WASHINGTON – Relations between Pakistan and the United States are marked by“irreconcilable” differences but both countries need each other and want tokeep channels open to cooperate on tactical matters and ensure linkages, aWashington Post report said quoting foreign policy experts.
Ties between the two countries have come under stress after President Trumpaccused Pakistan of not fully cooperating in the fight against terrorismand the US State Department announced to withhold security assistance tothe country which has been on the forefront of the global fight againstterrorism.
Foreign policy experts say that both the countries have now realized thatthere are irreconcilable differences when it comes to strategic goals butthey need each other and need to work on tactical matters and maintainlinkages.
Without quoting any sources, the WP report said that there had beencontacts at military and diplomatic levels in recent weeks and theofficials have been able to partly “patched things up.”
Analysts say that both the countries have acknowledged differences thatare incompatible but at the same time accepted that both need to worktogether to achieve common goals.
Citing examples of divergent strategic interests, the report said thatIndia is Pakistan’s long-time rival but the US sees its an emerging“democratic partner and strategic ally.”
“They have given up on strategic convergence, but they want to keep thechannels open so they can cooperate on tactical matters and ensure therelationship does not totally rupture,” the WP report said quoting MoeedYusuf, a South Asia expert at the U.S. Institute for Peace in Washington.
Pakistan has strongly denied accusation that it is discriminating indealing with terrorist groups. There have been several military operationsin recent years which have forced terrorist groups to flee to neighbouringAfghanistan from where they are plotting actions and terrorist activities.
“There is no panic in Islamabad – rather, a carefully calibrated, matureand unemotional response to the US move to cut-off aid,” the paper saidquoting Senator Mushahid Husssain, who warned that America’s “bellicosity”and its increasing ties with India could trigger a new Cold War.
The report said that there had been high-lever quiet contacts between thetwo countries citing recent visits by US officials, including Gen Joseph LVotel, commander of the U.S. Central Command who, it said, told themilitary leadership that the current “turbulence” in bilateral relationswas a “temporary phase.”
Foreign policy experts and diplomats have also advised the two countries tokeep their channels open and accept the ground realities that bothcountries need to cooperate for pragmatic reasons.
The report quoted a recent article by Richard Olson, an ex-ambassador toPakistan, who cautioned that US sanctions would not work given the size ofPakistan’s military strength and its national pride. He also warned thatthe US was depended on Pakistan to transport supplies to its troops inAfghanistan and if Islamabad cut those road linkages, the US military couldbecome a “beached whale.”
A senior US State Department also visited Pakistan recently as part ofefforts to “mend fences,” the report said, adding that the message fromthese high-level contacts is that both countries should not close doors foreach other even if they have divergent strategic interests.