It
is common knowledge that the world powers are now more dependent on their
defence policies rather the foreign policies. It looks now that the foreign
policies are supplementing their support to defence strategies.
It
is seen in the most recent times where even President Donald Trump preferred to
go to the Middle East with defence policies with the strategised plan.
Similarly, many others have adopted the same mode of cementing friendship and
future cooperation.
Defence
strategies of every country have gained more attention after 9/11 and it is
fetching more and more importance. President Donald Trump promised Saudi Arabia
protection against any aggression by supplying them defence equipment. Russia
is using their defence strategy not only against his enemies but helping all
the opponents of USA starting from Syria to Yemen and other trouble pockets.
Similarly, China is paying more attention to enhance its defence-diplomatic
policy and this new term given by me is, in fact, an emerging trend.
The
three world powers USA, China and Russia are not respected because of their
diplomatic skills but for their defence skills; hence, the defence might is a
more effective tool to promote their national interest. The countries worldwide
are extending their defence budget as this realisation is now increasing that
diplomatic romance can only work to some extent but it fails to protect the
boundaries and aggression.
Iranian
King Raza Pehlvi was the best diplomat and had the best of relations with the
West but even his diplomacy could not save him. I met his son Ali-Reza Pehlvi
in Washington over a dinner and had a long chat with him. I was sorry to see
how his family was forced to scatter out and the feeling was that they depended
more on diplomacy and lesser on their defence strategy. Why the USA got Iranian
Kingdom to fall is another story of a war between communism and imperialism.
Now the worldwide impression is that the first thing to protect a country from
foreign aggression is to have a strong defence policy coupled with the strong
well-equipped defence strategy.
Saudi
Arabia has always been under threat from Yemen despite the fact that Saudi
Arabia has been supporting the tribes between Saudi Arabia & Yemen but it
continued source of trouble. Similarly, the dispute between Iran and UAE will
continue, as both sides are not prepared to give in vis-à-vis control on three
islands at the mouth of Strait of Hormuz.
In
the present Middle Eastern situation, only Pakistan is the country, which had
strengthened its defence. Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto had the vision and he
decided to pursue nuclear bomb in the wake of the hegemonic stance of India and
surrounding geopolitical changes. He had practically seen that the diplomacy
alone could not save East Pakistan and the foundation laid by ZAB made us a
first Muslim nuclear state and that is our strength.
We are also a source of strength for friendly
countries like Saudi Arabia and UAE, which have very rightly chosen us to be
part of Pak defence strategy and Pak Army is presently providing full defence
support both at internal security and training to the forces of these
countries. We are glad to note that even it is our Army, which is protecting
the vital installations including Royal palace, and this confidence has been
given by our COAS.
I
also have first-hand knowledge that the recent deposits of $3billion each are
in fact the reward of silent diplomacy of Gen Bajwa who has given a great level
of confidence to the top leadership of both the countries.
I
would like to highly commend H.H Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed bin Sultan Al-Nahyan
for his generous support to Pakistan by depositing a hefty amount of US$3
billion in the State Bank of Pakistan. The people of Pakistan are thankful to
UAE Government and the UAE Crown Prince for his support in difficult times when
Pakistan is passing through a financial crisis. UAE’s generous support in our
difficult times to boost Pakistan economy will further strengthen the
relationship between two friendly and brotherly countries.
The
credit of receiving this generous support from UAE and Saudi Arabia doesn’t go
to the present Government. The credit actually goes to our defence strategy
under the command of COAS General Qamar Javed Bajwa, the continuity of Bajwa
doctrine and his consistent efforts made possible that both Saudi Arabia and
UEA deposited their amounts i.e. US$3 billion each in the State Bank to enhance
Pakistan’s liquidity and monetary reserves of foreign currency.
The
people wonder as to why the government is unkind not to give this credit to the
silent and shuttle diplomacy of Gen Bajwa, which actually made it possible. The
government should have shown magnanimity by giving full credit to General Qamar
Javed Bajwa who managed huge funds for Pakistan. Pakistan’s policy on the
Middle East and South Asia is more of our Defence Strategies instead of any
bilateral ties and time is proving that it is a less foreign policy and more
defence strategy, which is playing a vital role in building relations with
other countries. I hope that the government will give full credit of this
achievement to the Bajwa doctrine and will hold to take credit under the cover
of bilateral relations with these countries —-Thanks General Qamar Bajwa for
restoring the friendly communication back between Middle East & Pakistan.
I
actually have pointed out that your defence strategic achievements are the real
national strength and today our friendly countries can blindly trust us.
In
fact, pure defence is the best defence of Foreign Policy in this complicated
and complex world.
The Article has been Published in ‘’The
Nation’’ on January 5th, 2019
The Link to Article is: https://nation.com.pk/05-Jan-2019/developing-defence-diplomatic-policy
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