Zubair Qureshi
Patron-in-chief of Pakistan Hindu Council Dr Ramesh Kumar Vankwani has said that it will be foolish to expect change in the US policies with any change in the government.
Expressing his views during a live online session on the US Presidential election, Dr Ramesh Kumar said the election process in the US was always of great interest for the people of Pakistan.
He was of the view that every US government used to focus on achieving national interests. “The change in national interests may result in modification of policies, according to the situation,” he emphasized. During the World War II, the US and the Soviet Union were on one page to fight against Hitler’s Nazi Germany. After winning the war, American interests were changed and confrontation with its former ally, the USSR, was started on all fronts. He said.
“Similarly, the tussle with the other superpower USSR during the cold war demanded the United States to support all those elements in Afghanistan who were later declared terrorists after the 9/11 attacks. Today after nineteen years of declaring war against terror, the United States is seeking cooperation with the Taliban, whose government was toppled by force as a reaction to the 9/11 tragedy,” he expressed.
Dr Ramesh Vankwani, while answering a question during the Facebook live session, admitted that bilateral ties between Pakistan and the US have also been in turmoil. “Following its interest, the US sometimes declared Pakistan a frontline state and sometimes demanded we ‘do more’,” he said.
Dr Ramesh Vankwani emphasized that Trump’s state policy towards China and Iran will be followed by the next US administration until there is a change in American interests. “If the US launches any new venture across our borders then Pakistan will certainly face severe pressure,” he said, adding that cordial ties with our neighbours could also be at stake if the US demands support.
On the occasion, Dr Ramesh made appeal to all political parties that our foreign policy should not be formulated to please any particular country or individual but should be for the protection of Pakistan’s national interests. In this regard, he suggested that the government must establish a think tank consisting of senior politicians from all political parties, retired bureaucrats and secretaries who have strong grip on foreign affairs. “No matter, whoever becomes the Prime Minister, Pakistan’s foreign policy must protect our national interests,” Dr Ramesh stated.
