Daily Times

By virtue of being a superpower, the US has its interests spread around the world. Certainly, there remains not a single area that the latter has not set its sights on in order to expand influence while safeguarding its concerns. At the end of the Second World War, the US broadened its focus from Europe to Southeast Asia and then, finally, to the Middle East. The most significant reason for this was the Cold War. But then came the eventual collapse of communism, bringing with it the fall of the Berlin Wall and the disintegration of the Soviet Union. Which meant that Washington was free to turn its attention to yet another region: namely, South Asia.

During the bi-polar order of the Cold War years — the American spotlight here in this neck of the woods was based primarily on short-term goals. Such as the alliance with Pakistan during the 1950s and 1960s against the ‘commies’. But of course, as we all know, as soon as the latter were defeated and the Soviets left Afghanistan — the Americans withdrew their embrace without so much as a by-your-leave.

The 9/11 terror attacks saw Pakistan welcomed back into the fold, once more. This time we were needed to defeat terrorism. Today, the US officially declares us a frontline ally in the global war on terror. The reality, however, is far less glamorous. Washington still doesn’t quite play fair; viewing the bilateral relationship as if it were transactional and where it always gets to pocket the change. And there are at present no signs of this changing any time soon. President Donald Trump, after all, has already more or less indicated that the US is not leaving Afghanistan. In addition, the American courtship of India to counter a rising China shows no signs of letting up.

During his recent visit to Pakistan, US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson stressed the importance of this country both in the South Asian context and in the fight against terrorism. For once, we were not gushing; choosing instead to express our concerns over regional developments. Thus did we argue that the expanded role of India in neighbouring Afghanistan will do anything but restore peace and security to this region. We were also unhappy about the economic and military assistance, including promised drone technology, that Washington was redirecting New Delhi’s way. Sadly, all this is happening at a time when the Indo-Pak relationship is rapidly deteriorating.

Mr Trump is mistaken if he expects this brinkmanship — this scape-goating of Pakistan — to work in his favour. It cannot go on indefinitely. At some point real leadership will be required

Thus the US needs to rethink its new South Asia policy. For if it does not, the risk is that the ongoing friction between the US and Pakistan will have no chance of abating; with the trust deficit on both sides taking a hard hit. Yet this is easier said than done given that the Americans are putting the blame for regional instability firmly at our door; stressing that the terrorist safe-havens within Pakistan’s borders are being used to export militancy to both Kabul and New Delhi. Indeed, this was the premise for Trump’s new vision for the region, in which he has pinned all responsibility on this country to secure the Afghan quagmire.

Once more, Pakistan didn’t take kindly to this berating. Foreign Minister Khawaja Asif was blunt when he said that the country could no longer afford to fight someone else’s war. For time and again has Pakistan told Washington that the Afghan Taliban are not under its sphere of influence. Meaning that it is grossly unfair to expect Islamabad to drag them kicking and screaming to the negotiating table; regardless of whether or not almost half of Afghanistan is under their control. Yet the US appears not the least bit bothered when it comes to ground realities. Far easier to keep issuing threats to Pakistan to do more or else face the music.

Back in September, Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi sat down with the American Vice President on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly. And it had seemed promising, with both sides pledging to carry the so-called strategic goodwill relationship forward; based on mutual interests and more of the same. This culminated in the visit of Mr Tillerson.

Bluntly put, there exists a chasm of sorts over who is responsible for the increasing instability in South Asia. Yet this need not mean that that the US and Pakistan should reach a point of no return in their dealings with each other. Though it does remain to be seen to what extent this country ‘modifies’ its policies regarding one-time proxies, particularly the Haqqani network. Similarly, we have as yet no concrete idea how Washington might respond if it finds our efforts not quite up to the mark. However, I believe that Mr Trump is mistaken if he expects this brinkmanship to work in his favour. Meaning that the US would do well to stop scape-goating Pakistan for a war it did not start in Afghanistan.

In short, these are turbulent times. Especially with an American president at the helm who, at best, has a rather cavalier approach to foreign relations. What he lacks in strategic vision — he makes up for in rhetoric. But this cannot go on indefinitely. At some point real leadership will be required.

The writer is a human rights and constitutional lawyer

Published in Daily Times, November 16^th 2017.