THIS is with reference to the report ‘In US, Bilawal defends Imran’s Moscow visit’ (May 20). As a senior citizen, I would advise Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari to spend less time on domestic politics, read books and listen to old hands at the Foreign Office. Diplomacy is in his blood, but he must reinforce it by reading solid stuff. His grandfather’s wit and humour and repartee were unparalleled and seem to have come to him naturally.

When he met President John F. Kennedy, Zulfikar Ali Bhutto told him that America was Europe’s daughter and its vital geopolitical interests were in Europe — half of the continent ‘lost’, divided Berlin, the Nato-Warsaw pact confrontation, etc. So there could be no compromise with Moscow. However, in the Far East, there was no direct threat to America’s vital geopolitical interests. Besides, there were traces of hostility between Moscow and Beijing. Therefore, Bhutto pleaded, the US should seek friendly relations with China.

Kennedy was so impressed by Bhutto’s logic that he told him, “If you were American, you would be in my cabinet.” Bhutto’s retort was: “Watch out, Mr President, I could be in your seat!”

Once a German journalist reminded him that as Ayub Khan’s foreign minister he had once said that Pakistanis would eat grass, but have the bomb, but now, as prime minister, he was saying that his government had no nuclear plans.

Bhutto replied that experience had shown him that people don’t like to eat grass. Asked if he had changed policy, he replied, “Yes, I have changed my policy.” Hidden behind these words was his determination to make Pakistan the world’s first Muslim nuclear power. He is on record as saying he wanted Islamic civilisation to be on a par with Christian, Jewish, Buddhist and Hindu civilisations. He pursued the nuclear idea when he was Ayub Khan’s foreign minister, and it was during the Ayub era that Pakistani scientists first split the atom.

About the relationship with China, researchers must find out what exactly his words were about the bilateral ties being higher than the Karakorams, deeper than the Arabian Sea and more fragrant than jasmine. Its overuse by all and sundry has eclipsed the actual words spoken by the great Pakistani.

Will Pakistani politicians show the maturity and let Bilawal remain the foreign minister even if there is an interim government in the days ahead? His presence will ensure continuity of foreign policy in these tricky times. On his part, the young foreign minister should pledge to keep himself aloof from partisan and domestic politics and concern himself solely with Pakistan’s external relations.

A senior citizen
Karachi

Published in Dawn, May 25th, 2022