Shortfalls & Challenges to Pakistan’s Foreign Policy:

The pace of global flux is tremendously increasing while producing unprecedented political,
economic, and security implications. At the first level, there is a need to identify what is changing and
the variables behind the flux, and at the second level, there is a necessity to understand what risks
and opportunities are likely to be generated as a result. For instance, China’s larger One Belt One
Road (OBOR) vision has raised questions about how it compares with the American New Silk Road
architecture for South and Central Asia. The shape of present day trade and economic passages were
pretty much shaped by geographical proximity, historical linkages, and the present day political
realities, and China intends to realign them in its favor. And when one does that, it has the potential to
unveil economic opportunities and security risks that previously did not exist and were not anticipated.
Then there is the question of how the Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP) and the Transatlantic Trade and
Investment Partnership (TTIP) agreements (if they are finalized) are likely to play out in contrast to
what BRICS is attempting to shape via institutions like the Asia Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB).
These are immensely intricate institutions which are giving advantage to one or the other player.

Current Global Realignment:

Donald's Trumps latest rhetoric against Pakistan, harboring terrorist and all in his
Afghanistan policy speech does not come out as a surprise for anyone at all and is nothing new.
America is fast losing the war in Afghanistan and it’s an open secret around the world. US
government won't ever admit it, hence the favorite victim to put the blame of the shameful defeat
is their major non-NATO ally, Pakistan.

Post 9/11 scenario:

USA invaded Afghanistan as a direct consequence of the 9/11 attacks. The aftermath of
that tragic incident was manipulated by those who had a warning of this calamity. Without doubt,
the strongest lobbyist in Washington, that is Israel (AIPAC) knew and carefully planned to globally
benefit from the tragic events of 9/11. The US government in post 9/11 scenario, was heavily
lobbied by the Indians with Israelis in their direct support to put India as a regional counterweight
to the inevitable rise of the 'Red Empire' in Asia. It was only natural for the USA to go to bed with
India and try putting a barrier to the rising influence of China in her home region. India, aspires to
become a regional power but can't take on China at one side and Pakistan on the other, which are
both strongly allied nuclear armed states like her. While USA is facing defeat in Afghanistan, it is
her desire to 'outsource' the region to their puppets, with India in the driving seat of their
bandwagon. There is but, few major problems faced by the US government in implementing their
policies. Firstly, Pakistan being immediate neighbor of Afghanistan, foresaw the US defeat based
on their established old habit of abandoning the mess they create after meeting the immediate,
shortsighted goals. Looks like they never learnt anything from their Brit cousins. So, the Pakistanis
took safety measures especially after experiencing the US betrayal first hand in the aftermath of
winning the 'Cold War'. The US created and armed the Mujahidin in association with Pakistan
only to dump them on the later, once they thought, they were of no good use anymore. Pakistan,
didn't have that luxury, being in that region, so, kept their ties with the Frankenstein's monster
created by the USA and kept trying to tame it. It doesn’t mean that the monster did not haunt
Pakistan. Pakistan paid the price and continues to do so, through the blood of thousands of her
soldiers and civilians on daily basis. It's a price though, Pakistanis knew they would have to pay
for the choices they made. Pakistanis always knew what they were getting into, by taking upon
India on Afghan soil which is backed by the USA. The Indians, from the Afghan soil funded the
'international ideological mercenaries a.k.a Pakistani Taliban', who are the rogue third generation
mercenaries of 'Afghan Jihad', targeting Pakistan, to give them a taste of their own medicine they
had used in Kashmir against the Indian occupation of the region. As a result, Pakistan choose to
take upon India in Afghanistan being directly supported there by the US, in a fight for her survival.
This also dictated Pakistan to strategically realign its priorities and prepare for softly divorcing the
US led western alliance and join the Sino-Russian camp.

US Cold War with Russia:

The other major problem with the US policy in Afghanistan is, that the place is the very
backyard of China and Russia. USA simply cannot continue to play there and keep bullying the
entire region, without expecting retaliation from these regional powers. USA is no more the sole
superpower of the world, or possess the power it once had before 9/11. The 'Oil Wars' in the Middle
East based on 'WMD lies' have weakened the American might drastically. America acquired their
sole superpower status after winning the 'Cold War', defeating the USSR in Afghanistan through
her proxies, 'Mujahidin' now known as the 'Afghan Taliban'. That American victory chartered by
the 'Mujahidin' in Afghanistan led to the breaking of the USSR. Only two decades later not only
the same proxy, which won the USA led western capitalist alliance their war against the USSR led
communist bloc, is the US/NATO chief enemy in Afghanistan, but, the old socialist enemy of the
USA is also back to haunt the western world in the new capitalist attire. Russian bear is all inclined
to take back its lost territories and influence, almost after four decades of suffering the humiliating
defeat by the USA. Chinese investments in Afghanistan have bought them an unprecedented
influence in the country. Russia is all on board with China in Afghanistan and both these regional
powers are in negotiations with the Taliban, due to kind the courtesy of Pakistani connections with
the 'Afghan Taliban', which the Americans are so very critical of. Pakistani Army played its due
role as a US major non-NATO ally cooperating with the US and International Security Assistance
Force (ISAF) on ground in Afghanistan. Pakistan also provided key logistical support to the US
forces/ISAF in Afghanistan. However, the Pakistani intelligence, skillfully retained but avoided
using their influence over the 'Afghan Taliban', while the US wanted to negotiate a deal with them
by bullying Pakistan to strong arm the 'Afghan Taliban' into such a deal. Although such a deal
would have given the US, some kind of 'face saving exit', from Afghanistan, which was/is in the
interest of Pakistan, but the Pakistani intelligence outfits backed off from brokering any such deal,
only after confirming that, such a US deal with the 'Afghan Taliban' would be made by
compromising the Pakistani strategic interests superseded by those of India.

Indo-US Alliance:
The 'Indo-US' strategic regional alliance plans to counter China's rise in the region and
neutralize her influence in Afghanistan and beyond. This also directly jeopardizes the Russian
influence in the mineral rich countries of 'Central Asia' with the US eyes affixed on their natural
resources. India is hated by Pakistan due to historic reasons, with three wars under the belts of both
these countries. There is hence, a natural alignment of strategic interests between, China, Pakistan
and Russia. That is where it hurts the US most, to lose Pakistan which is geographically located in
a position to make or break both Afghanistan and whomsoever controls Kabul. Aforesaid
considering, Pakistan silently but surely, over a course of one and a half decade, strategically re-
aligned itself away from the USA keeping in view her own supreme national interests. While
Pakistan may never completely divorce the US and NATO, the core Pakistani geopolitical and
strategic interests are now aligned with those of China and Russia. Pakistan is a nuclear armed
state and the USA simply does not possess the potential to disarm the Pakistani nuclear arsenal,
no matter how much it threatens, shrieks or boasts about doing so. Pakistan visibly, has the capacity
and capability to choose its foreign policy. The financial support accorded to Pakistan by her allies
in addition to vast mineral wealth at her disposal coupled with the Geo-strategically location in the
globe only adds to the Pakistani strengths. India will have to make a choice, as to either peacefully
co-exist with her neighbors or face a nuclear Armageddon. India won't be allowed to enforce the
US centric agenda in the region it is housed, on the behest of her newly found lover sitting safely
across seven seas playing her to do its dirty laundry. Peace is the only logical way forward for all
stake holders in the Asia Pacific, for this entire region to realize and exploit its economic potential
and bring billions of mankind out of poverty. The US and its allies will have to sooner than later
realize, that the fires they are fuming in Asia will find its way to their homeland like before. USA
will have to stop acting audaciously around the globe as if, it is the sole superpower of the world,
which it is not. Pakistan will continue to exercise its foreign policy independently, irrespective of
the US bullying. The Pakistani global diaspora is a force beside its nuclear armed military to deter
any misadventure by either the US or India. The US puppet government in Kabul will have to
come to terms with the Pakistani position instead of playing as the Indian lackeys and support the
funding of the insurgency in tribal areas of Pakistan from the Afghan soil. For Pakistanis will
avenge and call upon its debts after the 'foreign invaders' will leave Afghanistan. In any case, the
American puppets in Kabul will run away to the western world, sooner or later after finishing their
loot of western world's aid money like Karzai and Co did so. Pakistan on the other hand is here to
stay and retain the influence in Afghanistan, in partnership with China and Russia, hopefully
bringing much awaited relief for that war-torn country in the shape of peace and prosperity.

Major Challenges to Pakistan Foreign Policy:

 Islamic Military Alliance (IMA): Pakistan is a victim of the illusion that by joining the
41-nation Islamic Military Alliance (IMA) formed in the Middle East (ME) against
terrorism, not only would Pakistan’s international presence increase but Pakistan would
also acquire a larger role to play in the ME. However, Pakistan is now fast realizing the
fact that it was beguiled into the alliance through its ex-army chief who was made the
commander of the alliance the now-declared intentions of which are having the potential
for spilling over the sectarian conflict of the Arab world into Pakistan. Unfortunately,
Pakistan is overlooking the fact that its huge workforce in the ME does offer a presence
and role of a subaltern state and not a leader state. Pakistan is coming to grips with the
challenge of its true presence and role in the ME.
 The ‘Do More’ Dilemma: Pakistan is a victim of another illusion that Pakistan is generous
with the world for fighting the war on terror and that the world be beholden to Pakistan for
the same. However, at the Riyadh Summit held in May this year, by not extending any
gratitude to Pakistan for its anti-terrorism efforts, US President Donald Trump signaled
that the US considered Pakistan part of the problem and not part of the solution. Pakistan
is overlooking the fact that the war on terror was primarily launched against al-Qaeda the
founder of which was found in May 2011 hiding in a compound in Abbottabad, Pakistan.
Consequently, several countries think that Pakistan is not fighting any war on their behalf
but for its own sake. Related to this point, the foreign policy challenge is that Pakistan has
been left of its own accord to confront the specter of terrorism. Nevertheless, the attendant
dilemma is that, on the one hand, Pakistan is fighting the war on terror at home while, on
the other hand, Pakistan has got readily embroiled in the Middle East affairs where another
war, along with all its repercussions, awaits Pakistan.
 Cross Border Terrorism: Pakistan is still faced with the challenge sprouting from the
allegation of perpetrating and perhaps perpetuating terrorism in the region. Whereas the
signing of US-India nuclear energy agreement in October 2008 brought US and India closer
to each other on the cooperation front, the Mumbai attacks in November 2008 brought US
and India closer to each other on the anti-terrorism front. Similarly, Afghanistan’s obstinate
censure of Pakistan on every bomb blast exploded in Kabul has disparaged Pakistan. In
June 2017, Afghan President Ashraf Ghani’s demand through the Kabul Process to have
an international pact with Pakistan to end “cross- border terrorism” further undermines
Pakistan’s credibility as a reliable peace-loving neighbor. Nevertheless, it often seems that
the escalation of conflict on the Pak-Afghan border has some sort of consanguinity with
the rise of clash on the Line of Control part of the Pak-India border. 2.5.4 Increasing
Volatility of India and US In 2017, Pakistan has been facing the challenge of volatility
coming from two corners. The first is India where Narendra Modi is ruling over the country
whereas the second is the US where Donald Trump is holding the reigns of the country. If
the Modi face of India is pugnacious, the Trump visage of the US is also belligerent.
Pakistan is getting overly leaning on China and by extension on Russia at the expense of
its tilt towards the US despite the fact that Pakistan has enjoyed a long-term defense
relationship with the US. Pakistan is not taking seriously the meaning of the cold shoulder
 the US is offering to Pakistan. Such lack of understanding offers Pakistan a foreign policy
challenge.
 Security threats to CPEC: Pakistan’s attaining the full membership status of the Shanghai
Cooperation Organization (SCO) beckons another challenge. Pakistan thinks that the
economic prosperity that would be brought along with the China Pakistan Economic
Corridor (CPEC), an extension of the SCO, will outstep or perhaps outrun terrorism. If
poverty and terrorism are assumed two distinct issues (and which are despite all perceived
correlations), the SCO or the CPEC offers a solution for poverty and not for terrorism.
Here, Pakistan is overlooking the fact that it has to eradicate terrorism on its own even for
the sake of the success of the CPEC: the eradication of terrorism is a pre-requisite for
making the CPEC successful to wipe out poverty. For bringing the scourge of terrorism
under control, military operations to retrieve South and North Waziristan are insufficient.
Instead, Pakistan has to revisit its Afghanistan policy as a foreign policy challenge, as peace
in Afghanistan is a precondition to yielding the dividends of peace on Pakistan.
Nevertheless, Pakistan’s joining (and persisting with) the IMA is an anti-thesis to reifying
the concept of brining economic prosperity to the country. Instead of preparing for enjoying
peace and prosperity through the CPEC, Pakistan is actually knocking at the door of
another conflict to bring it home. Interestingly, Pakistan’s joining the IMA has laid bare an
intra-state reality that the civil-military dissonance festers. The first clue is that without
seeking a formal permission coming through the parliament, the army thought it
permissible to send its former chief and about five thousand serving army men to join the
alliance. The elected government could not have accorded him the permission to head the
IMA by circumventing the parliament, if the government had not been mired in the Panama
leaks. Certainly, in the ongoing post-Panama leaks phase, the army has found an ample
leeway (vis-à-vis the civilian elected government) to assert itself. The second clue is that
on the DAWN leaks, the army (through the ISPR) denounced publicly through twitter the
implementation of the findings of the relevant inquiry report coming from the PM house.
The third clue is lately when the army has announced an Umrah performing offer for the
members of Pakistan’s cricket team winning the Cricket Champion’s trophy against India
in England. Taken together, all these three clues offer a sense of parallelism fashioned by
the army in Pakistan.
 Civil Military Relations: The civil-military relations are no doubt Pakistan’s internal
matter but these relations have the potential for affecting the contours of Pakistan’s foreign
policy. For instance, while joining the IMA Pakistan was thinking that it would take upon
itself the task of striking a balance between Saudi Arabia and Iran. However, after joining
the IMA, Pakistan has found itself confronted with a new challenge: how to correct the
recently surfaced Saudi-Qatar imbalance in the ME. Pakistan finds itself helpless in
plummeting acerbity between Saudi Arabia and Qatar – not to say of reducing bitterness
between Saudi Arabia and Iran. To its dismay, Pakistan has found that the ME is
impermeable to the diplomatic finesse Pakistan has been cherishing over the years: the
rancor is peculiar to the ME. Above all, abruptness and authoritarianism with which the
fellow Arab states, especially Saudi Arabia, are castigating and chastening Qatar, there are
lessons for Pakistan to learn about its own actual size and role. Though joining the IMA
was more an army’s initiative than of the civilian government, both are now feeling the
heat of the blunder.