabad are working on these targets.”

Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi had met US Vice President Mike Pence in Washington this month but the effort seemed to have gone in vain after an even harsher message from the US to ‘do a lot more.’

For years, Islamabad has been struggling to improve ties with Washington and is helplessly watching the US drift away to India. The US said Pakistan was headed towards the ‘right direction’ but ‘a lot more needs to be done.’ Prime Minister Abbasi, who is back home now, had held a meeting with Mike Pence in Washington on March 16 during his ‘private visit’ - seen by many as a ‘secret official visit.’

This week, Pakistan said that the meeting between Prime Minister Abbasi and Pence was part of a regular dialogue process aimed at improving the bilateral ties.

Foreign Office Spokesperson Dr Mohammed Faisal said that the Prime Minister was on a private visit to US and “taking advantage of his presence in Washington, a meeting with US Vice President Mike Pence was held.”

Besides the US, Indian aggression has also been a source of concern for Pakistan. The regular firing by India along the Line of Control and the Working Boundary is threatening for the regional peace.

Faisal said Pakistan was ready for dialogue with India but New Delhi should show sincerity too. “They have been firing along the LoC and the WB. Pakistan is also seriously concerned over the treatment being meted out to the diplomats, officials and families, including small children, at the Pakistani High Commission in New Delhi,” he added.

Pakistan’s High Commissioner to India Sohail Mehmood, he said, was in Pakistan for consultations for some days and had been sent back to resume his duties after a series of meetings including one with Prime Minister Abbasi.

With Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif’s recent visit and Afghanistan President Ashraf Ghani’s invitation to Prime Minister Abbasi to visit his country, the situation seems to be somewhat in control. There were indications the Prime Minister will fly to Kabul soon for talks. There have also been regular contacts with Iran which are likely to be continued in the coming months.

A foreign ministry official said the trust deficit with Afghanistan was still an unsettled issue. “Despite some positive contacts in the recent past Afghanistan remains a big issue. We have been struggling to resolve this issue,” he said.

Former Pakistan High Commissioner to India Abdul Basit said Pakistan messed up the diplomats’ harassment issue. “The High Commissioner shouldn’t have been called in the first instance. Foolish move,” he remarked.

Speaking to The Nation, he said on both the fronts – with India and the US – “we need patience, avoiding slapdash approaches. Unless Pakistan is clear about its objectives in both the relationships, we will continue to be swinging like a pendulum.”

Additionally, he said: “We cannot expect to achieve anything meaningful if our diplomacy doesn’t move beyond issuing statements and those too incoherent and ill-considered.”

International relations expert Dr Pervez Iqbal Cheema said the Pak-India tension was the result of the unreliable policies of Narendra Modi. Cheema said the irresponsible statements of Indian army chief added to the tension.

He said Pakistan needed to improve the trust level with the US and Washington should also not take Islamabad for granted. “Afghanistan should not play into the hands of India. They (Afghanistan) are a Muslim-majority country and we have historic ties with them. We should sort our issues through talks. On Iran, the situation is improving,” he maintained.

 

SHAFQAT ALI