LAHORE: Participants in a discussion on `American foreign policy in the age of Trump and its implications for Pakistan` have called for adopting a rational approach.

Held at Arfa Software Technology Park on Thursday, President of American Institute of Pakistan Studies (AIPS) Prof Dr Farhat Haq, GCU VC Dr Hassan Amir Shah, UoE VC Dr Rauf-i-Azam, Government Sadiq College for Women University, Bahawalpur, VC Dr Talat Afza, senior political analyst Salman Abid, and Dr.

Kamran Asdar Ali were among the panellists.

Anchorperson Ajmal Jami moderated the event.

Ms Haq said: `The Trump policy is based on ethno-centricism and his behaviour is straining the USrelationswithitsallies.

She said there were voices within the US policymakers and public who were terming Trump policies against the interests of the United States. `A group of social scientists and humanists should be formed to discuss the wider implications of Trump policy for the world.

Punjab Higher Education CommissionChairman Prof Nizamuddin said a rational approach should be adopted to US president`s statement about Pakistan `The interests of the two countries are connected and both states have huge strategic and trade relations and are also allies on war against terrorism,` he said, adding any provocation could backfire.

GCU VC Dr Hassan Amir Shah said there were multiple voices among the think tanks and the general public in the US who considered Trump`s statement about Pakistan as inappropriate. `The US policymakers are criticising the Trump policy for not recognising the role of Pakistaninthewaragainst terror,` Dr Shah said.

Salman Abid emphasised the adoption of policies to ensure economic stability and curtailing civil-military trust deficit.

`We need to strengthen our ties with our neighbours. Instead of an outrageous policy, we should think on pragmatic and symbiotic lines,` he added.

The event organised by PHEC`s media and publications cell was attended by deans and faculty members of Lahore-based universities and about 200 students from seven universities.