Economic foreign policy must have relations with powerful countries: Pakistan

Former ambassadors and international affairs experts say the newly elected government should maintain ties with powerful countries for economic foreign policy and address mutual grievances through bilateral talks with Afghanistan and India.

The government formed after the general elections in 2024 has formed a federal cabinet and named  Ishaq Dar , who is considered an expert on the economy , for the foreign ministry.

During the PML-N regime, he has always been given the portfolio of the Ministry of Finance, but this time he has been given the portfolio of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Since then, questions have been raised as to whether an economic approach will be prioritized in foreign policy to restore trade alliances to grow the economy.

Independent news spoke to various international affairs experts in this regard to shed light on the challenges faced by foreign affairs during Ishaq Dar's tenure.

International affairs expert Qamar Cheema believes that Ishaq Dar understands economic issues, so he can play an important role in economic diplomacy with border countries.

He told Independent news that ' Pakistan has been talking about geo-strategic and geo-economic for some time that we want to develop the country's economic path, but the situation with India is not normal yet, so how can we talk? will Perhaps Ishaq Dar can slightly change the guideline of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to project Pakistan as an economic market in the world, currently there is no major security problem, so economic diplomacy with border countries should also be promoted. will Ishaq Dar can play a role for this.'

On the other hand, ex-diplomat Aqil Nadeem believes that in order to become a foreign minister, one needs to be close to the government, not the experience of the foreign ministry.

In a conversation with Independent Urdu, he said that it is not necessary for the foreign minister to have any experience in the foreign ministry. Similarly, when Hina Rabbani was made the foreign minister, she was made for the first time. What matters is how close you are to the government as a minister.'

According to Aqil Nadeem: 'Ishaq Dar has been the Finance Minister three times and has dealt with international forums and international financial institutions. Economy and economic relations are certainly an important component of foreign policy, since in international relations the finance ministry also needs the foreign ministry, so Ishaq Dar will not have much difficulty. An experienced team consisting of Tariq Fatemi and Jalil Abbas Jilani is also with them.

Former ambassador Abdul Basit believes that the new government and the foreign minister should focus on diplomatic economic policy.

Speaking to Independent news, he said that the new government and foreign minister should focus on diplomacy, regional stability is undoubtedly necessary to fulfill their economic aspirations. For this, mutual grievances should be resolved through sustained bilateral dialogue with Afghanistan and India.

Abdul Basit further said: 'In addition, for diplomatic economic policy, Islamabad also needs to pay attention to bilateral relations with developed countries.'

Former Foreign Secretary Salman Bashir also supported the same in a conversation with Independent news and said that 'the new government needs to maintain relations with powerful countries for economic foreign policy.'

At the same time, he said: 'Diplomatic relations will have to be restrained in focusing on economic stabilization measures.'