KARACHI: Pakistan’s decision to attend the SCO summit in Goa was correct, it was not a bilateral visit, and India clearly stuck to its script regarding Pakistan, according to former diplomats and foreign policy experts.
In a comment to JEE News, former diplomat Salman Bashir, who also served as Pakistan’s High Commissioner to India, says the decision to attend the SCO meeting was the right one: “I think We talked about being present at an important Shanghai Cooperation Organization event. The Pakistani delegation has done its job and should go back satisfied.
Former Ambassador Javed Hussain, who served in China in the 80s, explains: “FM Bilawal Bhutto Zardari’s visit to Goa was mainly to attend the SCO Foreign Ministers’ meeting. He invited our Foreign Minister. During the conference discussions, media comments and meetings, Pakistan’s perspective on issues of security, development, regional connectivity, CPEC, Afghanistan, climate change, Kashmir and terrorism was enabled to be presented, he added. The visit “highlighted the utmost importance Pakistan attaches to the SCO.”
Salman Zaidi, director of programs at the Jinnah Institute, whose work focuses on Track 2 diplomacy, agrees with the explanation of the vision that led Pakistan to attend the SCO summit, saying that “Pakistan has never had such The platforms it is a member of should not be abandoned, and it is to the credit of our foreign policy establishment that the decision to attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit was made despite the known challenges.
Pakistan’s presence at the summit also speaks to changing geopolitical realities and the visit to Goa — in the larger context — is beneficial for Pakistan. This is something that Zaidi also points out in his comments to JEE News: “Global leadership is rapidly adapting to geopolitical changes. Not only should Pakistan’s presence be marked at such forums, But it also stands to seize diplomatic opportunities to address challenges and capitalize on its strategic advantages.”
Dr. Maleeha Lodhi, Pakistan’s former representative to the United Nations and two-time ambassador to the US, says there were no surprises in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization visit to Pakistan: “The visit went according to the script. No surprises. reiterated his position and implied that, far from thawing the ice between the two countries, the situation worsened — negating any progress in their troubled relationship.”
Dr. Lodhi can point to the way India tried to respond to Pakistan immediately after the SCO summit — Indian Foreign Minister S Jaishankar chose to criticize Pakistan and its foreign minister. Speaking to the Indian media at a press conference held after the summit, the Indian minister called Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari “a promoter, a justifier, and I regret to say, of terrorism.” Spokesperson of the industry which is the mainstay of Pakistan. “
Salman Bashir says that Jaishankar’s rhetoric against Pakistan was not called for. But this is normal in such situations… I think the important thing is that Indians are not ready to talk with Pakistan at this time. And that’s fine by us, I guess.
This is not an isolated approach. Javed Hussain also feels that “no breakthrough in India-Pakistan relations was expected — and none happened”. He says that Jaishankar’s comments “clearly show India’s stubbornness and refusal to create a conducive environment for taking India-Pakistan relations on a positive track. It is determined to take advantage of Pakistan’s current political instability and economic weakness to advance its ambitions. [Jaishankar] also emphasized New Delhi’s refusal to show any flexibility on the Kashmir issue, which it says is peaceful. is an indispensable condition for solution.
Describing the Indian behavior as “unfortunate”, Salman Zaidi believes that despite the “anticipated defiance of the Indian authorities”, Pakistan can still “assert its right on foreign affairs, especially regional issues”. According to him, “India’s attitude towards Pakistan is not unexpected. The talking points are familiar, and the tired script on terrorism is once again put to creative use. FM Jaishankar reserved his most electoral role for Pakistan, which would be unbecoming of any host country’s top diplomat, but Jaishankar was ideologically more anti-Pakistani than any of his predecessors. are more bound.
For political analyst and foreign policy commentator Musharraf Zaidi, “It was an excellent visit. It helped fuel a diatribe by the Indian foreign minister – rising to the occasion and expecting multilateralism at the level of a regional power.” exposed India’s inability to join the forum.
Salman Zaidi agreed, adding that “Indians are at a loss as to how to deal with Pakistan or Kashmir, as they would like to emphasize that neither issue is relevant.”
In a tweet, former diplomat Abdul Basit, who was also Pakistan’s high commissioner to India, said he was impressed by Bilawal Bhutto Zardari’s interview with India Today’s Rajdeep Sardesai, and that the foreign minister was “particularly brilliant on Kashmir.” Glad he also raised the issues of Kulbhushan Yadav and the Samjhauta Express blast. The way Jaishankar reacted in his press conference only shows his jealousy and frustration.
Michael Kogelman, director of the Goa South Asia Institute at the Wilson Center, summed up the Pakistan Foreign Minister’s SCO establishment, tweeting: “Pakistan Foreign Minister’s visit to India for SCO was heavily criticized. , but they seem to have met Islamabad. Asked for: Participation in Shanghai Cooperation Organization discussions, and separate meetings with all SCO members except India. Multilateral engagement [with bilateral ] side.
Here is a word of caution though, as Ambassador Javed Hussain felt: “The moral is that Pakistan must stabilize itself politically and strengthen itself economically and technologically so that it can take control of its foreign affairs.” Can play a more effective role in management. “
