Dar deviates from custom and emphasizes economy in his FO debut

Tuesday, when Ishaq Dar received his first briefing on external difficulties, the recently appointed foreign minister requested the foreign office to contribute to the country’s economic recovery.

Dar officially took on the position of foreign minister. Prior to this, the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) had Dar as their top pick to oversee the nation’s financial and economic matters.

Along with other top officials, Secretary of Foreign Affairs Muhammad Syrus Sajjad Qazi welcomed him at the foreign ministry in Islamabad.

The foreign secretary and other secretaries informed the foreign minister on Pakistan’s foreign strategy and areas of focus.

Old habits die hard, as they say, and the foreign minister’s first speech was more concerned with economic issues than foreign policy issues.

Insiders claim that Dar provided foreign office executives with an overview of Pakistan’s economic situation. He supported his speech with data and other facts, which made it difficult for many foreign office staff to understand.

Dar desired that the foreign office fulfill its responsibility in settling the economic issues. Emphasizing the importance of economic diplomacy, he ordered the Foreign Office to assign its missions overseas to formulate policies in line with that requirement.

The officials were also instructed by the foreign minister to concentrate on promoting foreign investment.

The foreign secretary and other secretaries responsible for various nations and areas had already briefed Dar.

China is still Pakistan’s reliable ally, the foreign minister was informed. China remains Pakistan’s principal source of income and there was no other. Pakistan’s probable sovereign default last year was averted by China’s prompt funding and loan rollover.

Dar was told that Gulf nations were eager to invest in Pakistan because he was very interested in economic diplomacy. Nonetheless, those nations sought investment opportunities in “doable and tangible” initiatives.

Dar was briefed on the present status of ties between the two neighbors about India.

The minister was informed by foreign office representatives that the present Indian administration was pursuing a “Hindutwa” strategy. This was not just talk; the BJP administration was actively moving to put this strategy into effect, according to the foreign office evaluation that Dar was given access to.

He was told that India wants to apply as much pressure as possible and that it was still seeking Pakistan’s isolation under the current conditions. Given this approach, the prospects of a reconciliation between India and Pakistan were bleak.

For the past few years, relations between Pakistan and India have stagnated. The disputed Jammu and Kashmir region’s special status was withdrawn by India in August 2019, marking the actual downturn.

Pakistan reacted to the measure by suspending commerce and downgrading diplomatic ties. Past attempts to break the deadlock were unsuccessful.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated Shehbaz Sharif on winning the election after the polls on February 8, but many were taken aback by his uncharacteristically blunt remarks. Shehbaz thanked him for the congratulations with a succinct reply of his own.

Speculators speculate that the Modi administration would prefer not to take any steps that would demonstrate flexibility toward Pakistan because India is about to hold elections. Before taking any action to prepare for the ice breach, both parties will probably just watch and wait.