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Thursday, October 3, 2024

National Security Committee aims to reshape foreign policy using economic bridges

News Analysis |

The National Security Committee (NSC) held a meeting to discuss and formulate a future strategy to deal with the current international and regional challenges. The main aim of the gathering was the calibration of a foreign policy framework with a special focus on building economic partnerships and to integrate with countries making worthwhile partnerships to flourish economically.

The NSC met for its 19th meeting under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi on 27th February 2018 to review the current international and regional situation. The participants of the meeting included Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee and the three Service Chiefs, Ministers of Foreign Affairs, Defence, Interior, and Advisor to the Prime Minister on Finance.

The US is looking to pressurize Pakistan financially with possible economic sanctions to force it to act on its demands. Any Pakistani effort to improve relationships with Russia is seen with skepticism.

According to the press release by PM house, Foreign Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif briefed the committee regarding his successful visit to Russia and expressed the desire of the foe-turned friends to further strengthen bilateral relations in all areas of cooperation.

Given the significance of China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), the committee reflected upon the benefits and attributes connected with the development of the country with the completion of this project. The Committee agreed to further strengthen CPEC cooperation.

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The participants of the committee condemned the callous attitude of the Indian army.  India has continued its aggressive behavior at the Line of Control (LOC) and dozens of civilians have been martyred. Scores of innocent civilians have also suffered injuries since the start of the year in unprovoked shelling across the LOC.

It is believed that it’s a strategy of the Indian government to continue the ceasefire violations to divert the international attention from blatant human rights violations in Indian Occupied Kashmir (IOK). US, Indian and Afghan nexus has thrown vital blows to Pakistan’s image in the international community. They have blamed Pakistan over their own failures to restore peace in Afghanistan in order to pursue their own vested interests.

The NSC meeting is crucial in this regard as Pakistan seems aware of the political game at play to defeat its economic progression and proximity with other regional powers. This is why NSC participants stressed on making economic partnerships with regional countries to secure financial integration.

The NSC, which is the highest civilian-military coordination forum, reaffirmed and reemphasized Pakistan’s abiding interest in lasting peace in Afghanistan. It demonstrated Pakistan’s stance on the matter and “stressed that the importance of peace among the Afghan people through an Afghan-led and Afghan-owned national peace and reconciliation process”.

Pakistan’s decision to put a fence on the border did not go well with Kabul. After too many cross-border attacks from the Afghan side, NSC knows the importance of effective border management to restore peace in the region. Moreover, time-bound repatriation of refugees to Afghanistan in a dignified manner was also emphasized to improve the security situation in the area.

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Pakistan has been under intense scrutiny over the terrorism financing and failing to implement anti-money laundering laws and is put on the FATF ‘grey list’. The lack of initiative and failure to cooperate with US authorities can prompt the international community to adopt even tougher measures, which could be economic sanctions and inclusion into the list of blacklisted countries.

Given the significance of China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), the committee reflected upon the benefits and attributes connected with the development of the country with the completion of this project. The Committee agreed to further strengthen CPEC cooperation.

The NSC meeting is crucial in this regard as Pakistan seems aware of the political game at play to defeat its economic progression and proximity with other regional powers. This is why NSC participants stressed on making economic partnerships with regional countries to secure financial integration.

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The US is looking to pressurize Pakistan financially with possible economic sanctions to force it to act on its demands. Any Pakistani effort to improve relationships with Russia is seen with skepticism. It can adopt the measures and convince the international community of its efforts to stop terrorist financing in Pakistan. Going forward Pakistan will have to comply with the reform agenda and course of action directed by the FATF to overcome the deficiencies to curb terror financing in the country.