Pakistan should establish balanced relations with Saudi Arabia and Iran, Maleeha Lodhi

Shiite News: Former Diplomat, Dr. Maleeha Lodhi has called for a comprehensive review of Pakistan’s foreign policy, emphasizing the need to focus on national priorities to achieve economic self-reliance, strategic partnerships and independence from dependency.

According to a private TV, Maleeha Lodhi, who has been ambassador to the US, UK and the UN, was addressing the inaugural session of a dialogue on the economy organized by the Pakistan Business Council.

She said that in view of the geopolitical changes taking place around the world, a comprehensive review of foreign policy is necessary.

The last such review was conducted 20 years ago. Highlighting the importance of improving the economy, he said that it is necessary to go beyond receiving financial assistance and expand diplomatic efforts and elevate the country’s prestige by putting aside outdated methods.

He said that all foreign policy begins at home. A weak economy dependent on external financial resources and internal political turmoil greatly affect Pakistan’s diplomacy and hinder its ability to become a middle power.

Throwing light on the global scenario, Maleeha Lodhi said that Pakistan has to deal with its foreign policy challenges in the global geopolitical environment, which includes five key elements: the shift of power from one country to another, the competition between the US and China, the growing tension between the East and the West, the growing importance of middle powers, and the fundamental importance of modern technology.

Stressing the changing global situation, he said that these circumstances demand a detailed assessment of the growing challenges and opportunities in Pakistan’s foreign policy.

The former diplomat identified several priority areas of Pakistan’s foreign policy in the near future, including managing relations with China and the US, ending the increasingly tense relations with Afghanistan, resolving the adversarial relations with India, balancing relations between Saudi Arabia and Iran, and maintaining positive relations with the European Union.

He called China a priority of Pakistan’s foreign policy, emphasizing the need to address several issues with strong ties, such as the political uncertainty in Pakistan, Beijing’s concerns, the threats faced by Chinese citizens working here, and Islamabad’s public demand for debt rollover and relief from China. He said that the sustainability of this partnership depends on Pakistan’s ability to address these concerns.

Referring to Pak-US relations, Dr. Maleeha Lodhi said that these relations have been at a critical juncture since the withdrawal of US troops from Afghanistan in 2021, however, the unanswered question is how relations with the US will develop during Trump’s tenure, especially at a time when Pakistan’s geopolitical importance for Washington has diminished after the withdrawal from Afghanistan.

She said that the improvement of Pak-US relations was not possible during the tenure of President Joe Biden because he did not show much interest in Pakistan.

Islamabad is keen to reconnect with Washington so that relations can be built on the basis of Pakistan’s internal importance and not in the context of a third country, however, this will not be easy, as Pakistan cannot be part of any anti-China alliance, while Washington’s strategic alignment with India is another major obstacle.