IT seems as though the US government finally wants to give Islamabad a chance. On Friday, US President Joe Biden wrote to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to communicate that Washington continues to stand with Pakistan “to tackle the most pressing global and regional challenges of our time”. Though quite a few observers noted that the letter itself seemed rather anodyne, others saw it as a major breakthrough considering that the American presidency, ever since it passed from Donald Trump, had avoided engaging directly with Pakistan’s civilian leadership thus far. A good relationship with Washington has been the cornerstone of Pakistan’s foreign policy for decades now, so the American president’s refusal to talk to former prime minister Imran Khan had set off alarm bells in diplomatic circles. Things seemed to have soured considerably after the US forces’ messy withdrawal from Afghanistan, and the Pakistani government’s decision to maintain a non-aligned stance in the Russia-Ukraine conflict didn’t help. The ‘ciphergate’ saga, involving a senior State Department official, Donald Lu, only complicated matters. However, the White House has now signalled that it may be ready to move on.

But the contents of the letter also make it clear that Islamabad should not get its hopes up. The letter avoids talking about any of the most pressing crises being faced by Pakistan, which makes it evident that Washington may no longer be as willing to get involved with Pakistan as it once was. It says that it is interested in helping out with climate change and human rights-related issues, education and health, and contributing to Pakistan’s economic growth, but where problems like economic aid, security and political instability are concerned, it seems Islamabad will be on its own for now. Importantly, Mr Biden has avoided congratulating Prime Minister Sharif on his election or acknowledging the political turmoil that followed February’s general election, which suggests that Washington wants to maintain a safe distance. There is also the fact that this letter may be too little, too late. Mr Biden may not be around for too long: the US presidential election is slated to be held on Nov 5, 2024, and his main rival, Donald Trump, seems well-poised for a comeback. Whatever the case may be, it appears that Pakistan has little choice but to take baby steps forward.

Published in Dawn, April 1st, 2024