In a recent conversation with NHS Media, Barrister Hamid Bishani discussed the G20 summit and the Pakistani media’s response to it.
Key Points:
- International forums offer various benefits for countries, such as enhancing bilateral ties and showcasing their culture.
- Effective cultural promotion can positively impact a country’s image, while a lack of cultural policy can hinder this.
- Exclusion from international forums can disadvantage Pakistan, affecting trade, cultural exchanges, and cooperation.
- Realistic assessments and positive steps are essential for Pakistan’s progress, while a defeatist mentality can hinder growth and international engagement.
Barrister Hamid highlighted the benefits of such forums, emphasizing their focus on enhancing bilateral ties and their cultural impact. He pointed out that while India is leveraging its participation, Pakistan’s absence from the G20 puts it at a disadvantage.
He criticized Pakistan for lacking a clear cultural policy and not promoting its culture effectively. He also criticized the adoption of the Sherwani as the national dress, which is not commonly worn in the country. In contrast, he praised India for consistently promoting its cultural values and creating harmony among its people.
Barrister Hamid noted that G20 summits usually include a cultural display of the host country, highlighting the missed opportunity for Pakistan. He expressed concern that Pakistan is not only excluded from the G20 but is also being sidelined deliberately.
Barrister Hamid lamented that concerning aspect is the apparent neglect by the Pakistani media in highlighting and engaging in a meaningful debate about the G20 summit. This significant global event has far-reaching implications, including potential impacts on Pakistan’s future engagement with the international community. However, the mainstream media’s silence on the matter raises questions about the awareness and discourse among the public regarding Pakistan’s exclusion from this forum and its potential repercussions.
He also discussed potential approaches for Pakistan: either creating a propaganda campaign against India for excluding Pakistan from multilateral forums or addressing the root causes of its exclusion. He argued that Pakistan’s leadership’s failure to engage in high-level forums could lead to isolation from the international community, except for the OIC, which has limited utility.
Regarding the participation of Muslim countries in the G20, he noted that it undermines Pakistan’s narrative that India is working against Muslims globally. He suggested that this narrative lacks substance and is essentially a blame game. Barrister Hamid also mentioned the evolving relationship between India and Saudi Arabia, which could impact Pakistan’s regional standing. He urged Pakistan to assess its capabilities realistically and take positive steps to become a progressive and developing economy.
Barrister Hamid emphasized the need for Pakistan to abandon a defeatist mentality and take proactive measures to engage with the world effectively. He cautioned that no one would listen to Pakistan if it continued down its current path.