Developing Ties with Countries to the West
By Naveed Khan
San Jose , CA
Pakistan ’s integrity and prosperity will depend on how it develops ties with countries to its west and north and manages conflicts to the east.
India-Pakistan held another round of talks recently with little positive outcome or prospects of a breakthrough. India's reluctance to discuss the core issues of Kashmir and Water Resources and Pakistan's reluctance to prosecute people who planned 11/26 attacks in Mumbai is a broad chasm that cannot be bridged under the prevailing sentiment in the two countries. It makes little sense to bridge these gaps with some semantic gestures of goodwill.
The people and the leadership of both the countries have to realize that the chill between the two nuclear armed countries is indeed frightening. They have not come to that realization yet. Relationship between the two countries has deteriorated and is constantly in a downward spiral. Recently, the Indian Premier League manipulated the cricket players’ auction to publicly humiliate Pakistan’s cricket heroes. It has enhanced the suspicion in the minds of Pakistanis as to what India's real motives are: reconciliation and peace or to undermine and destabilize Pakistan. From all indications, India is deeply involved in the Free Baluchistan movement and is facilitating the global activities of the dissidents, who were hounded out by the previous government.
The m ilitary dictatorship of Musharraf wasted a decade in nation building and this is manifestly reflected in the unrest in Baluchistan. India is in collusion with global Zionist groups in organizing and lending intellectual, financial, logistic and military support to the dissident groups of Baluchistan.
The humiliation of Pakistani cricket players and India's role in Baluchistan is enough proof of its intent. Pakistan should extend its hand of friendship, seek rapprochement and resolution of disputes with India; however, it should remain realistic about the outcome. I am of the opinion that India's think tank has conclusively decided to inflict harm on Pakistan. Pakistan does not need more proof. Pakistan has to be cautious and must develop a strategy of looking to the west, that is to the west and north of the country. Pakistan should put less emphasis on relationship with India and develop strong economic, cultural and political relationship with China, Russia and Iran.
USA/NATO would soon leave Afghanistan. Pakistan must have cordial and brotherly relationship with the people of Afghanistan. As the NATO forces depart, Afghanistan must be brought into a larger coalition extending from Pakistan to Turkey. China, Russia and the Central Asian republics would be eager to join such a coalition in view of historic cultural ties and economic benefits.
