Pakistan's Foreign policy crisis

One of the most critical and persistent failures of the Nawaz Sharif government has been the deficiencies of his cabinet, both in terms of personnel and performance. Despite criticism in this regard since 2013, the government seems to be incapable of appreciating the seriousness of this shortfall and has not made any moves to change the trend of giving multiple essential portfolios to one close insider. But most ministries at least get a minister in charge and their hierarchical structures remain intact. Shockingly however, the Foreign Office (FO) remains a store without a keeper and there is a distinct diffusion of responsibility, which has resulted in Pakistan’s foreign policy being a jumbled mess lacking any central vision or cohesion. Sartaj Aziz, the octogenarian involved in the bureaucracy and foreign affairs of Pakistan for more than half a century, has been given the role of a ‘special advisor’ to the Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs and is the closest approximate of a functioning Foreign Minister. But, despite an opportunity in March to promote him to the Senate, he is not eligible to be a minister and as an advisor does not have final authority and has to contend with other such ‘special advisors’ to the prime minister.

The results of this dillydallying and a thorough lack of decisiveness in the arena of foreign policy has resulted in the continued fall of Pakistan’s influence and position internationally. The anti-India terrorism dossier shenanigans at the UN have predictably backfired and rather than winning over new allies, Pakistan seems to have lost old ones. A recent election to the UN Human Rights Council (HRC) saw Pakistan fail to muster the required votes, in what is being termed by opposition Senators as a direct result of the headless FO’s debacles. It defies good reason that Pakistan of all countries, mired in conflict and in need of a proactive policy to win favour internationally, would pursue such an ad hoc approach towards foreign policy undeterred. After Pakistan’s refusal to join the Saudi coalition waging war in Yemen, the country has lost its stock with its traditional backers in the Gulf, and their ‘no’ votes seem to have contributed to Pakistan’s failure to secure election to the HRC. And the best solution the FO can up with is to insist the Supreme Court repeal the ban on the hunting of Houbara bustards. As ever, the failings of the civilian government provide space to the military, whose chiefs are stepping in and going on foreign ‘diplomatic’ tours on their own. Pakistan can no longer afford to put off having a responsible and proactive Foreign Minister who can implement a well thought through strategic foreign policy.