ISLAMABAD – A lot is going on in Pakistani-US relations: There was USPresident Donald Trump’s New Year’s tweet and various American attempts toput link>link>Pakistanlink> on the globalterrorist-financing watch list. More recently the Trump administrationimposed sanctions on seven Pakistani firms for supposedly nuclear trading,thus minimizing link>link>Pakistanlink> ‘s chances of joining theNuclear Suppliers Group. The list of events which point to a widening riftbetween the US and link>link>Pakistanlink> is growing.
Nonetheless, the government of link>link>Pakistanlink>maintains workable ties with theUS although relations are not as good as before. The past 70 years’experience of relations with Washington has engendered distrust among thepeople of link>link>Pakistanlink> . The increased cooperationbetween the two countries which was overwhelming at the start of the newcentury and link>link>Pakistanlink> ‘s status as a close ally ofthe US has faded away over time. It took Islamabad a long time to realizethat Washington cannot be a trusted ally, and that proved to be a turningpoint in link>link>Pakistanlink>’s foreign policy.
There has been a visible change inlink>link>Pakistanlink> ‘s foreign policy since 2007when, disappointed by the US, it extended a friendly hand to Russia. Beforethat the country had pursued a stable monotonous foreign policy fordecades, where good relations with the US, China and Saudi Arabia were thepriorities.
Since 2007, there has been remarkable progress in ties between Moscow andIslamabad. At the same time a series of foreign visits started wherePakistani leaders were going all over the world seeking partners. Thediversification of link>link>Pakistanlink> ‘s foreign policy continues andthere will be more partner countries for Islamabad than today.
On March 21, a Pakistan-Russia joint working group meeting on terrorism washeld in Islamabad. Both countries not only expressed concern over thegrowing IS threat in Afghanistan, but also agreed to continue cooperationfor the eradication of terrorism and extremism from the region. The workinggroup meeting signifies an improvement in Russia-Pakistan relations. Bothcountries increased cooperation in energy, counterterrorism, defense andtechnology. As relations betweenlink>link>Pakistanlink>and the US cool, Moscow andIslamabad are coming closer to each other.
Pakistan-Russia relations are often viewed through the lens of the ColdWar. However, there is much more to bilateral ties than the Cold War. Therehave been regional strategic developments coupled with a change in foreignpolicies of the two countries. Moscow and Islamabad have enjoyed a stablerelationship for the past few years.
There is visible improvement. Step by step advances are laying thefoundations for sustainable ties. Several intergovernmental agreementsexist between the two, which include cooperation in counterterrorism,trade, energy and military. Russia on occasion has openly supportedlink>link>Pakistanlink> ‘s counter-terrorism policiesand realizes the sacrifices the people oflink>link>Pakistanlink> have given in their war againstterrorism. At the same time Beijing-Islamabad ties continue to prosper.
Trump may be tough on link>link>Pakistanlink> and will issue harshstatements, but the fact remains that it is not easy even for the US tojust alienate a strategically located Asian country. The US keeps an eye onhow link>link>Pakistanlink> is fostering ties with bigpowers such as Russia and China and would not wantlink>link>Pakistanlink> to slip out of its area ofinfluence. Keeping in view US-Russia ties, where both countries areexpelling each other’s diplomats and ties are becoming increasinglystressed day by day, it would not be wise for Washington to pushlink>link>Pakistanlink> away.
On the other hand, link>link>Pakistanlink> does not intend to completelydisengage from the US. Russia orlink>link>Pakistanlink> ‘s all-weather friend Chinacannot be a substitute for the US. For the promotion of its nationalinterests a balanced policy is adopted where Islamabad is working withRussia, China and the US. “We are willing to work with all officials withan open mind and open heart,” saidlink>link>Pakistanlink> ‘s Ambassador to the US AizazAhmad Chaudhary.
The recent stand by the US againstlink>link>Pakistanlink> is on the issue of terrorism.Washington needs to carry out an analysis based on the ground realities ofthe country.
Islamabad has been engaged in a war against terrorism for more than adecade and has paid a huge price. The war has damaged its economy. A moresensible solution calls for the US to provide more resources to empower thecountry to fight terrorism. Punitive measures will result in furtherweakening of the state and link>link>Pakistanlink>will not be able to fightterrorists as effectively.
In this critical time, Islamabad needs the international community’ssupport rather than being left alone. A stablelink>link>Pakistanlink> can play a much greater role inpeace in Afghanistan and the region. – Global Times
By: Aftab Hussan. *The author is a research scholar of internationalrelations based in Shanghai. **aftabhussein@hotmail.com *