HISTORY is in the making. The landmark Asia-Europe summit convened in Delhi is a glaring example of changing patterns of politics in Europe. Europe seeks to pursue a lending hand from the rapidly-growing East Pacific states to steer it out of precipitating recession that has engulfed southern Europe for quite some time. Given the visualising idea of prospective EU-Asean free trade zone, South Asian economic giant India has played its cards very tactfully. It has expanded its arms beyond the traditional horizons and is striking vertical economic ties from Europe to East Pacific.
The latest Sino-India border agreement aimed at mitigating security hazards on the McMahon Line that registered unprecedented understanding and improvement of their bilateral ties bears testimony to developments that even China, the strategic ally of Pakistan, is no more a bulwark to its expanding economic goals.
Pakistan is slumbering on the drastic political changes of the region and beyond that. Still oblivious to the shifting regional dynamics and foreign policy manoeuvres of the states whose hegemony we fear, we couldn’t for a while give it a thought to what positive outcome it could reap for Pakistan if it were on the forefront of the summit. However, it is not.
Opinion - makers are in a mess. A curious and disturbing phenomenon is that the political climate is driven on a confrontationist stance with the US after the gruesome incident of killing Hakeemullah Mehsud in a drone strike.
The opinion - makers and policymakers have confined their scope of thinking to the morass of debilitating situation against terrorism; they have neglected the interests of Pakistan abroad.
Yes, the nation understands the gravity of the government attention on terrorism and appreciates the efforts for preparing the ground to mark the peace talks.
Nevertheless, at the same time grinding poverty, capital flight, exploding population with no proper health facilities dictate the state to broaden the scope of policies.
In depth, confining ourselves in the gamut of domestic issues while totally neglecting the burgeoning international developments can prove a catastrophic showdown for the country.
India’s progressive economy and its tightening of ties with regions like East Asia, Southeast Asia and Europe draw a sign for Pakistan of the negative implications to come. Therefore, the latter should adopt a countervailing approach and avail itself of the changing circumstances.
JAMEELUR REHMAN ZAIB Islamabad
