The US Secretary of State John Kerry’s visit to Pakistan was the first highest level interaction between Pakistan and the US after the change of government in Islamabad. There was much anticipation to see what Mr Kerry was carrying for Pakistan at this critical point of time. There were hopes and fear. Both sides felt that the other has been not truly honest, loyal and sincere as an ally and a friend. Naturally, facts speak louder than words. The facts are recorded in the history of Pak-US relations since the early 1950s, which show what Pakistan did for the the US and how Washington disappointed Pakistan at different times and events. Relations between states are dispassionate, based on the countries’ interests. However, when the countries under international laws and diplomatic norms agree on certain issues and develop an understanding, they are supposed to fulfil them accordingly. The general perception in Pakistan is that the US, instead of fulfilling its promises, always stabbed us in the back and that was why there was a great deal of resentment and anti-American feelings among the public. During the US Secretary of State’s visit to Islamabad, the two countries must have had an agenda as per their own perspectives and interests. The Americans might ask Pakistan to help stabilise Afghanistan after the US withdrawal from Afghanistan next year, dismantle terrorist safe havens in areas of FATA, support the US mechanism for a peaceful political settlement in Afghanistan, accept continuation of drone attacks until the elimination of terrorists from the tribal areas, accept India’s larger and active role in Afghanistan after 2014, hand over Dr Shakeel Afridi, cancel the Iran-Pakistan Gas Pipeline agreement and stop terrorist infiltration into Afghanistan. From Pakistan’s perspective, most of these issues have a diversion rather than conversion value between the two countries. Nobody knows how Mr Kerry would be able to create a balance in bilateral relations by understanding Pakistan’s point of view on many issues. Pakistan’s priority list remains opposite to that of the Americans. Islamabad wants an immediate halt to drone attacks in the tribal areas, to consider Pakistan’s vital security concerns after the 2014 withdrawal and the new political setup in Kabul, zero or limited role of India in Afghanistan after US forces’ evacuation, return of Dr Afia Siddiqui to Pakistan, assist Pakistan in meeting its energy needs by investing in various energy projects including civil nuclear energy, not to oppose the Iran-Pakistan Gas pipeline, release the frozen Coalition Support Funds (CSF) and other funding. Let us see how Pakistan’s ‘close friend’ Mr John Kerry responds to Islamabad’s agenda list. It would be a bumpy road for the Advisor to the Prime Minister on National Security and Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz and the US Secretary of State John Kerry reaching a minimum agreement for restoring confidence and improving relations between the two nations, which apparently call themselves partners and non-NATO allies. The new government of Mian Nawaz Sharif was very much under pressure both from the public and the opposition political parties to use all diplomatic channels to convince the Americans to stop drone attacks, also called ‘killing machines’. Contrary to the US claim, a majority of the drone attacks killed innocent people, including women and children, instead of terrorists. Drones also violate Pakistan’s territorial integrity and sovereignty. Drones are in contradiction to the UN charter and international laws. The UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon has declared drone attacks against international law. Many human rights organisations across the globe have raised their voice against drones and urged the US government to stop them immediately. In the last few years we have witnessed protest demonstrations in many western countries including the US. Protesters in the US have been demanding their government terminate the drones operations. The other negative aspect of the drones policy was that terrorists succeeded in convincing the tribal youth to become suicide recruits. Since the terrorists do not have direct reach to the US, they take revenge from the Pakistani public and the security forces. As mentioned earlier, the new government would not be able to sustain criticism against the drone attacks. Chairman Tehreek-e-Insaaf Imran Khan has already asked Nawaz’s government to come clean about its drones policy. It is now an open secret that the previous government had a tacit understanding with the US regarding drones. The Americans, on the one hand, would continue their drone attacks in FATA, while on the other the Pakistani government would condemn and protest against the operations in public. The PML-N government would not be able to continue with the same Musharraf-Zardari double standard policy. The US has to understand the Pakistan government’s position and assist the democratic system instead of creating more problems. The drones issue has to be settled once and for all. The energy crisis is another important agenda item from the Pakistani perspective where the US could help us to overcome the 6,000 megawatt shortfall but the US does not seem sincere to support Pakistan. It gave India civil nuclear energy technology and assistance but refused the same to Pakistan. When Pakistan signed the gas pipeline agreement with Iran, the Americans pressurised us to terminate it. After Prime Minister Sharif’s successful visit to China where he had signed various energy agreements with some Chinese companies, the US rushed its overseas investment company top official to Pakistan, sending the message that it was serious to assist Pakistan in the energy field. Despite US promises and claims, it would never invest or encourage other international financial institutions or companies to invest in mega hydel and coal projects like Basha Dam and Thar coal. The Americans have helped to repair our transmission lines and already existing power generation plants but are not willing to invest in the big projects that can cater to our needs. What we need are cost effective 5,000 to 10,000 megawatt energy projects. If the US is really interested to assist Pakistan, Mr Kerry should announce $ 5-10 billion investment in mega projects in addition to the Iran-Pakistan Gas Pipeline and Civil Nuclear Energy. Will the US do that? Another issue is the post-2014 Indian role in Afghanistan. The Indian presence in Afghanistan may be taken as a serious threat to our security. Afghanistan’s growing closeness with India could further destabilise Pakistan and the region. Afghan President Hamid Karzai visited India and signed a security pact, which was done with the US’s approval. As far as peace in Afghanistan is concerned, that mess was created by the US and, ultimately, the US has to clean it up. The US seems to be confused about talks with the Taliban just as it was confused in launching theAfghan war without much thought. Pakistan does not buy the Afghan government officials’ stance that the Taliban are under the the ISI’s control. Pakistan time and again has reiterated that it is willing to help the various factions and international community for peace talks in Afghanistan but it cannot not influence any individual or group for any particular move. The best way of dealing with the Americans was to give a simple no when the demand was against our national interest. It should be remembered Pakistan as the so-called ally would not be able to get any benefit from the US. It is a fact that we must understand as a nation. The writer is a talk show host on Business plus TV and can be reached at Waheed.h35@gmail.com