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A hostage rescue. A drone strike. Courtesy phone calls. High-level official visits. Pakistan and the United States are trying to re-establish ties, however fledgling, after the Trump administration unveiled its South Asia strategy, which takes a harder line against Pakistan for allegedly harbouring militant groups, and calls for an expanded role for India in Afghanistan — the opposite of Pakistan’s preference for what should unfold across its western border.
The overtures are welcome for those who believe Pakistan should maintain a multipronged foreign policy comprising strong alliances with stronger nations. Conversely, they have been met with cynicism by US sceptics — the American-Canadian couple was conveniently recovered the day before a US delegation arrived in Islamabad; the US drone strike that allegedly killed the chief of Jamaatul Ahrar (JuA) took place days before US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson’s scheduled visit to Islamabad in what is being seen as a reciprocal and reconciliatory gesture. Both camps can agree that this is not the stuff of a coordinated bilateral relationship with shared strategic objectives; it is the piecemeal politics of placation.
Grand gestures aside, the fundamental challenges of the US-Pakistan relationship persist. The US is frustrated by Pakistan’s dubious counterterrorism credentials. Even while seeking to thaw frosty relations, Washington has called out Pakistan for supporting militant groups. Earlier this month, the chairman of the joint chiefs of staff told a congressional hearing that Pakistan’s agencies had links to militant groups; and even while Trump was gloating about improved ties between the two countries, the director of the CIA announced that US citizen Caitlin Campbell and her family had been held hostage by the Haqqani network for five years in Pakistan (and not Afghanistan, as our security forces had indicated).
Fundamental challenges exist for Pak-US relations.
Pakistan, meanwhile, remains concerned about the destabilising effects of US meddling in the region, which could manifest in several ways: growing Indian influence in Afghanistan; an increasingly dysfunctional and hostile government in Kabul; entrenched sanctuaries for anti-Pakistan militant groups such as JuA and the TTP across the Durand Line; and regional designs against CPEC.
As long as these divergent objectives and concerns remain, the US-Pakistan relationship will be stuck in a rut. But we can no longer dismiss this as a foreign policy irritant — the rut damages Pakistan.
Islamabad’s fraught ties with Washington leads to knee-jerk foreign policymaking on other fronts, including the all-eggs-in-one-basket approach of cosying up to China in order to have a reliable counterweight to the US. This approach involves geostrategic and economic concessions, the full implications of which Pakistan has yet to understand. It is also one that will become entrenched during the Trump administration in light of the US president’s truncated flirtation with Xi Jingping, and Tillerson’s public critique of China as a destabilising force and economic predator. As US-China tensions escalate, Pakistan will gradually find itself choosing a side.
Clumsy rapprochements with Washington also undermine Pakistan’s democratic set-up. The relationship with the US is dominated by our military, but the fallout is left to the civilian government to manage. Analysts speculate that the drone strike that apparently killed Omar Khalid Khorasani indicates a resumption in military and intelligence cooperation between Islamabad and Washington. But it’s the government that has to cover the tracks of America’s unpopular drone strike policy. While in the US, our foreign minister responded to the sudden uptick in drone strikes in and around Kurram Agency with hemming and hawing about indeterminate territory and fuzzy borders. Pakistan’s lack of transparency regarding its involvement in and tolerance for US drone strikes has eroded the government’s credibility with the public.
Contortions in US-Pakistan ties also fuel conspiracy theories that stymie Pakistan’s chances of developing a clear narrative against terrorism — those who speak out against militant activity on Pakistani soil are labelled American stooges, and their position is perceived to be sinister rather than in the long-term interests of the country. Meanwhile, militant groups continue to capitalise on anti-Americanism to attract increasingly diverse recruits.
As such, it’s in Pakistan’s interest to refresh the US-Pakistan relationship. Perhaps one way forward is to focus on issues beyond the Afghanistan — and by extension, India — angle. Secretary Tillerson has indicated that he will explore improved economic ties between the US and Pakistan during his visit. Our representatives should try to generate more US support for CPEC, and Pakistan’s economic growth overall. A conversation about regional security concerns couched in the language of economic opportunity may offer one way to break out of the rut.
The writer is a freelance journalist.
Twitter: @humayusuf
Published in Dawn, October 23rd, 2017
Comments (33) Closed
Good write up. Basically we have been punching above our size for decades. Cozying up to China ALONE will not fix our economic problems. Besides China may not always support us as the recent BRICS declaration shows.
Only the completely ignorant and unaware will believe the narrative of the Canadian couple's rescue; and the sad part is that even that (the narrative) is a phony gun-deck job so full of holes !! As long as pak's always-denied-but-continuously-practiced policy of "hunting-with-the-hounds-and-running-with-the-hares" continues, the ordinary civilian folk of the country can expect little respite in the foreseeable future.
Once Afghans freedom fighters, when fighting Russian. Now terrorist because they fight USA.
I think Pakistan shouldn't focus on relations with a country thousands of miles away. Right now Pak should focus on relation with all countries within region i.e. China, Russia, India, Iran etc. If we have good relation with these people we will be prosper but if have friend thousands miles away and enemy i.e. India in backyard then no one in the region can move forward. India is making same mistake which we made few decades ago like thinking USA is friend, USA is friend of no one she just use other for its interests,
By mending its ways. World is watching and not willing to take anything on face value.
Only the resolution of Kashmir & Palestine would lead to the regional and global peace...
I agree with the writer that we must work overnight to improve our ties with US to counter balance over dependence on China. We not only give assurance but also act on ground and not allow any militant activity on our soil against any country. Its time to have a clear and open dialogue with US that we will not allow any insurgents on our soil at the same time will require US assurance to ensure any cross border act terror on our soil. Besides Pakistan also should not allow any foreign military be it US or China to operate within its boundary. We will act on collaborative information against terror outfits but not allow others to act within our soil unilaterally. To get respect we must know how to keep our head high and maintain self respect.
Pak should focus more on all weather friend China rather than US
Change the political structure and the outcome will take care of the challenges, internal and external. Present political structure is suited for power play of monied class and establishment. When you bring the electability only on getting 50% of voters yes and an electorate size of no more than 80,000 people, you will have proper attitudes of electorate and their representatives. Also the electorate ought to pay for their representatives with strict restrictions on them for exclusive work for the electorate who need to provide the representatives living as well. Present structure will provide same behaviour no matter how many elections on may have. Establishment will fall in line itself with new reality over time.
It should be how can US amend its relationship with Pakistan
@Abid Rehman MORAL OF THE STORY......... path of violence leads to self destruction
@Ahmed bin Babar.No, some other ' Cause' will be concieved and back to many starting squares . The problem is losing the ruling class status in the Sub Continent.
No need to, simple.
You asked How can Pakistan renew relationship with USA. Very simple; STOP double crossing your supposed friends; mentors; and those who have given you mega dollars. They must be mad to continue. First the biggest enemy of USA you gave them sanctuary and made America spend millions in stupidly trying to locate him; and now again- mud in he eyes.
By being honest and a trustworthy partner.
@Syed Mudassir India is not making mistake you people had committed. In shadow of USA you have made enemies in the region, India is not going to make that mistake. On the contrarary India will create better relation with it's neighbor without any hadgemany and that include Pakistan also if Pakistan play a responsible politics.
@Syed Mudassir Sir, India is not making any mistake here with US. India is clear that there will be "no boots" on Afghan soil. This means there will be no Indian military there. Also the economic potential of India means a lot to US. In that way, the relationship is different & mutually beneficial to both the countries. Finally, India doesn't need any money from US. Indian companies invest in US & create jobs there. That's a big difference.
@Ahmed bin Babar mark my words, the religious jingoism or Islamic domination would seek another project then, Better is to stay together and inter mingle then seperatism
Whenever we talk about Pak-US , Security issues pop up ; it needs to change our relations shouldn't just be about terrorism and extremism issues we can talk about economy development and many other socials aspects , Neglecting defense related issues isn't an option but diverging towards other issues can minimize the lose Pakistan has gained over the past years .
@Abid Rehman Now they are not fighting americans, they are fighting elected afgan government and your army supports them.
"Perhaps one way forward is to focus on issues beyond the Afghanistan — and by extension, India — angle." - it's not one way forward, but ONLY way forward. Hope the security establishment finally understands it.
Our establishment knows how to "manage" (manipulate) - there is a pattern here. Before any high level visit, we deliver. But it seems like world is fast catching up with our duplicity and eventually we will have to be on the side of TRUTH.
@Ahmed bin Babar What has Palastine got to do with peace in South Asia region?
Dump the US as they are not going to be your friends.....
How abt start with cleaning the government and bringing in patriotic leadership?
@Ahmed bin Babar nothing will lead to global peace till terrorism is stopped being used as Proxy by all.
Americans have decided to use Pakistan for the gains in Afghanistan while making India strategic partner in defence, diplomacy and trade. Also, Americans do bot want to see a fullt developed CPEC which goes directly against our economic prospects.
Pakistani elite should realise this shift and make alliences with more countries. A clean and nice break from degence-telated ties should be undertaken while diplomatic- and economic ties should be underscored.
@RV " But it seems like world is fast catching up with our duplicity and eventually we will have to be on the side of TRUTH." As they are master of duplicity, no wonder they are paid back in the same currency. That is the "TRUTH" we have to be on the side of.
"The relationship with the US is dominated by our military, but the fallout is left to the civilian government to manage." It is the "civilians" who generally demand to dominate everything and more, nobody leaves anything for them as fallout. They always claim that they have a plan, that turns out a plan to get rich first.
@Ahmed bin Babar Very right.
Stop playing double game, as simple as that.
@Syed Mudassir India has lost its innocence after the first Chinese attack. It will have friendly relations with all but not to the point of slavish and childish stuff as in 'Hindi Chini Bhai Bhai" How good is Pak "sweeter than honey " with China will soon be seen when Pak is unable to repay the $40 billion loan. If you think US is a fair weather friend, China is a 100 times worse with no sense of guilt or shame.
The best way would be to stay as far away as possible. We don't need them