Timely Change: PM #ImranKhan abandons the neutrality mantra. His govt now openly supports allies like #Turkey vs #PKK & #KSA vs #Houthis. The earlier approach failed, & the credit for this policy change likely goes to Pres #Erdogan who asked for Pak support in #Syria last year.
Passive neutrality as a policy has hurt #Pakistan's interests. Refusing to participate in global politics but expecting international support is wishful thinking. Neutrality promoted by PM Imran Khan was misplaced. Now the idea is dying a natural death:
While changes in #Pakistan foreign policy on #Houthis+#PKK are welcome steps, policymakers need to decide if they make policies for a state with interests or for Code Pink, the radical leftwing NGO, bcz sometimes policy debate in Islamabad blurs the lines:
#SaudiArabia is the largest source of remittances to Pakistan, followed by #UAE #UK #USA.

Ironically, foreign policy debate in Islamabad has grown hostile to the four most imp states for #Pakistan's economy. A policy disconnect.

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More from @_AhmedQuraishi

16 Feb
A foreign policy expert from #Iraq proposes a regional axis made up of #KSA #Egypt #Pakistan #Turkey to balance #Biden policies that apparently mark a return to Obama-era antagonism toward America's traditional allies.

#Israel might be added to this axis. /1
This sparks a long overdue debate on why #America in the last part of #Bush admin and throughout #Obama years pushed its allies under the bus (#Egypt #Pakistan #KSA #Gulf #Turkey) & allowed hostile IRGC-QF militias to circle #Israel. /2
There is no logical answer. And if this theory initially seemed farfetched and conspiratorial, some #Biden admin signals showed it wants to put #America back on the same track of collision with its traditional Mideast allies, including Israel. /3
Read 8 tweets
12 Feb
#Turkey, #Pakistan: Inside the Ankara-Islamabad axis. By @jonathan_spyer.

Thoughts:
#Erdogan forced #Pakistan to abandon policy neutrality to condemn #Assad attack that killed #Turkish soldiers.

And asked Islamabad to act against #Iran's #Zeynabioun /1

flip.it/69ylSq
#Turkish & #Pakistani elites+militaries generally are pro-West liberals. This has changed with distinct religious nationalism of #Erdogan+#ImranKhan. Top #Lebanon analyst Hazem Saghieh feels both endangered Muslims in Europe last year. /2
@jonathan_spyer
english.alarabiya.net/en/in-translat…
Are #Erdogan & #ImranKhan forcing a permanent Islamist nationalist tilt in Ankara & Islamabad and reducing their militaries' political roles that helped balance policies?

Two trends to watch. @jonathan_spyer's analysis is an excellent curtain raiser.

Read 5 tweets
9 Feb
"We welcome #India's emergence as a leading global power and its role as a net security provider in the region."

#US returns to #Obama era's tight embrace of #India. Under #Trump, US tempered tech-related Indian immigration, and twisted India's arm on unfair trade practices.
Resumption of close #US-#India ties under #Biden administration means the #Pakistan-#America relationship will undergo a readjustment. #Afghanistan will anchor ties. But long-term outlook is up in the air, again. /1

#Pakistan failed to deal with #Trump admin which came close to Pakistani position on #Afghanistan; engaged it on #Kashmir. Under PM #ImranKhan govt, Pak showed reticence in engaging the US beyond Afghan peace process. Pak analysts routinely framed #CPEC as part of anti-#US bloc/2
Read 7 tweets
30 Jan
#China wants its National People's Congress #NPC members to help #Pakistan provide "effective oversight" of #CPEC projects by creating a joint parliamentary committee. This will be in addition to the oversight by the @CPECAuthority. /1

tribune.com.pk/story/2281663/…
This is the 1st time #China engages #Pakistan parliament in a joint oversight idea for #CPEC. Proposal was floated by #NPC Chairman Li. The official handle of Pak Parliament confirmed this. The Chinese emb tweet of the event where idea was discussed /2
During the virtual meeting, and aside from a new role for #NPC in #CPEC oversight, Chairman Li Zhanshu of National People's Congress also received assurances from his #Pakistan counterpart re security provided to #China personnel. /3

Read 5 tweets
29 Jan
#DanielPearl murder is linked to several debates inside #Pakistan: from safety of journalists to the murky story of the former War on Terror & the intelligence #USPakistan tug of war under #Obama admin, to #FATF antiterror steps. And how this will impact relations under #Biden WH
#US embassy in #Pakistan releases a statement quoting @SecBlinken on #DanielPearl case, recognizes past #Pakistani actions on terrorist Omar Sheikh, notes Attorney General's positive statement to recall release order & offers to prosecute him in #America:

pk.usembassy.gov/seeking-justic…
As a #Pakistani journalist, we stand by @yudapearl & #DanielPearl's family in their quest for justice. #Islamabad's commitment to recall the decision to release his killer is commendable, must be ensured. Good work by Pakistani journalists & @arabnewspk:
Read 4 tweets
27 Jan
Peace with #Israel is a strategic decision for #UAE; reversal unlikely, but dependence on Israel will be limited. Israel has its own delicate calculations. The UAE still needs to build up indigenous military capacity to confront #Iran.

@LahavHarkov
A pithy and positive reaction by the #UAE to news of halt to F-35 sale pending a review.

Makes a strong case:

The deal means sharing the burden on Gulf security; better interoperability b/w UAE-#USA militaries; & freeing #US assets for other missions.

The F-35/#UAE review is imp bcz it reopens old wounds. Gulf/Arab states were wary that #Obama WH used Arab Spring to ally with Islamist groups to topple Arab govts. The #JCPOA reinforced the idea that #US would ally with #Iran+Islamists to redraw borders/2
Read 4 tweets

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