LAHORE:
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s nomination of the US president for the Nobel Peace Prize was widely criticized as folly, although most experts said Pakistan’s renewed outreach to Washington and its efforts to stay out of Donald Trump’s crosshairs was driven by practical and short-term considerations.
They called the country’s current foreign policy, including its approach toward Iran, pragmatic and necessary.
Experts, speaking to The Express PK Press Club, said the government was walking a diplomatic tightrope. A debate over a deeper pivot toward the United States is ongoing, they added, but Pakistan’s strategic partnership with China remains crucial.
Videos of PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari and Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz being asked about the appointment have been circulating on social media. Both avoided a direct response.
Bilawal remained silent, while Maryam said the prime minister was making decisions in the best interest of the country, indicating limited support within the ruling camp.
Senior analyst Mazhar Abbas, in an interview with The Express PK Press Club, questioned the move, citing Washington’s support for Israel in its war in Palestine. He said Trump’s nomination for a peace prize undermined Pakistan’s position, even though maintaining viable ties with the United States was strategically necessary.
He added that Pakistan should focus on reducing regional tensions and avoid any escalation involving Iran, while recognizing that China remains a reliable partner.
Former Punjab caretaker chief minister Hasan Askari Rizvi said foreign policy decisions should not be judged in absolute terms. He described the appointment as largely symbolic and driven by economic constraints, adding that Pakistan did not have the financial space to act independently.
He said the government had limited leverage to intervene in regional conflicts and its current approach reflected practical realities.
Another senior analyst, Rasul Bakhsh Rais, called the appointment a “blunder” that damaged the government’s credibility. However, he said Pakistan’s efforts to maintain balanced US-China relations were reasonable and the coming days would be important for the region.
