Pakistani envoys posted in key world capitals, including New Delhi and Beijing, gathered here on Monday with top political and military leaders for a meeting that will provide inputs for a proposed foreign policy revamp.
Envoys in 15 countries, including India, China, Germany and Saudi Arabia, are attending the two-day meeting that will discuss different aspects of Pakistan's foreign policy and make recommendations for refashioning Islamabad's ties with key countries like the US and India, officials said.Monday's session, chaired by foreign minister Hina Rabbani Khar, was attended by Inter-Services Intelligence agency chief Lt Gen Ahmed Shuja Pasha, Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee chairman Gen Khalid Shameem Wynne and Finance Minister Abdul Hafeez Sheikh.Ambassador-designate to the US Sherry Rehman, too attended the meeting.
The Foreign Office convened the meeting after Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani called for a sweeping overhaul of Pakistan's policy for the war on terrorism and ties with the US and other countries in the wake of the cross-border Natoattack on November 26 that killed 24 Pakistani soldiers.
Sources said the ISI chief and the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee briefed the meeting on the Natoair strike, which military officials have described as a "unprovoked act of blatant aggression", the current status of military ties with the US and the situation in neighbouring Afghanistan.
{{/usCountry}}Sources said the ISI chief and the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee briefed the meeting on the Natoair strike, which military officials have described as a "unprovoked act of blatant aggression", the current status of military ties with the US and the situation in neighbouring Afghanistan.
{{/usCountry}}The move can be seen by Pakistan as an attempt to revamp its image in the region that has seen major upheavels like Natostrike and growing clout of China and India.