How long will we need to do-more?
Pakistan’s needs for economic development and national defence brought it closer to the US soon after its creation. Throughout the cold war the relations remained friendly though at times these led to complaints from Pakistan that what it had bargained for was friendship rather than patron-client relations. An overbearing attitude on the part of the stronger ally led to the creation of a negative perception among the people of Pakistan which has continued to persist and deepen.
It was hoped that with Obama in power the relations would transform from a transactional, security-focused arrangement into a deeper, strategic partnership. In the beginning there were initiatives such as the Kerry-Lugar civilian-focused aid and attempts to spur regional trade and productivity. As time passed Pakistan wanted to be credited for action against the terrorists. Washington however suspected that Islamabad targeted the networks which attacked it but spared others that trgeted the allied troops and Afghan nationals and posed danger to other countries. Consequently Security aid fell 73pc from nearly $1.3 billion in 2011 to $343m in 2015. Economic aid meanwhile declined from nearly $1.2bn in 2011 to $561m in 2015. Towards the end of Obama’s tenure military reimbursement of $300 million was blocked after US Secretary of Defense refused to certify that Pakistan was taking adequate action against the Haqqani network. Washington also canceled the planned sale of eight F-16 fighter jets at a cost of $270m to Pakistan demanding that Pakistan pay the actual cost of $700m.
Under the circumstances Ahsan Iqbal must be day-dreaming while hoping to establish stable and all weather relations with the United States similar to Islamabad’s ties with China. To end the freeze in relations between the two countries Pakistan needs to ensure zero tolerance for any network pursuing a terrorist agenda under any pretext. The lingering dispute around the detention of Dr Afridi too needs to be addressed at the earliest. The question is whether the government is willing to take the measures.