Former Military Intelligence chief Gen (retd) Asad Durrani has said that allegations of Haqani-ISI relationship are not entirely baseless as Pakistan is the strategic depth of Afghanistan since whenever foreign powers invaded Afghanistan, there has been invasions on Pakistan due to open borders and proximity of terrain.
Gen Durrani was addressing a seminar on Violations and Threats to Pakistan s Sovereignty and Response organised by Sustainable Development Policy Institute.
Gen Durrani said that US is using Pakistan as a scapegoat now as it had lost the war like it lost such wars in history since it relies on brute use of force without legitimacy. He said that Pakistan was taking actions against militant groups on its territory while US was asking us to do more due to its occupation and security situation in Afghanistan.
He said Nato is fighting for its survival and perpetuation aiming at ensuring peace in Europe while carrying out extra-regional role as world policeman.
He said that a country like Pakistan that depends upon others for its political and strategic reasons will have to struggle for its sovereignty. Former Secretary General, Foreign Affairs Mohammad Akram Zaki said the country is going through multiple crises as the security situation at western, eastern and at internal fronts is worsening. He said that initial alliance between US and Pakistan was on the wrong notions as Pakistan thought it was getting strong against India and US intended to secure low-paid soldiers to protect its interests in the region. He lamented that Pakistan never formulated its national security, economic, social and development policies, and always followed drifting phases involving adhocism.
He urged Pakistan should follow a policy of dialogue with caution, patience and firmness and it should explore options for coordination with Iran, China, Russia and Turkey. He said India has adopted a new strategy which involves weakening of Pakistan from western side focusing Balochistan and Fata, strengthening control of flow of waters of Pakistan and having an offensive doctrine of military deployment at eastern-side.
Anchorperson Syed Talat Hussain said Haqqanis are bound to drift between Af-Pak borders due to border proximity. He said power-game is going on among stakeholders for defence and security reasons in the region. He said that two-front scenario of insecurity on eastern and western borders had now grown up. He said the re-grouping of Taliban and their connections with banned militant groups across Pakistan leading to continuous incursions, bombings and attacks, weak economy, fragmentation of society and uncontrollable gangsters in Karachi were some of the key challenges to country s sovereignty.
SDPI Executive Director, Dr Suleri said that no country is completely sovereign today and Pakistan was struggling for sovereignty since its creation. He said that the near economic future of the country seems really grim due to worsening energy crisis and gas shortages amid increasing demand. He said that the inconclusive agreement between IMF and governments and former s reluctance to issue letter of comfort to government for loans from other institutions will have a significant impact. He said that security involving national, regional and international levels have been well taken care of at the expense of individual security which puts the country into a difficult situation to deal with arising challenges at external and internal fronts.