The subterranean world of Pakistan’s byzantine politics

Iran will also be concerned at the prospect of instability in Pakistan. Despite US pressure Pakistan enjoys good relations with Iran at a number of different levels including diplomatically.

China is fed up with the explosive influence of the US in the Middle East which has now caused an earthquake in Pakistan. China has enjoyed a good relationship with moderate members of the Pakistan elite.

The demonisation of Iran by the US makes more difficult the task of negotiating with volatile regional players.

The US has all but dealt itself out of having any diplomatic influence in the region. The use of military force has been ineffective in Afghanistan, counter-productive in Iraq and is not possible in Pakistan.

With the US running Australian foreign policy for the past 11 years, diplomatic skills and reputation were diminished. Kevin Rudd is a cleanskin as far as the international community is concerned. He has early points on the board over his positive climate change intervention (together with Penny Wong) at Bali.

Rudd is a polished and accomplished diplomat. He is intelligent, far more so than his predecessor, he has good relations with the Chinese and if he can apologise over the Haneef affair he will also enjoy good relations with India. They are looking for a renewed closeness after the humiliation inflicted by Howard and Downer.

Rudd should consider putting together an initiative with China, India, Iran and Pakistan to work through measures that might go towards bringing a measure of stability to Afghanistan and Pakistan.

Australia can claim a role because of its military involvement in Afghanistan but primarily because of Rudd’s skills and untarnished reputation. It is a role that Australia once played as an independent, moderate and middle ranking power.

US foreign policy is floundering, they would probably welcome such an initiative particularly if it were made known that they would be welcome to join the contact group once they bury the hatchet with Iran.

The adoption of such an initiative would be a great revival of Australian diplomacy and diplomatic skills which took such a battering under Howard and Downer.