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In the historical perspective Pakistan’s relations with the United States have
been described as a transactional relationship shaped by Real-politik.
PACTS
Victory of communists in China and the Korean War led to concerns in the US
that eventually South Asia could fall prey to communism. The advent of the
Republican administration in 1952 meant greater emphasis on global security by
the projection of American power.
India was the first one to be courted by the US to become a part of the US
policy of containment. When India refused because it feared that the presence of
big powers in South Asia would challenge its own regional aspirations, Pakistan
was invited to join the alliances.
Pros:
Cons:
The 60s brought change in the regional and global security landscape and a
divergence of interests between Pakistan and the US.
Globally, détente between US and the Soviet Union reduced the importance of
Pakistan; Regionally, India-China War of 1962 inclined the US towards India;
Advancement in missile technology reduced need for bases; Coming to power
of the Democratic Party in the US led to greater emphasis on political and
economic engagement abroad rather than Pacts where it was felt that the
security interests of the member states were not well aligned as was the case
with NATO.
b. Unsuccessful ministerial level talks with India on Kashmir Dec ’62 to May
’63.
c. Operation Gibraltar, Pakistan-India War 1965, Tashkent Accord and the Fall-
out on Pakistan and Pakistan-US relations.
President Nixon was pro-Pakistan, but Congress and media un-sympathetic and
the relationship of the 50s could not be revived in the 70s.
c. The UN too could not prevent the disintegration of the country by another
state.
Bhutto and the US. Attempts to revive ties and the nuclear program
Reprocessing Plant deal with France; 1976 meeting with Kissinger; Offer of US
military assistance in case nuclear program given up; sanctions under the
Symington and Glenn amendments.
- Roller-coaster relationship
9/11 to date.
9/11 at the instigation of AQ and a UNSC resolution adopted under Chapter VII
of the UN Charter had given US the right to act in self-defense. AQ in
Afghanistan-Fatwa against US; attack on the USS ‘Cole”; attack on US
embassies in Kenya and Tanzania. International public and governmental
opinion stood alongside the US.
b. Place Pakistan alongside pariah states North Korea, Iraq and Iran
If Pakistan went alongwith the US and the UNSC resolution it would have to:
d. Accept US demands
In the process sanctions would be lifted, it would be in the global mainstream
and in receipt of military and economic assistance
c. it would agree with the demands in principle but would gradually modulate
its position in accordance with its interests
The policy worked initially. Sanctions lifted; Portion of debt written off;
Substantial economic and military assistance; High-level visits; Prestige
enhanced; Indian strategy and propaganda blunted; Kerry-Lugar-Berman Act-
October 2009; Unforeseen huge benefit-Pakistan saved from sanctions A Q
Khan network.
But with the passage of time the backlash from the US presence in Afghanistan
and that of the Pakistan army in FATA became very severe.
The Pushtun Taliban which the US dislodged from Kabul had support among
the Pushtuns of FATA on ethnic considerations. Even AQ had support in FATA
from the days of fighting the Soviet army. Since Pakistan had agreed to interdict
the insurgents at its border with Afghanistan, for the first time in its history, it
sent its army into the tribal areas, where it has come into conflict with those
opposed to the US presence in Afghanistan. These included Pakistanis, Afghans
and AQ elements. This operation has had a tremendous backlash.
In the initial stages up till 2004 the relationship went off smoothly. But then
cracks appeared. The Taliban revived and became a force in Afghanistan;
militant organizations proliferated with many directing their anger at the
Pakistani state; others targeted US and Afghan forces from Pakistani soil; the
US wanted Pakistan to curb this, but Pakistan was constrained by limited
capability and strategy; it is believed that at present there are 52 different
militant organizations in Pakistan; Human and material costs for Pakistan in the
War on Terror.
a. US did not induct sufficient forces to completely rout the Taliban. They
outsourced this task to the Northern Alliance which did a wishy-washy job.
b. Pakistan did not interdict the Taliban when they were escaping into Pakistan.
c. Both the US and the Karzai government in Afghanistan rebuffed the Taliban
when they desired reconciliation
e.2011 was a particularly bad year for Pak US ties; Raymond Davis affair;
Killing of OBL; US attack on Salala check post; Drones; Faisal Shahzad; Trust
deficit; Anti-Americanism; Banning of the Haqqani network.
a. Afghanistan does not revert back to the pre-9/11 situation as the center of
religious extremism and radicalism
b. Pakistan does not allow its territory to be used to launch attacks on Afghan
forces
c. Pakistan does not promote and use jihadi organizations to realize its foreign
policy goals
d. Pakistan’s nuclear assets are safe and secure and it adheres to non-
proliferation
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