ISLAMABAD – Pakistani Senator Mushahid Hussain, who heads the defenseaffairs committee of the upper house of parliament, told VOA his countryhas allowed U.S. and allied forces to undertake more than “one millionoverflights free of charge” since 2001 to conduct counterterrorism andother missions.
“The U.S. needs Pakistan more than we need it because of our location,because of our role and because of the options (available to Islamabad),”Hussain said. He was referring to Islamabad’s deepening ties with China,Turkey, Iran and improving relations with Russia.
The senator, however, noted that despite the latest strains in mutual ties,the GLOC and ALOC lines remain operational because Pakistan is committed tosupporting efforts to bring peace and stability to Afghanistan.
Pakistan is considered the safest and cheapest route to resupply NATOtroops. Other possible routes that go through Iran and central Asiancountries are more expensive and pass through a region Russia considers itsbackyard. Tensions between the United States and Russia have been highsince Moscow was accused of meddling in the 2016 U.S. presidentialelections.
“Without Pakistani cooperation, our army in Afghanistan risks becoming abeached whale,” wrote former U.S. diplomat Richard Olson in an articlefor The New York Times this week.
“Pakistan has greater leverage over us than many imagine,” noted Olson, whoserved as ambassador to Afghanistan and Pakistan before being appointed asU.S. special envoy for both the countries by the previous administration ofPresident Barack Obama.