After nearly a year of exchange of harsh words via twitter, US President Donald Trump and Pakistan’s Prime Minister Imran Khan are destined to meet this month on the latter’s first visit to Washington DC as PM. Both the leaders are hot headed and known to be ready to indulge in verbal duels, but both are defending their national interests. Imran Khan is a celebrity, a cricketing hero, who joined politics and by dint of hard work and struggles against corrupt politicians, managed to reach the pinnacle of his political career becoming the head of government in Pakistan.
Cricket is not played in the US, but Imran Khan’s fame precedes him. Donald Trump too on the other hand, is a celebrity. Besides being a billionaire and a business tycoon, he hosted a popular TV reality show for ages.
All eyes will be on both the leaders when they meet in July. Some analysts are expecting sparks to fly while others consider it to be a clash of the Titans. If contemporary history can serve as an example, one needs to view the summit between the outspoken South Korean Leader Kim Jong Un and the US President Donald Trump. Both had sparred with each other hurling invectives but when they finally met, they mellowed down and developed an unprecedented camaraderie.
Pak-US relations have had numerous ups and downs. In the near past, there have been too many skeletons in the cupboard. From the closest non-NATO ally, Pakistan descended to become the target of hostile threats. The Raymond Davis affair, elimination of Osama bin Laden from a compound in Pakistan’s military city of Abbottabad, the attack on Pakistan Army’s check post at Salalah, all in 2011 brought the bilateral ties to their lowest ebb. Pakistan retaliated by closing down US military bases on its territory and discontinuing the ground logistic lines of communication for NATO through Pakistan.
Donald Trump’s ascent to power in the US only worsened matters. His closeness to India, Pakistan’s arch rival and stopping of Pakistan’s Coalition Support Fund as well as development aid brought matters to a head.
Accusations of playing a double game, despite being a US ally, aiding and abetting the Afghan Taliban only sullied the waters. Donald Trump continued to echo the George W Bush mantra of “Do More”, much to the chagrin of Pakistan.
In the near past, Donald Trump has expressed a keen desire to withdraw US forces from Afghanistan. It cannot do so until the Taliban decide to smoke the peace pipe. Pakistan has been bringing the proverbial horse to the water but has failed to make it drink. The Taliban have had direct talks with the US as well as the Afghan Government but so far, no light has been visible at the end of the tunnel.
Accusations of playing a double game, despite being a US ally, aiding and abetting the Afghan Taliban only sullied the waters. Donald Trump continued to echo the George W Bush mantra of “Do More”, much to the chagrin of Pakistan
Imran Khan finally has the opportunity to meet Donald Trump face to face. He will have to curb his urge to shoot from the hip and instead impress upon the US President the efficacy of Pakistan’s peace plans for Afghanistan. The US needs guarantees from the Taliban that they will stop fighting and instead participate in a democratic process for transfer of power. The Taliban on the contrary insist on a complete withdrawal of US and other foreign forces from Afghanistan before laying down arms. The stalemate can be ended if Imran Khan provides guarantees.
Vis-à-vis India, Pakistan must not insist on an either-or relationship with the US. If Washington wants to woo India, it has the sovereign right to do so but not at the cost of Pakistan. If India can play a positive role in the reconstruction of Afghanistan, it may do so as long as it does not use Afghan territory for destabilizing Pakistan.
Iran-US tensions may be brought up where Imran Khan needs to tread carefully. It is essential that Pakistan does not appear before the US President as a beggar but rearrange Pak-US ties on an even keel maintaining Pakistan’s self-respect and standing firm.
Under the Narendra Modi government, attempts have been made to promote India as a regional power but at the cost of isolating Pakistan. Imran Khan has a grand opportunity to set the narrative straight and reiterate Pakistan’s geostrategic importance and how it can serve as a bridge between the Occident and the Orient. Pakistan’s close ties with China must be looked upon favourably and not become a millstone around its neck. Indo-Chinese rivalry and the trade war between the two economic giants is hurting no one but themselves. The US will emerge as the greater loser because the Chinese are past masters at the game of patience. They will not blink first. Minnow Pakistan can actually offer to mediate between the US and China, which will bring peace to the world and raise Pakistan’s esteem.
The writer is a retired Group Captain of PAF. He is a columnist