ISLAMABAD: US-Pakistan relations are heading towards a difficult phaseunder Pakistan’s new government as Imran Khan’s demand for relations basedon equality will be met with staunch opposition from Trump administration.

These were the views of noted US Muslim leader and philanthropist FrankIslam, who had previously worked with Obama administration on South Asiaaffairs. Frank shared these views in an email interview with The News.

Frank, a graduate of Aligarh Muslim University who keenly follows Muslimbelieves Pakistan’s future prime minister Imran Khan wants a mutuallybeneficial relationship with the US. “It is my understanding, afterconferring with experts that Imran Khan wants to push the reset button andstart all over in terms of Pakistan-US relations. In past, Khan has beenvery critical of US involvement in Afghanistan and wants it out of there asquickly as possible,” Franks said adding that Khan does not understand howthe US can call Pakistan an ally and then bomb it with drones.

“If my understanding is correct, I believe that Khan’s views and approachwould be a non-starter with the Trump administration. I believe the USwould want to negotiate a modified approach from a position of strength,”Frank said.

He said any proposed change that reduces US influence without gettingsomething meaningful in return would be met with staunch resistance. “I saythis not as an administration spokesperson but as my personal insights assomeone who is fairly knowledgeable on this topic,” Frank said.

The US-Muslim leader said he was aware that Pakistan and the US have had anon-again off-again relation dating back to 1947 when the US was one of thefirst countries in the world to establish diplomatic ties with Pakistan.

President Trump’s tweet at the beginning of the year regarding the aid thatthe US has “foolishly given” to Pakistan over the past fifteen yearsfollowed by a suspension of military aid have made those relationsoff-again.

He said the relations between the two countries are attenuated and for themto strengthen would require serious diplomacy from both the US andPakistan. Frank is an expert on Muslim affairs in the United States as heserves on a number of boards and advisory councils including the KennedyCenter for the Performing Art, the JFK Library, American University inEmirates, Marymount University, John Hopkins University, and the BrookingsInstitution.

While talking about influence of the US-Muslims on the US policies, Frankssaid there are two Muslim representatives in the US House, Keith Ellisonand Andre Carson. “That’s only 2 out of 435. I also know through personalinvolvement that American Muslims contribute to political campaigns andprovide input into policy papers for both parties.”

However, he said there is no major formal coordinated lobbying being doneby American Muslims as a unified group. There are groups by country such asthe Indian American Muslim Council and the American Muslims for Palestine.

“I have not had direct contact with either of these groups. But, I do notbelieve them to be very influential. Bottom line is that I think theAmerican Muslim influence is more individual than it is an organised effortand as a result the influence is fragmented and modest at best. I dobelieve that the influence was much better with the prior administrationthan this one,” Frank said.

He said the Trump administration’s “Muslim ban” and other statements by thePresident Trump have definitely made the Muslim world view the US in adifferent and less positive light. Frank was born in India and moved to USat the age of fifteen to go to college at the University of Colorado inBoulder.

“Growing up in India had an enormous impact on the person I am today. It’sthere that I learned lessons from my motherland, my faith, my family, myhome city of Azamgarh, and Aligarh Muslim University,” he said.

“Being a Muslim has taught me many things – but the most important one isthat the whole purpose of religion is to provide justice and a path tojustice for all of us. My faith firmly believes in equality, dignity,compassion, respect, tolerance, justice and peace for other faiths,” hesaid.

Frank recently donated $2.5 million to Aligarh Muslim University (AMU). Hesaid AMU helped him with the basic building blocks to become a successfulentrepreneur, to assume serious responsibilities, and most importantly, tobecome a passionate leader. “Aligarh provided me with an excellenteducation. AMU shaped my story and determined my destiny. AMU is a preciouspossession. Its principles have always guided me during times of calm andcrisis,” he said.