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