As briefed in Reuters - Pakistan PM Nawaz Sharif will oversee the challenging and sensitive foreign and defense portfolios, as a plan to forge a working partnership with the all-powerful military in the early days of his tenure, sources close to him said.
The army rule in Pakistan for more than half its history since partition with India in 1947, critics say generals have jealously guarded the right to dictate foreign policy.
The move to defer appointing a foreign minister suggests that Sharif wants to get to grips with the government's relationship with the army.
"The incoming government and the army need to be on the same page on key foreign policy issues, not least Pakistan's relations with Afghanistan, India and the United States," a PML-N insider told Reuters, requesting anonymity as he was not authorized to speak to the media about the issue.
Pakistan is beset by high unemployment, a failing economy, widespread poverty, a Taliban insurgency and sectarian violence. The United States is troubled by elements in the country supporting Islamic militants fighting U.S. troops in neighboring Afghanistan.
"Supporting Western-backed attempts to engage with Taliban leaders in Afghanistan; what to do about India - until the government's policy contours are crystal clear, the prime minister is not willing to take any risks," the insider said.
"Handling the U.S., Afghanistan and India after foreign troops withdraw from Afghanistan will be a very tough job," another PML-N source said.
"Right now, Sharif has decided he's the best man to do this delicate dance. He won't take the chance of someone else making a mess in the early days of his government."
The army rule in Pakistan for more than half its history since partition with India in 1947, critics say generals have jealously guarded the right to dictate foreign policy.The move to defer appointing a foreign minister suggests that Sharif wants to get to grips with the government's relationship with the army.
"The incoming government and the army need to be on the same page on key foreign policy issues, not least Pakistan's relations with Afghanistan, India and the United States," a PML-N insider told Reuters, requesting anonymity as he was not authorized to speak to the media about the issue.
Pakistan is beset by high unemployment, a failing economy, widespread poverty, a Taliban insurgency and sectarian violence. The United States is troubled by elements in the country supporting Islamic militants fighting U.S. troops in neighboring Afghanistan.
"Supporting Western-backed attempts to engage with Taliban leaders in Afghanistan; what to do about India - until the government's policy contours are crystal clear, the prime minister is not willing to take any risks," the insider said.
"Handling the U.S., Afghanistan and India after foreign troops withdraw from Afghanistan will be a very tough job," another PML-N source said.
"Right now, Sharif has decided he's the best man to do this delicate dance. He won't take the chance of someone else making a mess in the early days of his government."
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