Relevance of Pakistan to the international community has been one of the most discussed geo-political topics for decades. More often than not, it is understood in terms of Pakistan-US relations and USA’s reliance on Pakistan’s support to pursue its geo-political interests in the regions. On the other hand, USA remains to be relevant for Pakistan in terms of economic progress, diplomatic leverage and strategic security balance in South Asian region. This way, USA’s relevance to Pakistan is, indeed, Pakistan’s reliance on her. Thus, degree of relevance of one is proportional to the state of reliance of the other.
The chronicle of reliance and relevance is spread over decades. Rest all is history. Today, Pakistan is again witnessing a brawl between its relevance and reliance. Pakistan legitimately looks across the prism of relevance for having sacrificed societal peace, state economy and myriads of human lives for allying with the US in its War on Terror.
Nevertheless, the US looks at the issue with an oblique eye. They rather think and talk in terms of the ‘dollars’ and ‘do more’. This has held Pakistan in a catch-22 at a delicate juncture of its existence with over 30,000 precious and innocent lives gone in the wrestle between terror and counter terror campaign, recorded economic loss of over US$ 60 billion, GDP growth virtually stalled, societal fibre fast decomposing and Pakistani international image deteriorated, to some beyond repair.
EHSAN MEHMOOD KHAN
Islamabad
