VIBRANT FORIEGN POLICY NEEDS BACKING OF STRONG ECONOMY: FORMER ADVISER TO TRUMP, SAJID TARAR

Mahtab Bashir
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mahtabbashir@gmail.com
Islamabad

Sajid Tarar delivering lecture

Policies are ethereal. Instead of a specific set of instructions, it is a general sense of being and a spatial sense of direction as to where we might be heading as a country, an institution, a society and an individual. Foreign policy sits at the heart of the art of statecraft. Its evolution is non-linear. Foreign Policy deals both with the vernacular and the elite and everything that falls in between. Foreign policy of a country could not be independent sans strong economic policy. Policy making in Pakistan needs to be more pro-active in reducing income inequality. Denial of the existence of the problem or hoping that somehow it will take care of itself is not a good strategy. Any discussion of ways and means of reducing inequality has to start from the premise that political leadership acknowledges the existence of the problem and the importance of addressing it. Assuming that this will dawn on policy makers at some point, the next question would be where we stand and what can be done.

Former Advisor for Muslims to US President Donald Trump, and a Pakistani American entrepreneur, Sajid Tarar has said that President Trump’s foreign policy was as much as unpredictable that it could well be manage to avert Russia-Ukraine War. He said there is Pak-US antagonism over CPEC, while USA is trying to contain China, Pakistan’s close and seemingly unconditional ties to China have been contentious in United States.

Dr. Munawar giving introductory speech

Raising question over the Pakistani Diaspora in USA, Tarar claimed that it was lack of interest of Pakistanis that they could not avail the opportunities of being a part of US Elections/Congress as compare to Indians. He also questioned Nationalism which is no more a part of Pakistanis either from top-notch Politicians or from the masses. “Pakistan is too much internally divided, nationalism and unity among Pakistanis would solve all the problems which she is facing right now”, he maintained.

Moreover, he said, Indian lobby in United States is the second strongest lobby in the US after the Jewish- that limits the relations between the two countries. Tarar spoke about his conversation with President Trump who agreed to arbitrate between Pakistan and India on the issue of Kashmir.

Sajid Tarar being warmly received at ASC QAU

Tarar while hitting hard on Islamabad policies stated that Washington is demoralized right after the Biden held the office. “United States has been conservative since birth and will stay conservative. Its main goal is to contain China and Pakistan has an opportunity here. However, India is economically bigger and more stable; therefore, America prefers India and aims to use it against China,” he claimed.

The Pakistani entrepreneur from Baltimore and a Pro-Trump Republican Party leader, Sajid Tarar was invited by Area Study Centre (ASC), Quaid-i-Azam University (QAU) faculty, to deliver a lecture on “Pak-US Relations: Future and Challenges”.

Upon his arrival, Tarar was warmly received by senior faculty member ASC Dr. Munawar Hussain along with M.Phil Students.

Keen listening students

In a packed auditorium of ASC, Sajid Tarar said that Pakistan is in dire need of a quality leadership-a leader whose property, children and interests and all stakes are intact to or for Pakistan. He said that bringing dollars into Pakistan is not a difficult task but stopping and pouring out dollars from Pakistan is indeed a huge challenge. “It could not be possible that those (countries) who are giving us aid is our friend and those who don’t- is our foe,” he said.

Fatima Hassan (M.Phil-I) ASC, QAU, contributes: Known for his support for President Donald Trump and Islamic prayer at 2016 Republican National Convention, Sajid Tarar said the menace of corruption was making Pakistan more fragile, economically. “Pakistan should establish relations on the basis of interest. Proximity to China and anti-US rhetoric has damaged Pakistan-US relations, in a great deal,” he observed. Tarar said that even before the Abbottabad incident and Pak-Afghan relations, it was time to work hard to restore that confidence.

Tarar said there is a trust deficit between Islamabad and Washington that Pakistan has failed to address. He highlighted his Pro-Kashmir and Pro-Palestine position within the Republican Party despite the backlash. His lectured contained his observations as an insider of a ruling Republican Party, reporting the sentiments felt within the White House. 

Group photograph with the distinguished guest at Campus

He said Pakistan’s internal situation and political turmoil has weakened its image among powerful nations. “Pakistan is facing huge challenges- corruption, instable political system, dwindling economy, education and health issues and overpowering establishment,” he said adding Pakistan must act strongly to fix its economy and then to work on an independent foreign policy.

Sajid Tarar concluded with the solution that Pakistan must focus on creating a stable economy couple with steady political and social system.