Senator Sehar Kamran (TI) has called for a policy of self-reliance in the wake of the recent US sanctions and accusations against Pakistan for not doing enough in the war against terrorism. She said it is high time that a strong diplomatic reply is given in response to these US actions following a string of statements by the US officials warning Islamabad of grave consequences if it refuses to comply with Washington's "do more" demands, according to a press release.

The policy of using Pakistan as a punching bag and an excuse for losing the war in Afghanistan have not yielded any positive results for the US in Afghanistan and the continuation of the same policy will not be any different, she stated. Senator Kamran opined that it is now time that Pakistan to opt for a proactive foreign policy.

As the country's foreign policy must always reflect the national aspirations of its people; its formulation must incorporate clearly defined goals and directions, for a significant period of time, that won't be changed haphazardly. In this context, she said the need of the hour is to engage friendly countries like the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Turkey, China and Russia as well as regional organisations like the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and the Regional Cooperation for Development.

She suggested that in light of recent developments, Islamabad may request an emergency meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, on the topic of "Regional Stability" to formulate policy on matters relating to regional stability and security. She emphasized on the need to develop a national narrative in order to combat the ongoing US propaganda against Pakistan.-PR

Copyright Business Recorder, 2018