IT is a measure of Pakistan’s weak position in the comity of nations that even a modest attempt by Islamabad to diversify its economic and defence ties can invite pressure if not disapprobation from Western quarters.

For instance, some days ago, the European Union envoy to Pakistan, Lars-Gunnar Wigemark, urged the government here to condemn Russia’s “aggressive role” in Ukraine.

Pakistan’s recent deal with Russia is hardly the milestone in ties described by Islamabad. No doubt, the accord speaks of cooperation between the two countries in a variety of fields, including defence — which at best concerns Russia’s willingness to sell MI-35 helicopters to Pakistan.

Also read: EU wants Pakistan to condemn Russian role in Ukraine

Given the unhappy relationship Pakistan has had with Russia in the past, the accords signed last November are significant from Islamabad’s point of view at a time when Nato forces have all but withdrawn and a question mark hangs over the future of Afghanistan, where stability and peace are a common concern for all regional countries.

That the EU envoy should put pressure on Islamabad to adopt a position which militates against its bid to improve relations with Russia underlines Pakistan’s weakness in the harsh world of geopolitics.

Contrast this with India’s ambitious deal under which Russia will supply 10 nuclear reactors to it. This massive inflow of nuclear assets from Russia follows a similar deal with the United States some years ago, with both Moscow and Washington accepting New Delhi’s sovereign right to set its own priorities in foreign affairs.

To be fair to Pakistan, this country successfully stood all pressures when it came to ties with China. But the leaders who crafted our China policy were a different breed. They had the courage to chart an independent foreign policy at the height of the Cold War when Pakistan was in the Western camp.

Now it is Pakistan’s aid-dependent economy, rampant terrorism and political instability that make it weak and diffident. If we want to earn the world’s respect, we must first put our house in order.

Published in Dawn December 13th , 2014