Current US Policy towards Pakistan

The POST, Sun, May,11, 2008.

Pervaiz Iqbal Cheema

While delivering a talk on ‘US Policy towards Pakistan’ at the National Endowment for Democracy US Deputy Secretary of State John Negroponte, highlighted many significant aspects of American policy which have been interpreted differently by different sections of society both in US as well as in Pakistan.. The main crux of his talk was that American security is closely linked with the success, security and stability of Pakistan. ‘Pakistan is a vitally important nation. It is world’s third most populous Muslim state. It is nuclear power and it is situated in a strategically crucial neighborhood on India, Iran, Afghanistan and China. And it is a front-line state in the battle against terrorism’, he remarked.

The talk was followed by a question answer session. It is interesting to note that Mr. Negroponte clearly highlighted that for decades the US did not have a relationship with Pakistan that took in the whole panorama of American priorities. Consequently the relationship has not been as strategic as they could have been and has been more prone to being easily disrupted.

He then stressed that ‘it is necessary to build comprehensive partnership not only with the Government of Pakistan but with the Pakistani people’, he said. ‘By pursuing a comprehensive partnership with Pakistan, we will be better able to address many individual issues in our relationships and to promote the success of our shared values in a strategically vital region’, he remarked. He recognized that ‘Pakistan’s transition to democracy presents an opportunity for the people of both countries to forge enduring partnership that would secure both societies’.

According to John Negroponte the Pakistanis have courageously rejected violent extremists in favor of moderate, democratic political forces committed to economic development and rule of law. He stressed that the partnership must be long-term, substantial and comprehensive. ‘In this effort, promoting education, good governance, economic development and rule of law in Pakistan are as important as our military and security cooperation. The surest way to suffocate violent extremism is to build a strong, prosperous, and democratic Pakistani society’, he said.

He stressed that military cooperation would continue to remain an important feature of partnership for reasons related specifically to the war on terrorism and more generally to the value of cultivating good relations with regional powers. He highlight the disconnect between the two militaries that was experienced during the 90s caused a certain amount estrangement which is now being overcome and ways are being explored to increase military exchanges and training programs to reengage Pakistani military.

His final remarks covered to help Pakistan and Afghanistan develop fruitful links with each other including an intensified Pakistan-Afghanistan dialogue on border security and developing close economic relations between Pakistan, Afghanistan and their neighbors.’ Together Pakistan and Afghanistan could form an economic bridge between Southeast Asia, the Persian Gulf and central Asia.

Responding to a question regarding the existing perception that US micromanages Pakistan affairs, Mr. Negroponte suggested that US is susceptible to such charges in areas where US is involved in assistance activities or had strong strategic interests. He also highlighted that some visits invoke strong commotion while others may not. He referred to his own visit as the one that invoked commotion whereas his visit was preceded by Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff which did not invoke any reaction. However he stressed that the best way to avoid such charges is to carry out policies that serve the mutual interests and try to develop consensus for moving onward.

On FATA there were few questions referring to and implying the existence of Al Qaeda Safe havens, Taliban sanctuaries, extremism and attacks on Afghanistan, Mr. Negroponte clearly stated in his initial statement and in response to questions that US would not be satisfied until all the violent extremism emanating from FATA is brought under control.
Undoubtedly the US official was urging Pakistan to establish its writ quickly. But it needs to be stressed here that we in Pakistan would also like to see an early advent of stability in the troubled parts of FATA.

It needs to be pointed out here that in my perception some of the assertions made by the above mentioned official were not communicated to Pakistani government as warnings. This was one point of view expressed by an important American government official. We, in Pakistan, are just as much concerned with the developments in FATA as some outsiders may be. It does not mean that we accept their interpretation. We have to assess on our own and make policy that is suitable to guard and advance out national interests. Admittedly one pay attention to a partner’s concern but this does not imply abandonment of one’s own interests and pursuits.

Indeed both US and Pakistan appear to be looking after their national interests. Mr. Negroponte had also expressed that national interests of two countries are rarely identical but the basic purpose of diplomacy is to try to find out convergence areas and then build upon it. He acknowledged that US and Pakistan has enough convergence of interests which can form a sound basis to move forward.

A cursory review of his talk and response to questions does not really raise alarm bells. Mr. Negroponte appears to have given his interpretation of the situation in FATA and stressed that the Americans would continue to help Pakistan and Afghanistan develop fruitful links with each other. However what I found missing in the entire talk and subsequent discussion that no one from the American side even expressed one sentence that could reveal or come close to revealing the American inability to inject stability in Afghanistan. The underneath belief continues to reflect that if Pakistan is able to establish its writ in FATA everything would turn out to be goody -goody within a short time. Realistic interpretation clearly points to many faults of past US Afghan policy.

The writer works for Islamabad Policy research Institute.