Pakistan’s security best underpinned by forging global partnerships, boosting trade, economy: Lt Gen (R) Phil Jones

ISLAMABAD, Sep 5 (APP):Former Chief of Staff NATO Lt Gen (R) Phil Jones on Wednesday said Pakistan’s security was best underpinned by establishing partnerships with other countries and by boosting its trade and internal economy.
Speaking as a keynote speaker at a conference entitled “Pakistan’s Geo-Strategic
Requirements – Strategic Alliances or Partnerships”, he said that Pakistan’s national security was as much dependent on diplomatic, economic and trade relationships and not only on military and security relations. The conference was arranged by an institute “Pakistan House”.
He said there was no doubt in his mind that a door was open for Pakistan for sophisticated, strategic and influential relationships around the globe with a range of nations, both near and far
abroad.
These relationships strengthen internal security but also help drive international trade and modernization and economic security, he stressed.
He paid tribute to Pakistan’ security forces for their courageous and sophisticated work
bringing peace, stability and prosperity to their country.
Gen Jones said the economic cost of the security operations for Pakistan had been immense
and despite the progress made by Pakistan, it had many internal and external challenges to confront each and every day.
He said Pakistan needed to create a long term national strategy on the basis of partnerships
and alliances to chart a future path. “The art of creating and implementing a long term strategy is becoming a lost art in many corners of the world. So much of the statecraft of today seems to be
built on the short term and reactive self-interest.”
There were areas for potential broad engagement like moving about of blocs and forging close
ties based on intensified trade relationships while encouraging and supporting diversification of economies of economic partners and that kind of effort would be welcomed everywhere, he added.
He said more stronger and confident Pakistan had emerged in recent years as it had achieved
stability by pursuing partnerships.
He stressed that key national issues for Pakistan should be to pursue fiscal reforms and modernization of industrial and business environment. He noted that the interaction of Pakistan
through economic corridors across China and Asian markets was well known.
He acknowledged the important role Pakistan was playing in the Gulf region and said Pakistan
had respected military alliances with United Kingdom and a host of other countries.
Iranian ambassador Mehdi Honardoost underscored the close bilateral relationship Pakistan and Iran enjoyed in diverse fields.
He said projects like Iran Pakistan gas pipeline would help Pakistan in meeting its energy shortages and creating more mutually beneficial ties.
Pakistan and Iran had come closer through the platforms of Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) and D-8 countries, he added.