The Pak-US relation
A rocky road it has been for Pakistan and US of late as far as their mutual relation is concerned. From military cooperation to civilian aid, all things worth working on suffered as a result of a series of incidents that made America suffer the wrath and anger of the public, in some cases even official, in Pakistan. The once strategic relation was reduced to the one mired with suspicion, distrust and anger. But as the fates would have it, the common enemy of both – terrorism – proved to be the very factor that held intact the relation, even though it wasn’t in an ideal condition. However, the resumption in the relation has started gaining momentum.
The hints of improvement are clearly visible in the US Envoy for Afghanistan and Pakistan Marc Grossman’s meetings with the Pakistani military leadership the other day, along with an interview for the national television. While quelling the fear that the US was insisting on Pakistan to launch the North Waziristan military operation to root out militants there, he said mutual respect and trust should form the basis of the relation between the two. Exactly what Pakistan has been demanding of Washington. A simple message it may be, but a diplomat’s nonetheless. There is something important between the lines and it’s not that simple. The new stance by the Obama Administration hasn’t totally scrapped the idea of an operation in NW, it has just put the onus on Pakistan as to its timing. Thus effectively thwarting criticism and offering Islamabad a sense of control over the issue, a demand Pakistan has been nagging the US about.
For Pakistan, the war on terrorism is not just about certain number of militants, or drones, or military operations; it is more than that. It is an existential war for Pakistan in which actual military operations, or drone attacks, are only but battles, leading us one step at time nearer to the goal of overcoming the forces of oppression. The real battle has to be waged on the ideological grounds. That’s where oppression and violence should never be allowed to hold sway. Tragic as it may be but the Malala incident has brought forth to the nation the barbaric and oppressive mindset, still locked on violence as a means to their nefarious ends. By capturing this moment, termed as the ‘Malala moment’ by The New York Times, and the public support, the civilian and military leadership has the moral backing for an operation in NW.
Now is the time for them to step up, own this malaise that plagues our society, root it up and make this country safe for millions of other Malalas. Only by taking action now can we come up to the expectations of our nation, our allies and peace loving people all over the world. The US has already shown its trust in Pakistani leadership in this regard. It’s time we prove our resolve as well.
