By Ajmal
From the standpoint of reason and law, it is a well-established principle that every country should first take practical steps to resolve its own internal problems before turning its attention to the problems of others. Yet in recent years, the Pakistani regime has consistently tried to present itself as a mediator, adviser, or facilitator in various regional and international disputes, from tensions between America and some countries in the region to efforts aimed at reducing disagreements among Islamic countries.
All the while, many of Pakistan’s own internal problems, as well as its disputes with neighboring countries, remain unresolved. Pakistan has repeatedly claimed that it is working to strengthen peace and stability in the region, and in some cases it has taken part in political and diplomatic talks. There is no doubt that cooperation for regional peace is necessary. The real question, however, is whether a country struggling with serious security, economic, and political problems of its own should not first concentrate on putting its own house in order.
In Pakistan, insecurity, political divisions, economic crises, administrative corruption, and growing social and ethnic grievances remain among the people’s biggest concerns. On top of that, its relations with some neighboring countries have repeatedly passed through periods of tension and mistrust. Under such circumstances, placing greater emphasis on foreign issues while neglecting domestic problems cannot produce lasting and meaningful results.
Afghanistan, as Pakistan’s closest neighbor, has been affected by Islamabad’s policies more than any other country. The people of both countries are not only two Muslim and brotherly nations who share the same faith, but they are also bound by deep historical and neighborly ties. Yet today, more than ever before, this regime has become a source of growing distance, mistrust, and division between the two peoples.
Many scholars, including Pakistani religious leaders and respected public figures, believe that if Pakistan had devoted the same effort to building relations with Afghanistan on the basis of mutual respect, non-interference, and good neighborliness as it has devoted to playing a role in distant conflicts, far greater opportunities for regional stability and cooperation would have emerged.
Reason, knowledge, and political experience all point to the same truth: peace begins at home. Any country that seeks to play an effective role in resolving regional disputes must first present a successful example of stability, justice, and good governance within its own borders. Otherwise, trying to solve other people’s problems while leaving one’s own unresolved is like a man who sees everyone else’s faults but remains blind to his own.
In the end, the future of the region can become brighter only when every country, especially Pakistan, begins with responsibility at home. Lasting peace is not achieved through slogans. It comes through genuine reform of policies, attention to the people’s problems, and respect for the rights of neighboring countries.
