Haqqani calls for reorientation of Pak-US ties

4
232

Pakistan’s former Ambassador to the United States, Husain Haqqani has said that Pakistan and the United States need to focus on friendship and not an alliance. He was speaking about Pakistan-US relations, how that alliance was damaged and Pakistan’s national interest at a lecture at Chautauqua Institute. He was of the view that since Pakistan’s current national interests do not align with the United States, he proposed that the US and Pakistan stop thinking of themselves as an alliance. He said the more Pakistan and the US view each other as allies with deviating national interests, the more difficult it will be to maintain an alliance.
Haqqani is now a Professor of International Relations at Boston University and Director for South and Central Asia at Hudson Institute. He said the two countries should focus on friendship – one in which they trade, engage with each other, and have civil society groups and politicians work with one another. He said Pakistan and the United States have clashing narratives about their alliance. From the Pakistanis’ perspective, the US and Pakistan have been allies for 60 years, but the US has walked away several times and cannot dictate Pakistan’s foreign policy. From the Americans’ perspective, Pakistan is not a true ally. Pakistani public opinion remains anti-American despite the amount of aid the country receives, Husain Haqqani said. And Americans question Pakistan’s involvement with terrorists and its ability to fulfill promises. Haqqani said in terms of favorability, only 12 per cent of Pakistanis have a favorable view of the US and 80 per cent have an unfavorable view, according to a 2012 Pew Research Center poll conducted in Pakistan.

4 COMMENTS

  1. haqqani is too sick to come to Pakistan to attend his trial but yet he is well enough to be giving lectures. Hang the traitor!!!

    • He was sick to the point of death but since the case was adjourned indefinitely he go back on his feet.

  2. @daddy, did you and your father consider Haqqani to be a traitor when he slept with your mother?

  3. Hussain Haqqani was indeed one of the best ambassadors in the world. After reading his analysis on US-Pak ties, I am really sad that we have lost our best mouth in Washington just because of a shady character having nor moral background. Unlucky Pakistan, that today it is devoid of services of ambassador like Hussain Haqqani. Sherry Rehman is no doubt capable but she does not match the level and mental aptitude of Hussain Haqqani. I appreciate Hussain Haqqani for successfully defending Pakistan against strong Indian and Zionist lobbies in USA. I am afraid in the absence of Hussain Haqqani, both the lobbies could harm Pakistan interests badly, as we have already observed in case of NATO supply issue. Had Hussain Haqqani been there, this issue would have been amicably resolved time ago. Unfortunately our establishment and judges sacrificed ex-ambassador for their personal interests.. So sad..

Comments are closed.