‘Pakistan is useful to the world': Former NSA Shivshankar Menon explains why countries still support Islamabad despite terror links
Diplomacy cannot change national interests, says Menon
Why the world won't isolate Pakistan
IMF aid and military praise part of realpolitik
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Global concern over Pakistan-based terrorism has reduced
India's global position remains stable
Reactions to terrorism still depend on national interest
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Former Foreign Secretary and National Security Adviser Shivshankar Menon has said that major countries continue to engage with Pakistan because they view the country as useful and do not want it to descend into anarchy. Menon, in an interview with India Today, explained that global powers act according to their strategic interests, not based on India's expectations. He added that Pakistan has managed to make itself relevant to both the US and China, and the international response to terrorism emanating from Pakistan has changed over the years.Menon's comments follow two events that drew criticism in India: the IMF's release of $ 1 billion to Pakistan and US CENTCOM Commander General Michael Kurilla's description of Pakistan as a 'phenomenal partner' in counter‑terrorism. Menon argues that such moves reflect each nation's self‑interest, not any judgment on India's security concerns.'Don't set impossible tasks to diplomacy,' Menon said. 'I don't think we should ask our diplomats to change the way other countries behave, they've always behaved on the basis of their interests and what's in it for them.' His remarks were in response to questions on why the global community continues to support Pakistan diplomatically and economically, even when India presents evidence of Pakistan's involvement in terrorism.Menon explained that countries are acting in their own interest when they maintain relations with Pakistan. 'The world will do what suits their interest. They find Pakistan useful. In fact, in many ways over the last few years, Pakistan has tried to make herself useful to other people, whether it is in Centcom's fight against ISIS Khorasan or whether it is the Pakistanis now investing in cryptocurrency which is being pushed by the White House . They will use this to see what they can get out of it. So I don't think that has changed in any fundamental way,' he said.The IMF released $1.023 billion to Pakistan while Operation Sindoor was still in progress. Around the same time, US CENTCOM Commander General Michael Kurilla referred to Pakistan as a 'phenomenal partner' in the fight against terrorism.Menon commented, 'Our job is not to actually prevent IMF loans to Pakistan. The world doesn't want Pakistan to collapse into complete anarchy, so they will continue to work with Pakistan.'He also added, 'Pakistan has made herself useful to China and the US, and the rivalry between Beijing and Washington actually has worked in Pakistan's favor in some ways.'Menon said that while India may have convinced the world about Pakistan's role in sponsoring terrorism, that no longer translates into strong diplomatic action.'The world doesn't respond on the basis of whether they are convinced or not. The world responds on the basis of what's in their interest,' he said.'Today, unlike 10 years ago, the world does not see Pakistan as offering a terrorist threat to themselves. Ten years ago when the global war on terror was on, the US, Europe, Denmark, the UK — all of them saw terrorist threats emanating from Pakistan affecting them directly. So they will condemn terrorism. And what you do is your business. They won't get in your way either. But you cannot expect them to act beyond their interest.'He further added, 'It's not a question of how convinced they are — in fact they are convinced. Nobody has gone against the narrative that this originated in Pakistan.'Addressing concerns about India's international image following recent diplomatic developments, Menon said, 'I'm not sure that we can measure India's place in the world on a minute-to-minute, hour-to-hour, event-by-event basis. Basically, I think India's place in the world is where it was. I don't think that has changed fundamentally. The world's interest in India is also the same as it was before.'On global responses to terror attacks and Indian retaliation, Menon said: 'We got support across the board after Pahalgam. But when it comes to a conflict between India and Pakistan, countries react on the basis of their interest.'
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