PTI's Foreign and Internal Security Policies

Society Pakistan & World Affairs
1

I asked PTI some questions ([email protected]) regarding Internal Security and Foreign Policy, as I consider these most important after the economy of our country. I am posting my questions as well as their reply in this thread.

QUESTION:

This is their reply that I received:

2

Re: PTI's Foreign and Internal Security Policies

Nice.

3

Re: PTI's Foreign and Internal Security Policies

Some suggestions to PTI:

[QUOTE]
Thanks for your reply:

I have got a couple of more suggestions if you may consider them:

1) As far as Balochistan is concerned if only those parties which shun violence will be called for truth and reconciliation, I doubt many parties will come on board. The baloch people think that the politicians cannot do anything as the real power lies with the army.

The people of Balochistan have genuine concerns, the kill and dump policy adopted by our army for the past 18 months has converted even the moderates into anti Pakistan.

The Baloch people rightly think that Balochistan is unjustly treated. When Target killings take place in Karachi, our army remains dormant. But when the same happens in Balochistan, for each settler killed three Baloch's are killed.

To have the situation resolved now people should be prepared to shun their egos and even talk to the people who have taken up arms and gone up into the mountains.

This crises needs to be resolved asap as I fear that (due to the worsening of relations between Pakistan and America) in a couple of years, this issue might come into international limelight. And when that happens we will be in a lot of trouble.

If Pakistan Army thinks that this issue can be resolved Srilanka style they are mistaken as the situation between the two countries is very different. Balochistan is very important strategically, and it has borders with Iran and Afghanistan (Srilanka was an island) and US is sitting inside the country.

i) Now it will require effort from the rest of us to alleviate the feelings of Baloch that we havent forgotten them
ii) The government will have to take the affairs of the province in their own hands, if its left in the hands of the army then there wouldnt make any difference to the ground situation
iii) If the Baloch people are convinced that the government is able to dictate terms of engagement, and give them some relief (in terms of kidnapping, killing and dumping their youth).

Then only I expect many parties will come into that conference. Once the situation is brought into control, then new terms of agreements need to be signed between the different federating units so as to remove the doubts of smaller provinces towards Punjab.

This will ensure that in the future the situation due to which balochistan crises erupted in the first place can be minimized.

2) Pakistan needs to clearly define the relationship with India, vis a vis Kashmir issue and the water disputes so as to have long lasting peace in the region. If trade needs to be carried out between the two countries it needs to be ensured that the trade interests of Pakistan are kept in mind. At present considering that the inputs for production of goods are much expensive in Pakistan and free trade between the two countries might kill what little is left of Pakistani industries.

NOTE: Thanks for the next stop Quetta, will be hoping that it removes some misconception of the Baloch people and goes a long way in preparing PTI's roadmap for having the issue resolved.
[/QUOTE]

4

Re: PTI’s Foreign and Internal Security Policies

^ Good suggestions Ali :):k:

I understand that before talking to Baloch people, PTI will need to talk to military first to get enough room for a civil strategy to operate freely. I also understand that military may also ask for some assurances which should come from rebel Baloch leaders. Confidence Building Measures (CBMs) should be duly applied to precede the actual strategy of reconciliation. Given the level of mistrust and distrust, only a tripartite move may result in a solid breakthrough.

5

Re: PTI's Foreign and Internal Security Policies

I do not think these answers matter much at this moment. Because PTI itself does not know what it wants to do in future. And in this situation asking questions on such complicated matters does not mean much.

For example, look at this very loose reply:

[QUOTE]
*4. Make our resolve known to the international community of not resorting to use of force or engage in an act of war except in self defense. *
[/QUOTE]

Pakistan army and government have already "made our resolve known to the international community (USA)" to stop the drone attacks. We have even stopped their supply route and limited cooperation on intelligence. But they still did not listen.

So the question should be what will PTI do NOW? Try to shoot the drones?

--

Secondly, PTI does not want to resort to use of force against Talibanic criminals. But will they still not act if Taliban strengthen due to PTI's inaction?
Will PTI not act even if it is found out that Taliban are providing training to Afghan Taliban to wage fasaad against Afghan government? Will PTI not act if Taliban restarts training sectarian terrorists yet again to wage fasaad against Muslims in Pakistan?

We all know PTI wants to appease Taliban by stopping all sorts of military action against them. So the question should be what will it take for PTI to change this policy?

6

Re: PTI's Foreign and Internal Security Policies

I think on the contrary these questions might help, as PTI is trying to formulate concrete policies on all matters.The final policies will evolve over time, but I think its better if we convey our thoughts about different issues to various political parties and then leave it to their experts to finally decide as to how they will implement them.

7

Re: PTI's Foreign and Internal Security Policies

You have tried to clarify two of the may apprehensions about this party. But answer given by PTI, is never near to what you have asked. Baluchistan and FA controlled by Military. Can IK has enough courage to snatch these from military? A BIG NO.

8

Re: PTI's Foreign and Internal Security Policies

They are mostly Mush people
US was happy with Mush,
Kiani did the conspiracy to throw Mush out
Hope PTI will do the job.
Back on track.

9

Re: PTI's Foreign and Internal Security Policies

I know Imran talked about decentralization of the police, so does that mean we will have local, district?, and state police in provinces like it is in the US? There are three structures of govt i.e. local, state and federal, but in local, you have the villages / cities and counties that is made up of a number of towns. The policing is mainly done by the towns themselves, while judicial functions are taken by the county level courts. Right now, there is only one state police in each province, hence there are no distinct precincts like we have with a police chief in the US. Also, under what circumstances would army be allowed to help the local law enforcement? I think it is a given that army deployment shouldn't be indefinite but rather be on a deadline with goals to be met.

10

Re: PTI's Foreign and Internal Security Policies

I am glad you asked this, this thing is going to kill us if not sorted out. Period.

11

Re: PTI's Foreign and Internal Security Policies

After reading the response of PTI on the issue raised!!! PTI must set up some kind of think tank to actually evaluate the situation of Balochistan and rest of Pakistan and then create solutions... what they have stated above is an old document and i guess these people have failed to see, Aghaz-e-Haqooq-e-Balochistan package/deal ( which never got implemented in its true essence, but a good overall solution though)... more importantly, as far as Balochistan is concerned, what govt came in power, they mostly wasted their time in inventing the wheel again and again, in Mushy Era, the committee comprise of Mushahid Hussain and Ch. Shujaat made some good suggestions ( few of them landed in Aghaz-e-Haqooq-e-Balochistan package) and then this govt came in, spend something like 2 years to come up with the above mentioned package and as i said, it never got implemented in its true essence...

Moreover, PTI lads, who have answered this need to check out the 18th amendment, they have already given most of the rights on the resources to the provinces!!!! REKO-DEK anyone???

The situation is, the resources spent on Balochistan normally lands in the pocket of the Sardar... who thinks that the rest of the tribes men are only born to serve him and his family.... Bugties, Mengal, Khan of Qalat, Murree... check them out, none of them have spent a single penny in their areas and they resist any project which can be beneficial for the common Balochi...

I do not recall the right name of the village which is in the Murree's area, where Pak-Army have started some mining project, the project have provided good deal of jobs for the locals and have improved their standard of living... and it have forced the head of the murree to say that, he never felt weaken when 2 or 3 of his sons were killed, but with this kind of project can really finish him...

12

Re: PTI's Foreign and Internal Security Policies

I think you failed to follow wikileaks.. what the stated position of the government/military was on these issues and what they used to tell the Americans privately. This government has a serious credibility issue internationally as well amongst Pakistanis.. The general perception about these people is that they use the public opinion to negotiate a good deal for themselves and do not actually want to act according to the aspirations of the people. In fact they go out of the way to please Americans to bring longevity to their own tenure.. as they believe people of Pakistan do not matter in all this equation. This was the exact reason to negotiate NRO with Musharraf with American/military chief as guarantors (read Condelleza Rice's book how that happened)..

About your concern about PTI.. and how they are going to act according to aspirations of the people of Pakistan.. PTI does not have a credibility issue. Wikileaks confirmed that IK's stand privately was same like his stated position. Had PPP government performed and did not indulge in these hypocrite games.. today establishment could not create any trouble for them. They would have nothing to fear.. and would have been able to control the same establishment against whom they have suddenly become so critical.. they actually want the establishment to give them martyr status for the sake of their own survival..!!!

13

Re: PTI's Foreign and Internal Security Policies

^^ All you need is commitment and that will only be there if there are no black mailers and back stabbers in the party... overall, the response/solution of PTI is simple but the problem in Balochistan and all the Feudal Land is complicated!!!

14

Re: PTI's Foreign and Internal Security Policies

I agree with you the committee that Musharraf had set up for having the Balochistan issue resolved (under Shujaat) was a good step and it did come up with some suggestions upon discussing with the Baloch which could have solved the problem. But Musharraf instead of giving chance to the politicians to have the situation resolved went ahead and killed Bugti, which blew away any chances that were there for having the problem resolved.

[QUOTE]
Moreover, PTI lads, who have answered this need to check out the 18th amendment, they have already given most of the rights on the resources to the provinces!!!! REKO-DEK anyone???
[/QUOTE]

I agree with you 18th amendment is good, but it can be improved further. The provinces need to be a bit more autonomous. I believe that a truth and reconciliation commission (like South Africa) is needed to bring the people from all provinces together, and the factors which created Balochistan (in the first place) need to be eliminated.

[QUOTE]
The situation is, the resources spent on Balochistan normally lands in the pocket of the Sardar... who thinks that the rest of the tribes men are only born to serve him and his family.... Bugties, Mengal, Khan of Qalat, Murree... check them out, none of them have spent a single penny in their areas and they resist any project which can be beneficial for the common Balochi...

I do not recall the right name of the village which is in the Murree's area, where Pak-Army have started some mining project, the project have provided good deal of jobs for the locals and have improved their standard of living... and it have forced the head of the murree to say that, he never felt weaken when 2 or 3 of his sons were killed, but with this kind of project can really finish him...
[/QUOTE]

You are right, but do you know that it suits our governments to keep the sardari nizam in Balochistan. In 1972 Balochistan assembly had passed a resolution for abolishing the sardari system, but Bhutto instead of removing that system fired the provincial govt and started an operation there. The waderas who sit in assemblies and govern us, do you think they can have the sardari system removed? Even now after killing Bugti, Musharraf reinstated another sardar placed instead of him, so? It suits our govt's to deal with the sardar's and pay them some amount (which goes into the Sardar's pockets) and the province remains impoverished. Its similar to how it suits the Americans to deal with dictators in Pakistan.

We are dealing with Balochistan like the British. We will have to change our mentality and deal the other provinces with equality if we want Pakistan to survive as a country.

15

Re: PTI’s Foreign and Internal Security Policies

Thats for sure, the policies that PTI develop need to be comprehensive to address this issue. Solid steps and road map is required to have the problem address on permanent basis, the time for apologies is long gone.](http://tribune.com.pk/story/313215/imran-khans-hollow-apology-on-balochistan/)http://tribune.com.pk/story/313215/imran-khans-hollow-apology-on-balochistan/

Imran Khan’s hollow apology on Balochistan

By Sanaullah Baloch
Published: December 28, 2011

It used to be said that ‘sorry’ was the hardest word to say, but no longer, at least for politicians in Pakistan. They do apologise, usually without realising the gravity of the miseries, pain and suffering of the victimised people — and without offering proper, practical remedies or measures for healing wounds.

Following Pervez Musharraf and Asif Ali Zardari’s footsteps, the PTI’s Imran Khan has also publicly apologised to the people of Balochistan. However, he did this without mentioning the military’s excessive and inhuman policies, human rights violations, political assassinations and the ‘kill and dump’ policy of moderate Baloch political activists and the systematic subjugation of the Baloch people.

In a carefully-crafted apology, ignoring the ongoing human rights violations, the PTI chairman spoke in the past tense. He said human rights abuses had been “committed” and the people of the province had been “treated” (as if it was in the past) like those of a colony as happened in the case of the people of East Pakistan.

**This careful selection of words, together with no mention of the security agencies and their dirty game in Balochistan, raises doubts about the PTI’s confidence and ability to truly ensure that, if it comes to power, it will make law-enforcement agencies follow the rule of law.
**

**The fact is that the people of Balochistan wanted to hear the PTI leadership clearly acknowledge that Balochistan is suffering, that its people’s fundamental rights are being violated, that enforced disappearances and the policy of ‘kill and dump’ are all still going on like before.
**

**The Baloch population wants the PTI to confront the military’s discriminatory policies politically and legally by moving a petition in the Supreme Court and by calling for a nationwide strike in solidarity of Baloch victims.
**

**When the PPP came into power, President Asif Ali Zardari made an apology for Musharraf’s sordid actions. He also announced that the new PPP-led government would call an all-parties conference to address the province’s long-entrenched problems, while also promising to form a truth and reconciliation commission to investigate allegations of human rights abuses.

**
**However, soon the people of the province had to suffer the killing of three more eminent Baloch nationalists and a series of target killing of top Baloch leaders, including former senator Habib Jalib Baloch, Professor Saba Dashtyari, Maula Bux Dashti, Mir Noordin Mengal, Abdul Salam Baloch, Mir Jumma Khan Raisani and Mir Liaquat Mengal, as well as hundreds of political activists.

**
**The PPP may have apologised but it has quite clearly been unable to confront the ‘powerful elements’ who have turned Balochistan into a killing field.
**

I would, in fact, argue that by separating action from responsibility, political apologies can make it more difficult to take the steps necessary to enforce real change. **Saying sorry for committed crimes, killings, exploitation and human rights violations, for instance, does not address the causes of the Balochistan conflict and the problems facing the Baloch people in Pakistan.
**

**It should also be noted that many of the new entrants into the PTI — the so-called ‘electables’ — are the ones who were part of the Musharraf regime and saw nothing wrong in the atrocities that it committed. There is no guarantee that these same elements will not overly influence the PTI’s policies if they rise to power.

**
**The people of Balochistan don’t need apologies, what they need is a clear and unambiguous stand against the ongoing human rights violations in the province. They want a government that will take the security forces to task and make them stop their current policy of targeting moderate Baloch politicians, intellectuals, students and dissidents. There should also be a clear road map for peace and conflict resolution in the province, one that addresses the ethnic composition, security structure, autonomy issues, the issue of ownership of resources and having in place a pro-people socio-economic development plan.

**
Published in The Express Tribune, December 29[SUP]th[/SUP], 2011.

16

Re: PTI's Foreign and Internal Security Policies

He is chosen one and what ever his policies specially foreign affairs also not gonna changed. Well right now we need Gas:D:

17

Re: PTI’s Foreign and Internal Security Policies

Interesting article…](Imran faces his greatest test | Opinions | Al Jazeera)Imran faces his greatest test | Opinions | Al Jazeera

[TABLE=“width: 100%”]

Imran faces his greatest test

**If Imran Khan does get to lead Pakistan, he will face his greatest challenge ever, writes author.
**
Washington, DC - There is a direct correlation between the depths of the gloom in Pakistan and the high expectations of salvation from Imran Khan. It is clear that the greater the despair in the country, the more fervent the hopes in one man as saviour.

**If - and that is still a big if - Imran does get to lead Pakistan, he will face his greatest challenge ever. It is a challenge worthy of Hercules preparing to clean out the Augean stables. Pakistan is on the verge of imploding.

Its biggest province Baluchistan, which comprises almost half its territory, is in a state of open revolt. Baluchis complain about government’s policy of “kill and dump”. An entire generation of journalists and professors is being systematically killed. The Tribal Areas of the former Frontier Province is a theatre of war, involving thousands of Pakistani troops. Suicide bombers terrorise Pakistan with impunity. There is no end in sight to the violence.**The unstable situation in these two provinces of Pakistan has a direct bearing on the law and order situation in the rest of the country. No one is safe. Kidnapping and killings are commonly reported.

The tensions between the military and civilian authorities are barely kept under the surface and the two are often pulling in different directions. **Add to this, the woes of the ordinary Pakistani facing unemployment, high prices, shortage of electricity, gas and water who sees his rulers plundering the country and sending their ill-gotten loot abroad and you have Pakistan today.
**
With all its problems, the importance of Pakistan cannot be denied. It is a nation of about 180-5 million people. It has an impressive nuclear arsenal and its geo-political situation makes it a key country in the region. Most important of all, its founding father MA Jinnah created Pakistan with the idea of a genuine modern democracy in mind. He championed women’s rights, minority rights, human rights and respect for the constitution.

'Wilderness years’To many commentators waking up to Imran Khan’s massive turnout in Lahore in October 2011 and then in December in Karachi, Imran appears to have suddenly arrived from nowhere. It is easy to forget that he is now almost 60 years old and has been working in the complex political arena for almost two decades.

Imran’s party, Tehreek-e-Insaaf (Movement for Justice), launched in 1996, has been a spectacular failure until now. So far, it has captured only one seat in Parliament - his own.

Imran’s years in the wilderness may be ending. He will not be alone in history if he now succeeds in turning Pakistan round. Jinnah himself, and other world leaders like De Gaulle and Churchill, went through their “wilderness years” wondering if the public had forsaken them.
**
Imran’s critics threw everything at him. The affluent chattering classes in the living rooms of Karachi and Lahore resented his celebrity and dismissed him as “Moron Khan” and “Im the Dim”. They felt betrayed as Imran criticised the ruling elite because he himself had been educated at the elite Aitchison College and Oxford University. His critics accused him of hypocrisy, a lecherous playboy in London and a pious Muslim in Lahore. After his marriage to Jemima Goldsmith, the press called him a Zionist agent and drew pictures of him with the Star of David on his forehead and sitting on a donkey. His marriage foundered and his party showed little promise of making a dent on Pakistan’s political structure.
**
But just as we must not underestimate the problems facing Pakistan, we must not underestimate Imran’s capacity to meet a challenge. He took all this with stoic dignity.

Imran’s fans were usually too dazzled to appreciate how he acquired his extraordinary cricketing talents. They assumed it was a God-given gift. After all, which Pakistani can forget Imran Khan holding aloft the World Cup in 1992 in Australia when Pakistan became world champion. It was an image that made every Pakistani proud to be a Pakistani.

**Sustained commitment

**But read his autobiographical notes to understand his mind. He put himself through a gruelling regimen to become one of the finest fast bowlers in the world. When he won the World Cup it is easy to forget that he was already 39 years old - an old age for the demanding pressures of World Cup cricket - and suffering from a ruptured shoulder cartilage. When he decided to create Pakistan’s first cancer hospital, he once again exhibited sustained commitment and discipline to fundraising and completing his project.

**Listen to his speeches. Compare them to his earlier ones only a few years ago. He has more focus and his punchlines make an impact. He has judged exactly what the public mood is. His own natural patriotism and passion for Pakistan have combined with his sense of disgust and outrage at Pakistan’s corrupt and incompetent ruling elite and, as he sees it, their Western masters. He has courageously condemned the deaths of innocent Pakistanis resulting from the US’ drone strikes. He has clearly been doing his homework.
**
Imran is also helped by several factors. There has been an explosion of media outlets in Pakistan. Every foible and scandal of its political leaders is now freely discussed. This freedom which borders on anarchy has shaken the confidence of the public in their leaders.

A new section of vocal urbanised middle-class Pakistanis demands to be heard. So do the young. They are looking for alternative voices to those of their present leaders. In Imran, they see a viable alternative.

**Imran’s bold critique of the West appeals to Pakistanis, who are fed-up of being humiliated in public. Army and civilian officers, students and ordinary labourers acknowledge Imran’s patriotism and courage. They compare it to their leaders like President Pervez Musharraf and President Asif Ali Zardari. Musharraf jumped one foot off the ground every time someone from Washington rang to say “boo”. Zardari simply takes off from Pakistan whenever he faces a problem - he was sightseeing in Europe when the floods devastated Pakistan and disappeared to the UAE during the Memogate crisis.
**
Challenges for Imran

**If Imran is given power, he needs to immediately tackle the question of law and order in Pakistan. He must order the cessation of the torture and killings in Baluchistan. He must fly to the Province to apologise for what Pakistan has done to its people. He must do everything possible to reinforce the idea that Baluchistan - like the Tribal Areas - is a respected part of the federation of Pakistan. Imran’s Pushtun background will help in these provinces where people constantly and openly complain about excessive Punjabi domination.
**
Imran needs to begin working even before he takes over on strengthening the judicial and civil administrative structures. These have been destroyed over the last few years. Without them ordinary Pakistanis will not be able to obtain proper justice.

Pakistanis must see the benefits of Imran’s administration if they are to believe in him. This means jobs, bringing down of the prices of everyday requirements like wheat and cooking oil, availability of electricity and gas.

Apart from internal problems, Pakistan faces challenges in its foreign policy. Its relations with its neighbours, Afghanistan and India, need to be improved. The recent spiralling downward of the relationship between the US and Pakistan should be a cause of worry to both. It is in the interest of both countries to have a stable and long-term relationship based in mutual understanding.

The last may prove a particular challenge for Imran. There are high levels of almost irrational anti-American feelings in Pakistan today. Pakistanis blame the deadly actions of the suicide bombers and the drone strikes for the 40-50,000 Pakistanis that have lost their lives in a war that is not of their making. Imran’s own rhetoric will easily be mistranslated and misunderstood in Washington to mean that he supports the Taliban and therefore “Islamic terrorism”. Imran cannot afford to ignore this area of vital interest for Pakistan’s foreign relations.

After a decade as ally in the US’ “War on Terror” and the devastating social, political and economic impact which direction will Imran take Pakistan?

The hopes of a nation now rest on one man. Pakistan history is replete with examples of Pakistanis depending entirely on the saviour figure only to be disappointed afterwards. Even Jinnah, the founder of Pakistan, who remains so revered in Pakistan, died one year after creating the country. Imran must emphasise the creation - in some case the re-creation of structures and systems.

**There are already danger-signs as some old faces who have done the rounds with different parties have now jumped onto Imran’s bandwagon. The balance between making deals in order to chip away at the power base of the ruling Zardari-Bhutto dynasty and the Sharif one, and maintaining his integrity will be crucial.
**
He will not have much time in office. The clock will be ticking. Another Oxford graduate like him, freshly out of university, will emerge to challenge him. Bilawal Bhutto may be completely untutored at the moment, but as the head of the PPP and the son and grand-son of two former popular prime ministers of Pakistan, he will soon have legitimacy to begin his attacks. Imran needs to be ready for his finest innings.

*Professor Akbar Ahmed is Ibn Khaldun Chair of Islamic studies, American University, Washington DC and author of Journey into America (Brookings Press 2010). He was Pakistan’s High Commissioner to the UK and Ireland.
*
The views expressed in this article are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect Al Jazeera’s editorial policy.

18

Re: PTI's Foreign and Internal Security Policies

It is not only Baloch, the 10% elite is dealing with rest of 90% way worst then Brits did... we need to throw them out, earlier i thought PTI can do it but then when i saw PTI initially begging and then celebrating the joining of the same 10% in its ranks.. that was it...

19

Re: PTI’s Foreign and Internal Security Policies

PTI’s manifesto committee will be meeting today to firm up their manifesto, I have given them a few suggestions. If any one of you has some suggestions you can send them to [email protected]

  1. There should be a way out of the Balochistan and Fata crisis and to ensure that these things don’t take place again. Some thing on the sort of South African Truth and Reconciliation commission to iron out the differences with Baloch and tribals.

  2. Provincial autonomy and the mechanism to create more provinces if need be for better administration

  3. Education and health reforms

  4. Rapid development and bring underdeveloped areas of south Punjab, Sindh, Balochistan, KP, Fata and GB at par with more developed areas

  5. Political reforms to integrate Fata into the mainstream, ending the FCR; either create a fata province or include it with KP. Extension of our judicial system to the tribal areas.

  6. Ways to resolve the energy crisis

  7. A web of good communications infrastructure/roads through out the country

  8. Formation of industrial zones through out the country, and ways to create jobs

  9. creation of vocational training institutes through out the country

  10. Ways to improve the agriculture output of the country through sustained research

  11. Improvement in tax collection (tax/GDP ratio)

  12. As far as foreign affairs are concerned emphasis should be on the regional countries especially Afghanistan ( as peace in Pakistan depends upon our relations with them), Iran, India, China and Russia

  13. Involving overseas Pakistanis for improving the state of the country

  14. Here’s a thread that I once opened in a forum as to what PTI’s internal and foreign policies should be:

http://www.paklinks.com/gs/pakistan-affairs/535648-ptis-foreign-and-internal-security-policies.html

20

Re: PTI’s Foreign and Internal Security Policies

PTI is starting its election campaign from tomorrow. Those trigger-happy who thought that the party is gone because of a brief inactivity period due to party elections, would see their ecstasy on the decline from tomorrow on… :slight_smile: