Need to disabuse Trump administration of its false notions
After nearly eight weeks of estrangement and distrust there are signs of marginal improvement in Pak-US relations. PM Abbasi’s meeting with VP Pence and FM Asif’s meeting with Secretary Tillerson have been followed by the visit by a high level inter-agency US delegation led by Lisa Curtis. Delegation level talks were held at Pakistan’s FO while the US officials also called on COAS Bajwa. Both the meetings reportedly went off well. That the delegation’s interaction with media at the US embassy was called off indicates that the US did not want divisive issues to be highlighted.
On Thursday Pakistan army, with the support of US intelligence, freed a US-Canadian couple and their three children from terrorist custody in Kohat as they were being brought from Afghanistan. The recovery was dubbed by President Trump as a “positive moment” in US-Pakistan relations. He maintained that Pakistan government’s cooperation was a sign that it was honouring America’s wishes for it to do more to provide security in the region. Further that he hoped to see this type of cooperation and teamwork in helping secure the release of remaining hostages and in future joint counter-terrorism operations. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said the US expressed “deep gratitude” to Pakistan.
What one sees happening is an initial attempt by both the US and Pakistan to try to improve their transactional relations. While this has to be supported, there is an equal need not to be carried away and develop unrealistic expectations from the moves. Washington still remains wedded to tying up Afghanistan with its South Asia policy. What is more the US opposes the Chinese One Belt, One Road initiative and looks at the CPEC from Indian perspective maintaining that it passes through disputed territory. Pakistan will have to persuade Washington patiently that CPEC has existential importance for Pakistan’s economy and that the Afghan insurgency can be put down only through peaceful talks with the Taliban. What is more the US is to be urged to help resolve the Kashmir issue to ensure a stable and prosperous South Asia.
