Abdul Quayyum Khan Kundi
There was a time when I used to send private memos to government and foreign policy planners. Those that received these memos can tell whether it was good or bad advice. I stopped that practice when it was clear that the rejected republic cannot survive. Foreign policy does not operate in a vacuum, nor can it serve just the narrow interest of the establishment and ruling elite. Because sooner or later, other powers lose interest in just dealing with a handful of self-serving individuals. We are in that state now. Ruling elites are of little use to foreign powers, and the nation is so chaotic and directionless that no one wants to deal with us. Few states that do interact have their deep self-interests to be served at the cost of us. Our foreign policy is directionless, thoughtless, and staffed with incapable people. Bilawal, as an FM, is a total failure. He talks well as an educated and cultured person, but what has he achieved for the nation? Nothing.
He is just following in his nana’s footsteps to transition from FM to PM. There is frivolous debate about whether Bilawal should have participated in the SCO FMs meeting, hosted by India in Goa, or not. As a principal, I support attending multilateral meetings. Much work needs to be done, long before the meeting, to achieve national foreign policy objectives, especially if the meeting is hosted by a declared enemy. We knew for a full year that India is the host of the SCO FM meeting. It was in the interest of India to make this meeting successful by ensuring our presence at the meeting. It was a foreign policy trump card that any nation would have exploited fully. We could have raised the hue and cry demanding that the meeting should be shifted to another venue because India violated UN resolutions by its illegal annexation of Kashmir. ? India employed the same technique when they refused to participate in a SAARC meeting hosted by Pakistan. It resulted in the practical dissolution of SAARC. Instead, we remained in deep slumber. India has a well-thought-out foreign policy attitude toward us. It is similar to the Chinese approach towards Taiwan. Maintain tension so other nations are pressured not to deepen diplomatic and trade ties. It is in the interest of India to give us a cold shoulder and call us the center of terrorism.
This way they have a diplomatic way of pressuring other nations not to improve trade, diplomatic and security ties with us. It is part of their strategy to isolate us. They are pretty successful at it. Bilawal had some good moments at SCO and like his nana has gained applause for his “absolutely not” style of populist diplomacy. But what has he achieved for the nation? He has been FM for over one year, why did his ministry of foreign affairs not raise pressure on SCO to move the venue and then use that pressure to get some compromise from India? Our attitude confirmed that our ruling elite is partners of India, including the establishment, and they have sold Kashmir to them through secret deals. I am not saying that multiple news outlets have reported the alleged Bajwa deal with India. FM Bilawal and his ministry’s handling of the SCO meeting and missed diplomatic trump card confirms it to be true. Failed states have no diplomacy. They only have populist FMs and politicians that deceive people through sham success stories that are pure fiction. Pakistan did not achieve anything substantial from Bilawal SCO meeting attendance rather confirmed India to be an emerging regional power. Who should we thank for this? So far it seems democracy-loving intellectuals want to congratulate FM Bilawal. It has been good for the self-interest of one person. As a nation, we will keep suffering from the failures of the incapable lot. This State of Zulm is on deathbed. All members of SCO are aware of it. Bilawal can deceive us but SCO members know the realities. Minus all ashrafia is the only solution to gain respect among the community of nations.