RECENT apprehensions shown by the United States on Pakistan’s long-range ballistic missile programme posing a threat to its security is beyond the common man’s understanding. It seems that there is no way Pakistan can get rid of the US political and economic influence.

History has established that the US foreign policy hinges on the containment of Russia and China both politically and economically through forming alliances against them.

Its sanctions on Pakistan express its concerns over Pakistan-China economic partnership, and China’s growing economic influence. On the other hand, to please India, or to provoke China, the motive of the US allegations against Pakistan seems indirect in nature.

Given the apparent loss of the American interest in Pakistan after the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan, the US seems to have prioritised giving India the leadership role in its foreign policy related to the region. It has simply forgotten the support Pakistan gave during its war against the former Soviet Union in the days of the Afghan war. Such a policy will only have far-reaching consequences for the US in the future.

The world is not blind to the US support to India in the form of transfer of latest weapons as part of a larger policy to contain China. However, it is overlooking the hegemonic intentions of India in the region. The US is practically putting all its eggs in one basket, and that has never been known to be a shrewd policy.

Shaik Murtaza
Lahore

Published in Dawn, January 11th, 2025