Pakistan’s founder, Mohammad Ali Jinnah, was convinced about the strategic importance of Pakistan. In an interview a month after independence in 1947, Margaret Bourke-White of Life magazine painted a vivid picture of Jinnah’s expectations: “‘Pakistan is the pivot of the world, as we are placed’ — Jinnah revolved his long forefinger in circles — ‘on which the future position of the world revolves.’”
He was not very wrong in his assessment as the west has always remained interested in it and hardly anything has changed. USA and West despite being aware of Pakistan’s duplicity with terrorists and what it is upto, still prefers to walk with them.
Although, President Joe Biden had abandoned Afghanistan two years ago, it was a matter of time that Pakistan would use its strategic leverage to once again win concessions from the U.S as has been happening for past 70 years.
It took just One Year
It did not take great brains to predict as to how things would move, after US senator Ms Ilhan Omar, from Biden’s Democratic Party, visited Pakistan , a year ago and commented "Kashmir should get more attention from the United States." Thereafter, US invited Bilal Bhutto , the young foreign minister of Pakistan to US where he met the US Secy of States, Mr Blinken when the Indian PM was busy in Quad summit at Tokyo. Then came the news that Pakistan has met all the conditions of The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) and will probably be out of the Grey list and then it was followed up with the F 16 deal, giving a stupid justification, that it is being done to bolster Pakistan’s ability for counter terrorism. And now a year later of start of this cozying up process, the US Ambassador to Pakistan visits POK and calls it Azad Kashmir.
Although the Indian Foreign minister Dr Jaishankar, expressed his sentiments as strongly as he could, but it is not likely to make much difference to the US-Pakistan relations. He said “ For someone to say I am doing this because it is all counter-terrorism content and so when you are talking of an aircraft like a capability of an F-16 where everybody knows, you know where they are deployed and their use. You are not fooling anybody by saying these things."
Thereafter, when asked about the US-Pakistan relationship he once again without mincing his words said "Very honestly, it's a relationship that has neither ended up serving Pakistan well, nor serving the American interests. So, it is really for the United States today to reflect on what the merits of this relationship are and what do they get by it."
So, despite all the noise of isolating Pakistan, once again, we are back to square one, where we began. UK is playing cricket with them these days in Pakistan and Australian team had also just finished their tour and Pakistan has cleared its backyard – Afghanistan- and has acquired , what it always desired ; Strategic depth. On top of that, when asked about the opposition by Indian Government on the F16 deal, the U.S. State Department spokesperson Ned Price said ; “ The United States had independent relations with India and Pakistan. The relationship we have with India stands on its own; the relationship we have with Pakistan stands on its own, we also want to do everything we can to see to it that these neighbours have relations with one another that are as constructive as can be possible."
In view of the above, when we look at the US-PAKISTAN and US - India relations, there are a few aspects that stand out ;
1. International politics is all about interests, after all we are also supporting Russia in the war against Ukraine, because of our national interests. So, it’s pointless to speak harshly against USA because, US also has its own strategic interests. The Pot ( We) cannot call the kettle black.
2. Symbolism does not work, it may help in domestic politics to get votes and few applauds on Whatsapp, but in International politics, it may cause more harm. In order to negotiate your way, through the rough waters of International politics one needs to use the oars sensibly, as one scholar had put across wisely ; The oars give power but also teach humility. What it actually implies is - one does not have to be blunt to an extent of insulting others publicly or in a condescending manner, tighten your jaws, clench your fists and show off your muscles, inorder to prove that You are a tough leader. Even a most mild-mannered guy can be a tough leader and a tough negotiator. In this modern era, courtesy all the intelligence gathering capabilities, nothing is hidden from your adversary, so its futile to show off.
3. Pakistan‘s efforts to use its leverage as a US ally, to resolve Kashmir conflict might not have been successful but it will be foolish to believe that after the abolition of article 370, the Kashmir dispute is over, rather it might have just taken a new turn .
4. It would be wrong to consider that US- Pakistan relationship has neither served Pakistan well nor served the American interests. As a matter of fact, had it not served their interests they would not have been cozying up again ;-
A. US and Pakistan compelled Russia to withdraw from Afghanistan and Pakistan has successfully used US as leverage against China.
B. The United States has long been Pakistan’s largest export market.
C. The United States has also been a leading investor in Pakistan for the past 20 years. In recent years, U.S. direct investment in Pakistan has increased by 50 percent. Major U.S. investments are concentrated in consumer goods, chemicals, energy, agriculture, business process out-sourcing, transportation, and communications. Undoubtedly, United States would like to deepen commercial ties with Pakistan.
D. Pakistan is located at the door step of most disturbed areas and oil rich countries hence, indisputably it will play an important role towards attaining global peace and also safe transit of crucial resources.
Conclusion.