Growing Pak-US trust deficit

Pakistan OBSERVER, Tue, Aug,21, 2007.

Pervaiz Iqbal Cheema

Contradictory statements by American officials, electioneering point securing tussle, the undesired Pakistan specific legislation, the inability to completely  eliminate Al Qaeda, utter failure in establishing peace in Afghanistan, double standards and dual policies for two different countries in the same region, unusual aggressive behavior of American media, excessively bending over to please India in an attempt to reward a proliferator, readily buying Afghan governments interpretation of the border situation are just some of the recent developments that have taken an excessive toll of Pakistan-US relations and facilitated the rising trust deficit.

It is a well known fact that the Americans have never been able to comprehend the intensity of feelings of the Indians and the Pakistanis towards each other. The adopted policy towards the region often lacked the desired level of balance. Admittedly nations strengthen relations among themselves in congruence with the dictates of their national interests. It is a generally accepted notion that a policy pursuit in an area where the two countries are deeply locked in hostile relationships, an outsider has not just to be extremely careful in treading the chosen path but also the approach needs to be balanced. 

The American approach, over the years, has become glaringly one sided which has already caused considerable erosion of the existing trust between the US and Pakistan. Compared to US, Pakistan’s record as a partner of an alliance or a larger grouping has been far more impressive. However one needs to mention here that all partnerships tend to cater for the common needs of the partners though the interpretations may vary. 

Among the above mentioned recent developments that have taken a relatively heavier toll of the existing level of trust than others include US-India nuclear deal, the passage of Pressler type Pakistan specific recent American legislation, unwise utterances by the American Presidential hopefuls and excessive pressurization of Pakistan to do more with regard to Afghanistan’s situation deserve some comments. 

Undoubtedly the Indo-US nuclear deal reflects American double standards and duel policy pursuits which have taken probably a large toll of Pakistan-US existing trust. Not only the US bent backwards to secure the deal and also changed its own laws to accommodate the Indians but also totally destroyed the existing Non-Proliferation regime. The deal struck a death blow to the NPT regime. In addition the deal recognized India as a nuclear weapon state though the American officials keep denying it. 

No amount of rational arguments against the deal has been able to influence the policy makers of the US in this area. Many observers, both in the west and in the region, have pointed its dangerous regional implications but none has cut ice with the US policy makers. Obsessed with making India as a counterpoise to China, Washington has bent backward to secure the deal at an enormous cost and dangerous future implications. 

It is generally believed that India will squeeze maximum out of deal and will not allow itself to use against China in some substantive way.  Already the Indians have categorically stated that decision to conduct further testing would be entirely with Indian authorities. If and when they feel the need for it, they would conduct the test. The Indians have already made it clear in the parliament that such a decision would always be with Indians and not be constrained by outsider’s pressures. Some Indians are already advancing the argument that the123 Agreement has allowed India indirectly to conduct nuclear tests. 

The second source for trust-erosion is the recent passage of Pakistan specific legislation already being referred as another infamous Pressler law. The fact that the President Bush has already signed it implied and interpreted by some that administration was on board. Consequently many Pakistanis are already disillusioned with the Americans. Some have even gone to the extent of reminding the Pakistanis how they were let down by the Americans in 1962, 1965, 1971, and1990. 

Perhaps the development that has invoked strong reaction and anger among the Pakistanis revolves around the unwise statements given by some American Presidential hopefuls. While the incumbent administration tried to brush these statements aside by stressing those electioneering statements do not matter all that much, some other Presidential candidates expressed far more appropriate criticism than the administration. Such statements only reflect the deterioration of decency level among the American candidates. 

To dismiss the threatening statements by Presidential hopefuls as electioneering gimmicks does not seem appropriate. In fact these statements, in many ways, are reflective of American concerns. Some of them do feel that regrouping Al-Qaeda could pose a genuine threat to US. Cognizant of American’s inability to anticipate a tragic event like the 9/11 along with America failure in total elimination of Al-Qaeda, some American intelligence agencies are over projecting the likely threat and Presidential hopeful are merely employing such threats for their own electioneering pursuits. 

What needs to be asserted here is that reports published in American leading paper also indicated that the national intelligence estimates were actually doctored in order to generate pressures on Pakistan. There is nothing unusual about it as intelligence agencies often doctor reports to have their agenda made more palatable. However what needs to be stressed here is that while most Pakistanis can comprehend American concerns emanating from Al Qaeda’s activities, why the Americans can’t comprehend Pakistani concerns in Afghanistan that are the product of nefarious activities of the Indian Consulates in Afghanistan. Not a single American official or the legislator or the candidates has ever touched upon it. 

The fourth factor that is eating up the carefully built trust between Pakistan and US revolves around the excessive pressurization of Pakistan to do more. There are no two opinions that Pakistan has contributed much more in the war against terrorism than all other members of International Coalition-a fact that has been repeatedly acknowledged by the American administration though in slightly different form- yet Pakistan finds itself subject of American criticism and pressurization. Besides, the unnecessary application of pressures on Pakistan is causing embarrassment to the incumbent government. 

Many opposition leaders have frequently and vociferously stated that Pakistani government is easily influenced by the dictates of the Americans. The frequent visits of American officials not only further cement this belief but also provide ammunition for somewhat unjustifiable criticism. If such American policy pursuits continue, it would not be out of order to assume that not only serious re-thinking regarding relationships with Americans is initiated but also to prevent the rapid erosion of the existing trust would pose enormous difficulties.

The writer works for Islamabad Policy research Institute.