Indian myopic, jingoistic foreign policy leading to self destruction: Former ambassador Riaz Hussain Khokhar

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ISLAMABAD, Sep 16 (APP): A number of former foreign secretaries and ambassadors Wednesday said that short-sighted and chauvinistic foreign policy being pursued by Indian government was proving as juggernaut, negatively impinging upon its economy and aggravating the communal divide.

Taking part in a panel discussion held here at the Information Services Academy titiled “Decoding Indian foreign policy in the regional and global context,” the former diplomats, who had served Pakistan with their meritorious services, also explained that Indian foreign policy was historically deeply rooted in Pakistan bashing sentiments and garnered through nationalistic feelings recently stirred by the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) inspired Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) led government.

Former foreign secretary and ambassador Riaz Hussain Khokhar said that Indian foreign policy was very transparent one towards Pakistan and fanatically pursued by its different leaders from the period of Jawahar Lal Nehru.

The tone and tenor or shape might be different but it was driven by two main forces, including Indian hegemonic designs and its efforts to become a power in South Asia, he maintained.

“Pakistan is considered as a major obstacle in that dream and objective. Their foreign policy may have changed in substance and style, but it was always motivated to weaken and disintegrate Pakistan,” he observed.

Khokhar said Modi’s government was formed on RSS ideology and had an ideological thrust under Hindutva. The Modi’s government was doing what was deemed poplar in India.

The former foreign secretary while referring to core issue of Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) between Pakistan and India regretted that global interests were driven by economical gains. India was trying to attract big countries with potential of its economy.

Due to these policies, India would never give any concession or space to Pakistan, he cautioned. India was a big country but not a great one, he said and likened it to ‘an elephant with small heart and mind’.

The former ambassador said that Bhutan and Sri Lanka had very bad experiences with India.

Secretary Ministry of Information and Broadcasting Akbar Durrani was also present on the occasion.