For exact reasons unknown, Donald Trump is the new face of the American democracy and their commander-in-chief at least for the next four years, and maybe for eight. While everything that can be said about this political upset is being said, I do not intend to waste the time of the readers in fancy political discussions revolving around what-ifs and how-comes. The world as we know it has changed. Like 9/11, Trump’s presidency can usher in a new era of God knows what, and in these uncertain times our focus should be on coming up with a game plan to deal with this new reality.
Here are some ideas that might come in handy for our policy makers.
It is no secret that interests of Pakistan and America no longer converge. We have taken a policy decision of siding with China in the ongoing geopolitical tussle that is being played in our region and beyond, and consequently, the gulf between Islamabad and Washington is widening. On many issues of strategic importance, like our nuclear and missile programme, we have a difference of opinion that is increasing. Add to this our bid to join the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG), and our stance at the Conference of Disarmament in Geneva, where we are singlehandedly managing to block the Fissile Material Cutoff Treaty (FMCT) against the liking of the United States and its allies, and it becomes obvious that there isn’t much left in this relationship.
Had Hillary Clinton come to power we would have known exactly what talking points to expect in our future interactions with Americans. With Trump, however, the case might be a bit different. And we can use it to our advantage.
Those of us who complain that our message is not understood at the Capitol Hill can exploit this unique window of opportunity. If Trump is convinced that he will be his own boss, and that he will not listen to the establishment, we stand a chance to remake our arguments and try to explain our side of the story. Amidst the ever-rising Indian influence this may test the mettle and grit of our diplomats but this is a chance we should be willing to take. At worst, nothing would happen and our countries will keep on drifting apart. But if we are able to make inroads somehow, we might be able to reverse the decline in our relationship, and forge a new workable one where some kind of cooperation is possible.
We need to keep in mind that what Trump lacks in experience he makes up in energy. He has singlehandedly run his campaign and won it against all odds. He may not know how to govern, especially in a highly partisan environment such as Washington, but he will be willing to try new ideas just to prove that he knows more than those who run the crooked system. If we respect that we might be able to reap some advantages.
At the same time, Trump will need some time to settle down. It is not hard to imagine, therefore, that in his first couple of years he will be all over the place. Politicians who are rooting for him will mount the toughest challenge to his authority, because he is the biggest threat to their collective future. In his initial battles, where he will be looking to repeal the Obamacare, build a wall, do away with NAFTA and challenge China to a new trade war, our issues will naturally not be his top priority, and this augur well for us.
We have time to plan and make our moves in a calculated manner. This campaign has shown that as an individual Trump does not go deep into the issues and only scratches them at the surface. So if we play it smart and continue to recalibrate our narrative gradually in a way that he could understand it, we might be able to cultivate some space for ourselves in the new White House. Whenever we get a chance, our leaders and diplomats should try to impress upon him that as a player in the region we are useful, and that we can work together to achieve good results. If we complicate the matters, like we did with the previous administrations, he might lose interest and then the old establishment’s briefs will take over.
For this case we would also have to focus on our diaspora. The Pakistani community has a considerable voice in the United States, and we should mobilise them to not only protect their own interests but also promote our national goals.
Trump’s divisive rhetoric will give rise to growing Islamophobia, and the response of the Muslim community will be central in defining its impact. With Democrats and Mrs Clinton there was this hope that they would not use terms such as radical Islam or terrorist Islam. But Trump uses them because he is convinced that it is an issue, much like his support base. Instead of being fearful the Islamic community can deal with this issue upfront and counter the narrative. Perhaps betting on Democrats was not that good an idea, but with some effort the Republican thought can be shaped as well. As far as conservative thought goes, Muslims in America will find some issues where they will find Republicans their natural allies.
Days ahead will be difficult no doubt, but with tact and skill we can protect our core interests. Those who took Donald Trump lightly have learnt a lesson the hard way last Tuesday; we should learn from their mistakes.
The writer is a graduate of LUMS and currently serves as an MPA of Punjab. She tweets at @hinaparvezbutt