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:
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.
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
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.
"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
#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
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
#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:
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:
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.
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