- A good visit
As expected, the much-anticipated visit to the US by Prime Minister Imran Khan ended on a positive note. The meeting with the President as well as the meetings on the sidelines were a much-needed breather in the not-so-cordial relations between the two countries. PM Imran’s demeanour throughout the trip, particularly during his meeting with Donald Trump, was quite positive and relaxed which did give out the right message.
As opposed to reading out paper slips from his pocket, Khan comfortably addressed both the President as well as the press and acted like a true leader of a country. Whatever the critics might say, at least he didn’t embarrass his country in the manner previous leaders did. Though most people might say that by extending a hand towards the USA, the PTI chieftain is yet again backing up on one of his agenda items, that of staying away from the USA; however, the USA is a reality which we have to accept and embrace. There simply cannot be a competition with the USA and a confrontation of even the lowest intensity would not be in the best interests of our country. Therefore, the PM does not have an option but to make an attempt to stay on the same page with the USA.
In order to secure the backing of the international community, the leaders of the free world must be kept happy. Caving into some demands and at the same time making the USA agree on ours is a victory without question. Even otherwise, it appears that the USA has not sought extraneous commitments from us and has only sought reassurance over the tasks we are already working on, including the peace process in Afghanistan. Being a key player in the Afghan playground, Pakistan holds importance in the eyes of the USA, for now. It is imperative that we make the most of the situation while we still have the chance.
The fresh start between the countries must bring economic stability, only then can we term the visit an actual success. The meeting may have been friendly and cordial; however, image building is one thing but until and unless the country gets what it needs, the positive image wouldn’t be of much help if Pakistan remains economically starved
One of the most defining moments during the visit was the mentioning of the Kashmir issue and the US President’s positive reaction to it. He even went on to offer mediation services and quoted PM Modi. Despite India’s refusal to acknowledge Modi’s request, the US state department refuted India’s claims and asserted that President Trump’s statement was not in the air and was based on reality. The Imran-Trump meeting did send ripples down the Indian government and the mentioning of Kashmir during the meeting was indeed difficult to digest for our eastern neighbours. We may not have achieved a milestone during the visit, as of yet, however, the visit was enough to put a frown upon India’s forehead especially in the aftermath of the ICJ verdict.
Nevertheless, a personal connection between the two leaders was crucial to take matters forward and it seems that the US President who is known to have a short attention span, remained COA interested in what Khan had to say reflecting that the two leaders did indeed click. Another crucial moment was Trump’s agreement to visit Pakistan in the future. A visit by an incumbent US President would, at the very least, help revive the safety image of our country.
Revival of relations between the two countries would open up a lot of doors including trade and foreign investment which would help us steer the country out of our economic woes. Reportedly, the US administration has hinted on softening the travel advisory currently in place for Pakistan which would carve a path for US investors to walk in.
Similarly, COAS Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa’s meeting with the US military establishment had a more important role as effectively it is the military on both sides which is working tirelessly to reach a deal for Afghanistan and facilitate the US withdrawal. Saving up on the current expenditure in Afghanistan appears to be one of the top most priorities for President Trump and it is primarily why Pakistan found a seat at the table. Amidst the resetting of relations, it is quite possible that the Trump administration might restore the financial assistance to Pakistan.
Despite what the critics might say, Imran Khan’s trip was generally successful and he was able to portray a better image of the country as opposed to the past. The body language and composure whilst visiting the White House told a tale of its own. Some satirists even commented that it appeared as if Imran was the one receiving Trump at the White House. Pakistan for one did make it clear; ‘we are ready to cooperate, but this time only on our own terms’.
The PTI government may be failing in most areas but for one, the foreign policy till now has been largely successful. Credit for much of the foreign interactions goes to the Foreign Minister and PM’s Special Assistant for Overseas Pakistanis. The latter even secured a meeting with Ivanka Trump who has offered to help in women empowerment in Pakistan. In the days after the visit, the State Department’s statement regarding moving forward with a fresh start is another welcome step. Let us hope that going forward, the relations between the countries remain such that Pakistan comes out at the top as a beneficiary.
Optimism and positivity are welcome during such times however, we must keep ourselves aligned with reality. The visit itself may have been successful yet, nothing remains changed in the economic scenario of the country. PM Khan desperately needs to chalk out a way from the economic dangers the country currently faces. The entire business community remains at a standstill owing to the uncertainty gripping the economy of our country.
The fresh start between the countries must bring economic stability, only then can we term the visit an actual success. The meeting may have been friendly and cordial; however, image building is one thing but until and unless the country gets what it needs, the positive image wouldn’t be of much help if Pakistan remains economically starved. One can only hope that the fresh start be in the best interests of the country.