The new US envoy to Pak-Afghan region Marc Grossman has come at a time when relations between Pakistan and the US are at the lowest ebb. The hints thrown by Grossman regarding there being no business as usual till the release of Raymond Davis are not likely to improve the relations. Nor is the reiteration of the demand for urgent action in North Waziristan. Both sides need to realise each others difficulties, helping each other to overcome them with mutual co-operation instead of adding to their problems.
Pakistans economy is in bad shape. The coalition government is under pressure from the opposition both inside and outside the Parliament. Protests are taking place against gas and power shortages, unemployment and inflation. The government lacks the will to administer in one go the bitter dose prescribed by the IMF. Despite military operations in the tribal areas, acts of terrorism continue to take toll of human life while the rising wave of extremism has led to the killings of a provincial Governor and a federal minister. The problems Pakistan faces are in the main inherited from the past, though the governments record to set things right too remains dismal. Raymond Davis episode involving killings of three Pakistanis has roused patriotic fervour and the government would face grave consequences in case of a hasty decision.
Equally disturbing are the problems faced by the US in the region. The policy of surge aimed at putting an end to the Taliban momentum in Afghanistan has failed to achieve the objective. The continued presence of foreign troops combined with several incidents of the killing of civilians, the death of 9 children in a US air strike last week being the latest, has led to widespread protests and demands for US withdrawal. Washington is finding it difficult to continue its military presence in Afghanistan on account of mounting discontent at home and a war-weariness among its allies. But before the US leaves Afghanistan, it has to ensure that the country is no more a launching pad for terrorism abroad. For this, the nexus between Al Qaeda and Taliban has to be broken for good. This is simply unimaginable if relations between the US and Pakistan remain strained. The issue of Raymond Davis has to be resolved. However the US has to realise that any wrong step could lead to a convergence of all sorts of protests into one, endangering not only the government but also the system.
