THE move by the White House to quash an attempt by some in Congress to add new restrictions on aid and reimbursements to Pakistan is yet another sign that the two states are cautiously edging closer towards normalising ties. Both the US administration and the Pakistani political government and security establishment have indicated, over objections from a range of domestic opponents, that Pakistan-US ties must improve from the lows of 2011 and that it is in the interest of both countries that the relationship bounce back to some semblance of normality. But it will be a slow and cautious process, with the so-called trust deficit between the two sides still sizeable.

Perhaps the qualities that will be needed most from both sides going forward is patience and determination. Here in Pakistan, it should not be lost on decision-makers that goodwill for Pakistan abroad has virtually been exhausted. From the preposterous Rohrabacher Balochistan hearings to the attempt to crimp aid and other payments to Pakistan, the US Congress is increasingly a hotbed of anti-Americanism. With congressional and presidential elections due in November, the tide could yet further swing against Pakistan. Indeed, the Obama’s administration seemingly ‘soft’ approach on Pakistan is very much grounded in a hardnosed assessment of the American national interest: if ‘getting tough’ is what’s required or taking unilateral decisions are deemed necessary, as in the case of the Abbottabad raid, the Obama administration will almost certainly not hesitate to do so. What Pakistan needs then are decision-makers patient enough to overlook the irritants on the sidelines trying to spoil relations further and the determination to ensure that an agreement is reached before one or more of the spoilers get their way.

Pakistan has already seen the cost of indecision and fear: delaying a decision on reopening the Nato supply route as the Difa-i-Pakistan Council barnstormed the country and the opposition was up in arms allowed events in Afghanistan to overtake Pakistan’s case. Wronged as Pakistan had been in the Salala killings, the focus on an apology appeared to put emotions ahead of hard policy. The country played its trump card, cutting off Nato supplies overland, and it ended up hardening international sentiment against Pakistan. That the Obama administration is still keen to engage Pakistan means that this country still has a partner on the other side of the table to negotiate with — however much trust and goodwill have been eroded. Pakistan should neither be grateful for nor dismissive of that opportunity. States engage each other because they must and there is much to be gained from improved Pakistan-US ties.