The suspension of $800m, which is around a third of the annual US security aid to Pakistan, must not come as a surprise. The growing rift between Washington and Islamabad was evident and it was expected that there would be some unwelcoming decisions from both sides. Though the suspension is a big decision for both the countries, yet it will not stop the Pakistan army’s efforts to curb extremism and militancy in the tribal belt.
While talking about the aid suspension in a television programme, the White House Chief of Staff William Daley also accepted that Pakistan had been “an important ally in the fight against terrorism. They’ve been the victim of enormous amounts of terrorism”. This is one of the dual standards of the US administration that they accept that Pakistan has also been a victim of terrorism and it is doing its job to counter it, but they don’t understand Pakistan’s ground realities.
Now, the US is using more stick than carrot tactics with Pakistan to get its ‘demands’ fulfilled. Even the US media is reporting that the recent aid suspension is “a move to chasten Pakistan for expelling American military trainers and to press its army to fight militants more effectively”. The growing demands by the US will not lead to a healthy compromise between the two allies on the war against terrorism. It is a high time for our leadership to take some serious and long overdue decisions with regards to the future of Pak-US ties.
ATIF K BUTT
Lahore
