Islamabad, Pakistan: Foreign Minister of Pakistan Khawaja Muhammad Asif will visit Iran on Monday and Turkey on Tuesday for discussing future of Afghan war, new US Policy for South Asia and other regional issues.
According to sources, Chinese leadership endorsed the idea that Pakistan must take neighbours and friends into confidence about Pakistan’s stance on Afghanistan war, Indian involvement to frustrate China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and new US policy for South Asia in which India is placed as coordinator in South Asia for future US actions.
Pakistan considers new US Foreign Policy “dangerous” that would lead to further chaos in Afghanistan and can bring instability to already volatile region.
Foreign Minister of Pakistan Khawaja Asif will go to Tehran on one-day official visit on Monday and will have important meetings including one with Iranian President Hassan Rouhani. Pakistan-Iran relations are on bumpy diplomatic road since long due to Iranian tilt towards India and Pakistani incline towards Saudi Arabia. Iranians believe that Pakistan suspended Pakistan-Iran Pipeline under pressure from United States and Saudi Arabia and opted US-backed TAPI Pipeline while Pakistan believes that Iranian soil had been used to destabilise Pakistan by India.
Foreign Minister Kh. Asif will visit Ankara on Tuesday for meeting Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and his team dealing with defence and foreign policy. Turkey has been close to Pakistan since two decades and invested in Pakistani economy. Turkey has been outspoken over Kashmir issue and stands with Pakistan. Turkey has independent view about Middle Eastern crises and stands with Qatar in its standoff with Saudi Arabia and UAE. Turkey also shifted its policy towards Syria after a failed coup that took place last year and Turkish media claims that coup was allegedly sponsored by United States. Turkey along with Russia is trying to resolve Syrian issue without removing Assad from power while United States and Saudi Arabia have been supporting anti-Assad powers and wish immediate removal of Assad.
Foreign policy experts are optimist that Pakistan can attract diplomatic support from Iran and Turkey if it (Pakistan) is ready to minute changes in its foreign policy towards Middle East.
