Adil Najam
It is rather amazing, actually disturbing, that in a period of time when foreign affairs is the single most aspect of all politics in Pakistan, including in our domestic polity, Pakistan remains without a Foreign Minister.
It was not a surprise – given the nature of US-Pakistan relations and the role of the military in running Pakistan’s foreign policy – that US Senator John Kerry’s first meeting on his recent visit to Pakistan (late in the night, immediately on his arrival in Pakistan) was with the Army Chief. The reasons for or nature of that meeting might not have changed even if we did have a full-time and full Minister for Foreign Affairs in place, but at least protocol may have demanded a different decorum and therefore sent out a different diplomatic signal; maybe even set a different diplomatic tone to begin the visit with.
With Raymond Davis, the Abbottabad operation, Saudi diplomats being killed, and everything else happening in the diplomatic world from trade to the environment, it is not as if there would be a dearth of things for a Foreign Minister to do. Nor is there any dearth of aspirants – either within the PPP or its many coalition partners. There are plenty who would be willing to, and some who would be able to do a good job on this tough assignment, even if they were to be appointed amidst a fast-moving round of musical chairs.
Although it clearly matters who the Foreign Minister is, right now it matters less than actually having one, as long as it is someone who is given the ability to speak for and to the rest of the civilian government with confidence and with authority. If ever there was a need for a single point and voice within the civilian government apparatus who can talk authoritatively about Pakistan’s foreign policy, this is that time. In the absence of one, our rudderless foreign policy seems all the more rudderless – a reinforcement of the reality as well as the heightened perception no one in Pakistan (at this point not even the military) has a clue about what is happening, or should be happening, to our already tattered foreign relations.
That familiar sinking feeling of directionless drift that one has recently been having about Pakistan’s economic policy now seems to be also felt about our foreign policy. Just having a Foreign Minister may not be in itself sufficient to check this drift, but it is certainly a necessary first step.
Indeed, there is a junior Minister of State in place – Hina Rabbani Khar. But I know little about her or her performance as a Foreign Minister. And, that, in fact, is the problem. If the government intends for her to really be the Foreign Minister, then we should be seeing, hearing and sensing much more of her and from her on the substance of Pakistan’s foreign policy. Maybe, the right approach is for the government to give her that role and space. But if she or the government are unwilling for Hina Rabbani Khar to play that role, then we need a full-time and full Minister of Foreign Affairs. And, as soon as possible.
The timing is crucial not only because of all the foreign policy challenges that the country is swimming in, but even more because of the unique opportunity that has been provided by recent events to wrest back at least some of the critical foreign policy issues from the military to civilian leadership. This opportunity must not be missed. Importantly, it needs to be availed in a way that changes the dynamics of where key foreign policy decisions are made, bringing critical functions back into the control of the civilian leadership, but without dangerously destabilizing the state and the tenuous balances within its institutions. And that, to me, is the most important element in the case for why Pakistan desperately needs a Foreign Minister, needs one who is good and can bring the sagacity and balance needed for the job, and why we need one immediately.
@Eidee Man
I do not disagree with your basic argument, but even if true, not having a civilian FM makes things even worse. Unless you are saying that we can never ever get control of foreign policy from the military, then one has to keep trying to get whatever control back that we can right now and for that having a strong FM is essential. Someone who does not confront military for its own sake but begins to change the balance.
Even if we did have a competent foreign minister, he would only be useful for economic affairs, etc. When it comes to security, the civilians can make all sorts of statements, but they have absolutely no meaning, since the military controls each and every aspect. Actually, according to leaked reports, etc, it’s quite clear that the elected government itself learns about what its military is doing through foreign officials! This fact is clearly demonstrated by Kerry’s meeting with the army chief, as you point out.
As for Shah Mehmood Qureshi, hey might have been somewhat competent, but he is also a lackey of the military, and does not act the way an elected cabinet member should. In his exit rant, he spent all his time chastising his own party, with peppered praises to various generals, etc — something which I personally found very disgusting.
I fully agree. Excellent analysis.
Shah Mahmood would actually have been good right now.
How about Raza Rabbani. Only sane person left in the PPP?
Love that first photo. Seems like Sarcozy is saying to Hina Khar: “Bibi, ithay aa jayo, aap Faran Minster ho!”
:-)
You know, I was just mentioning this to someone yesterday. It is actually embarrassing. For all his faults, Shah Mahmood Qureshi did bring some stability to the office and that has now been lost.