Weak foreign policy responsible for Kashmir issue, isolation of Pakistan: Shah

ISLAMABAD: Leader of Opposition in National Assembly Khursheed Shah has questioned the reasons for the weak foreign policy of Pakistan, which is responsible for the isolation of the country around the world.

While addressing a joint session of parliament, he questioned that though they will never budge from the policy on Kashmir, but till when will they raise their voices and slogans, and eventually reached to a permanent solution.

He said that there is a dire need for a foreign minister in Pakistan, and suggested that Finance Minister Ishaq Dar should be made the finance minister of Pakistan. “If he (Dar) was the appointed as Finance Minister, then he would be the most successful in the history of the country,” he said.

He said that we need to realise our mistakes and choose a better path for the future. He asked that it was understandable that India had boycotted the SAARC summit, but why  five other countries had even boycotted it.

“Why is our foreign policy so weak, why are we lonely?” asked the senior Pakistan People Party (PPP) leader. “Why does Pakistan feel isolated at the international arena?,” he questioned. He said that India has tried very hard to isolate Pakistan in the diplomatic world.

Meanwhile, he said that Pakistan’s foreign policy was being run by those who were saying one thing inside and another oustide. He was referring to the Advisor on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz and Special Assistant to the Prime Minister Tariq Fatemi.

He said that Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto has said that they will fight for a thousand years for Kashmir, and it was Indian Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru, who had taken the issue to the United Nations, and has said that it should be resolved with the wishes of the people of Kashmir.

“Kashmir could have been solved in Tashkent but our weak diplomacy became a noose around our neck,” he said while referring to the Tashkent Treaty in 1966 between Pakistan and Indian which was brokered by the Soviet Union.

He said that the PPP was united on the issue of Kashmir, and has a firm belief that Kashmir will get their rights.  “The victory will be of Kashmiris and Pakistan,” he claimed.

There session witnessed an interesting mood then Shah complained mid-speech to Speaker Ayaz Sadiq that he did not have podium to place his speech document like the Prime Minister. However, Sadiq replied that he should have asked before to make the arrangement.

Shah while signally to the Prime Minister said “Let’s switch it around — he can come here, and I can go in his place.” to which the assembly burst into laughter.

BILAWAL ADDRESSES OUTSIDE PARLIAMENT 

Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) chairman Bilawal Bhutto appreciated the meeting of heads of parliamentary parties convened by the Prime Minister which had given a impression to the world the Pakistan was united on the issue of Kashmir.

Bilawal, while addressing the media outside parliament, said that they had sent several recommendations and suggestions to the Prime Minister that there were will resort to politics on the Kashmir issue, and to establish a parliamentary committee on terrorism.

He said that the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) was the vision of the PPP, while the enemies of Pakistan were attempting to sabotage it. He said that India was on the back foot now and it was the need of the four to hide our weaknesses and stay united.

He ruled out the question of boycotting the parliament and said that it was the legitimate forum to address issues of national security. He said that the Prime Minister should face accountability over the Panama Papers.