Daily Times

During his visit to the The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) 73 Session, the Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi had an additional burden to bear that is of, resetting the ties between Pakistan and the US. Ever since the independence of Pakistan, Pak-US relations have been on a roller coaster ride, witnessing many enthralling ups and devastating downs. With a missing full-time foreign minister in the previous government and with Trump as the president of US, who has already put world peace at stake by boasting about the ‘Nuclear Button’ on his table and more recently by threatening the KSA’s government. Upon assuming power, President Trump accused Pakistan of having safe havens for terrorists. Moreover, he recently, suspended military aid for Pakistan and also cutting it out of the military training program. While Pakistan has always tried to have a relation of mutual respect, the US has always used its strategic alliance as a scapegoat for its own failures in the war on terror. In addition to this, setting up anti-Pakistan strategies from time to time; by consolidating its military and economic ties with India in search for new allies in the region which was in-order to hinder the rise of China and the success of CPEC. All this resulted in nothing but ruining the Pak-US relations.

Pompeo expressed Washington’s desire to work with the new government in Islamabad for the peace process and for stability in the region. Moreover, the US Senator did not not only appreciate Pakistan’s effort and the progress it made in the rugged and remote tribal belt, but also expressed the desire to lead a delegation to Pakistan in the near future

Nevertheless, in today’s world, the concept of permanent interests have taken over the concept of permanent friends among nations; therefore, the tension between the two countries needs to be addressed with proper dialogues, and talks which are in the mutually beneficial for both the players, if they want a permanent solution to Afghanistan issue. US troops, even with the most advanced warfare gear, they are targeted by the Taliban forces. Thus, the US takes out its frustration on Pakistan, it is a consolidated fact that the future of Pak-US relation is dependent on Afghanistan’s situation. The meddling role of India in Kabul which is endorsed by Washington has only fueled the fire, as the ground realities of Pakistan’s role since 1980, and its ties with Afghanistan were entirely ignored by the US. The deterioration Pakistan faced was severe as it lost more than $ 120 billion and sacrificed more than 70 thousand precious lives. Furthermore, it provided refuge to 3.5 million war torn Afghanis which further drained the economy and worsened the law and order situation with an increase in crime. After the 17 years of war on terror and the turmoil Pakistan faced, the newly elected Premier thus vowed that “Pakistan will not fight the wars of others” while standing in GHQ in commemoration of the Defense Day.

Recently, the Foreign Minister held meetings with the US State Secretary Mike Pompeo, the US National Security Advisor John Bolton and a US Senator Lindsey Graham, separately. Even though not much was cultivated from these sessions, yet they are considered as a great break-through and the effort is as leading towards a positive trajectory in Pak-US ties. Both the countries have considered it as the need of the hour, to reinstate bilateral relations among both countries and agree to a reconciliation process for stability in Afghanistan. While Pompeo expressed Washington’s desire to work with the new government in Islamabad for the peace process and stability in the region. Moreover, the US Senator did not not only appreciate Pakistan’s effort and the progress it made in the rugged and remote tribal belt, but also expressed the desire to lead a delegation to Pakistan in the near future. It is important that both the countries utilize this opportunity and revive the bilateral ties by honestly working towards mutual prosperity. It is tough to do so but will be even tougher not to, because strained relations are not in the favour of both the countries.

The writer is a research based analyst from Islamabad. He can be reached at: bilalazizawan92@gmail.com

Published in Daily Times, October 14^th 2018.