Daily Times

The US-Pakistan relations have been continuously deteriorating since the launch of China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). It got momentum with the election of Donald Trump as the president of the US as his statements against Pakistan has widened the gulf in the bilateral relations of the two countries. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the US in June 2017 and Israel in July, 2017 carries weight in international political, economic and strategic arena.

Triangle of these countries actually focuses on developing, though tacitly and not formal, understanding on the issues of Kashmir, Palestine, nuclarisation of the Muslim countries and increasing anti-Muslim sentiments in India and in the Trump administration though not in the United States as a nation.

Here the separation between Trump’s style of governance and the United States as a nation is due to the fact that the president has lost his popularity rapidly within one year of his presidency. It also seems that the US establishment is not in consonance with the policies of the new US administration. They may have been supporting Trump’s administration due to a number of factors.

Firstly, Trump was elected by majority of the American people as the president. Thus, they are compelled to follow the policies of the new administration.

Secondly, the US establishment does not want to give an impression that they are divided on Trump’s style of running defence and foreign policies. It may add to the persistent confusion of the US allies and its friends.

Thirdly, the Afghan problem is sensitive for the US. If it leaves the country without getting substantial results, it may obscure status of the ‘super power’.

Fourthly, The Obama administration had announced withdrawal of the US forces from Afghanistan by 2014, but the decision lost promise due to rapidly changing scenario in the regions near Afghanistan particularly and other continents generally.

Finally, the US establishment seems conscious on the developing scenario of US-Pakistan relations after Trump’s harsh comments on Pakistan’s alleged support to terrorists and providing them safe haven. He tried to project Pakistan as a country that was fighting for the sake of US money that laid more than 50,000 lives for countering terrorism.

Probably the US establishment felt gravity and sensitivity of Trump’s statements and contacted Pakistan. The US news channel Cable News Network (CNN) reported on January 13, 2018 that the US ambassador in Panama has decided to resign from his post having differences on Trump’s remarks. It also shows unrest in diplomatic circles of the United States.

The US, as a punishment, stopped military aid to Pakistan. The country took a tough stand in response. The foreign minister of Pakistan, in an interview in a program on private TV channel, stated that the US was no more ally and even the US status as their friend required to be reviewed as the friends do not behave like this.

After 16 years of fighting against terrorism in Afghanistan, the US has failed to achieve anything tangible

Moreover, Pakistan’s political and military leadership also expressed their displeasure on Trump’s comments on Pakistan. Probably, the US was not expecting such hard and clear stand of Pakistan and the US establishment felt its sensitivity. Gen Joseph L Votel, head of the US Central Command telephoned twice over the week in January 2018 and talked to the Chief of Army Staff of Pakistan General Qamar Bajwa. He made it clear to the US general that his country would not ask for the resumption of financial assistance but only wanted to recognise the role played by Pakistan for combating terrorism.

Pakistan had bitter experience of friendship with the United States. The country was considered as the US ally through South East Asia Treaty Organisation (SEATO) in 1954 and Baghdad Pact (1955) later known as Central Treaty Organisation. But Pakistan was not blessed with the perks than an ally gets. The US imposed sanctions on Pakistan in 1965 Indo-Pak war.

The future history witnessed an important event of establishment of contact between the US and its adversary China. Pakistan was behind this development of friendly relations between the two countries. Henry Kissinger, then US foreign secretary, visited China in 1971. Subsequently, the then US President Richard Nixon paid visit to China in 1972.

In response, Pakistan again experienced stoppage of arms supply in Indo-Pak war of 1971. The bitter experience resulted in the dismemberment of Pakistan and its eastern wing emerged, as Bangladesh. Next was the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan and emergence of Pakistan’s status as so called front state.

Without the support of Pakistan, the United State would not have come out as victorious from Afghanistan. With the withdrawal of the Soviet forces from the occupied country, the US repeated its earlier attitude and turned its eyes away from Pakistan. Thus, the country that supported the anti Soviet forces in Afghanistan was left alone to face the Soviet wrath, Indian enmity and fragile political situation in Afghanistan.

The US behaviour created polarisation in the region of South Asia. Moreover, the Taliban installed their government in post Soviet Afghanistan. It left indelible impact on global politics. Soon, the US experienced unexpected terrorist strikes on September 9, 2001. The history has archived the attacks as 9/11.

The US again felt it needed Pakistan. The country supported the victim of terrorism in its war on terror by providing transit facilities and political support. Pakistan also permitted the US to use its two airbases. The US landed its forces along with allied forces under the flag of International Security Assistance Force. The force received transit facility provided by Pakistan. After 16 years of fight against terrorism on the land of Afghanistan, the US has failed to get any tangible achievements. Flying from fury, the US president held Pakistan responsible for providing safe havens to the terrorists and not taking action against terrorist organisations. The US is facing the consequences of inappropriate policy of Afghanistan and its failure to play role in resolving the main and important problems of Palestine and Kashmir.

The aforementioned two problems are based on two nation theory. The Palestinian problem must be solved on the basis of two nations. The Indo-Pakistan sub continent was separated on the basis of Two-Nation Theory. Kashmir problem is unfinished agenda of the partition that took place in August, 1947. The citizens of occupied Kashmir want to get emancipation from the clutches of India. The Palestinians also want to get a separate state. In case the citizens of both territories achieve their respective goals, it would be a loss of the countries that want to continue their rule on the basis of cruelty and suppression.

To sum up, the main challenge for the US-Pakistan relations is that how the US as a country and nation and as a country under Trump handles its foreign policy vis-a-vis Pakistan and other countries. 128 countries voted in support of the resolution tabled by Pakistan and other countries against the US decision of shifting its embassy from Tel Aviv to East Jerusalem. Even the main US bilateral and multilateral allies including Japan and the United Kingdom voted against the US decision.

The US president disliked the African countries seeking immigration to the US. Trump has reduced hardness of the US stand on North Korea and it seems that he is ready to have talks with the country. The US as a country and nation must think about possible repercussions if Trump continues to rule the United States for another three years.

The writer is an author and has a doctorate in Political Science

Published in Daily Times, January 17^th 2018.