US President Donald Trump’s recent tweets blaming Pakistan for all the failures in Afghanistan are seriously distorted. Since previous US administrations have also failed to achieve anything substantial in Afghanistan — the “graveyard of empires” — the current administration is desperate to find scapegoats.
Besides Trump’s scathing tweets, the recent US National Security Strategy (NSS) is likely to further undermine Pakistan/US relations. The strategy’s major pillars over-emphasize the vicious geopolitical competition and exaggerate the use of military power to curb the challenges Washington faces.
Now that Pakistan/US relations are sliding and are likely to deteriorate further, one interesting question arises with regard to the Trump Administration’s stated policy of so-called “Principled Realism”: How can Pakistan maneuver through the American strategy?
Pakistan/US relations stand on four pillars: Afghanistan and counter-terrorism policies; India; Pakistan’s relations with China; and Pakistan’s nuclear assets.
Washington and Islamabad at odds strategically
As far as Afghanistan and counterterrorism policies are concerned, there seems to be no strategic congruity between Washington and Islamabad. With regards to India, its quarter of strategic convergence has also become too constricted. Pakistan’s increasing tilt to Beijing is a concern for the US, especially when the recent NSS document terms China one of its major rivals.
The dilemma of Pakistan’s foreign policy has been its Indo-centric prism which shapes its relations with other countries. In a bid to alleviate its concerns vis-a-vis New Delhi, Islamabad prefers to use the major powers as a shield. But a problem emerges when a major power uses India as a bargaining chip.
This is a recurring theme in South Asian politics and a favorite bargaining chip for the external powers. The US wants to use India against China and Pakistan. Afghanistan will become a theatre for a US proxy war again but this time against China and Pakistan.
Such a critical moment is facing Pakistan, again. Fully aware of this regional strategic environment, Pakistan’s Chief of Army Staff (COAS), General Qamar Bajwa, stated that the military was ready to back the political leadership’s initiative for normalization of relations with arch-rival India. However, India’s intransigence remains. Without New Delhi reciprocating the general’s goodwill, the strategic stability of the region remains uncertain.
The US has always wielded its negative influence by criticizing Pakistan’s ability to protect its nuclear arsenal. Given that, the prospects for Pakistan/US relations are not bright.
The US has always wielded its negative influence by criticizing Pakistan’s ability to protect its nuclear arsenal. Given that, the prospects for Pakistan/US relations are not bright.
The message that Pakistan’s civil-military leadership has conveyed to the Trump administration recently is a step in right direction. The country should not be provoked into making hasty statements and rash actions.
Whether Washington accepts it or not, America’s international influence is slipping away. A multipolar world order is rapidly developing. The national security strategy appears aimed at reviving America’s predominance but it lacks foresight and won’t help stop the decline of the US global influence. Sailing under the flag of populist-nationalism, Donald Trump appears to be encouraging a multipolar world order faster than expected.
Second, decreasing the trust deficit between Kabul and Islamabad is the key to framing the regional narratives. It is commendable that building bridges with Afghanistan is the top agenda of the country’s civil and military leadership. Recent Pakistan-China-Afghanistan talks is again a shrewd tactic. However, these conciliatory measures shouldn’t be restricted to talk and negotiation which usually lead nowhere.
Pakistan should step up its effort to develop infrastructure in Afghanistan. Torn by decades of war, the country is badly in need of development. The irony is that even US aid failed to help develop the country, and the problems of the Afghans are worse than they were in early 2000.
It is true that Washington and Islamabad are on a divergent path. At present, Islamabad may not be the strategic partner of the US but we should become “frenemies” at least.
International relations have always been tricky. The parties that learn to maneuver the shifts and transitions survive. It is in this rapidly changing strategic environment that Pakistan must showcase to the world its comprehensive and diversified foreign policy and security strategy. nationally and internationally.
It’s crazy that the US is still in Afghanistan and is paying blatant blackmail money to a Pakistan that says we will let nukes get into terrorist hands if you don’t pay up ! That Americans can be this naive amazes me. Stop this lunatic cowardly behaviour. Do the following:
1. Refuse to pay Pakistan one red cent.
2. Abandon Afghanistan. Monitor it for terrorist activity from India and Turkmenistan and Tajikistan. Make air or commando attacks in Afghanistan whenever potential terror threats arise.
Afghanistan will become embroiled in the rivalry of Pakistan and Iran to control it, with India helping Iran. China will become frustrated because the whole mess gets in the way of their vast connectivity plans for a new Silk Route. They don’t want a radical terrorist takeover of Pakistan.
So the US can safely quit Afghanistan now.
Asia times is notorious for its slanted coveraage, it is the mouth peice of the Chinese ministry (of propaganda) of diinformation.
Now everything will seems to be rubbish to you Indians.. Reality can’t b hidden, father of terrorism is your PM..
Simply lol..
Stop this Bull shit now. India is father of terrorism, Moody was banned in USA before becoming PM, Kalbushan is not our guest, but live example .. CPEC is only pain in USA and Indian ass..
India is irrelevent in Afghan matters.Iran,China,Russia and Pakistan are the key players.US is completely dependent on Pakistan for face saving exit from Afghanistan.Russia and central asian countries will not facilitate US.Pakistan,china and Iran are natural partners.Iran can not afford to lose China and Pakistan.India is serving interests of US and Iran-US relations are based on enemity,where does india fit in?? india will be loser with US as Pakistan has suffered badly the so called alliance with US.Go through recent history of US behaviour in this region.Once Iran was blue eyed boy of US and now enemy no.1!!!?? US is dominated by jews who are not friends of anyone.Time is only truth,
Indian’s growing economy is more tgreat as compared with china , us admits it, they are just trying to make pak and india fight so china could step in and both economies could be destroyed. Idk why indians dont think it in a positive mannar? Why they cant be the part of cpec and make a collective economy , look at the example of usa and canda it self, thats who a neighbor should be , not hostile but supportive.
Here it goes again, I think kalbushan is a pakistani who is being captive in india , wake up you fool its a grand plan to make pakistan and india fight so china could step in, in a sense both economies (indian, and chines ) could be destroyed. And btw dont you think rss is more of a fundamentalist, and your swami is clearly threatening to attack pak in march to april of this year
Saqib Rasheed Saqib Hahaha i didn’t know he was muslim…whole world knows only muslims are terrorists..
It’s very sad to see Indian &Pakistani Nationalists fighting with each other on this forum. I see more hatred in the postings of Indians than Pakistanis. Pakistan has no dispute with India other than Kashmir. If Kashmir issues is resolved as per the wishes of Kashmiri People ( As India Promised in UNO) then Pakistan has no Rivalry with India & wants to live as a younger brother and more respecttful to india. But Un-fornunately Indians are not big enough to resolve this dispute in a magnificent way. Let Kashmiri people decide their fate. Pakistan is not your enemy, Indians are the enemy of Pakistan.
Earlier we learn to co-exist better it will be for us both. Our Region can progress, otherwise we will remain puppets in the hands of bigger powers who will use us as their pawns.
Previously India was used by Russia & Pakistan by USA. Today Pakistan is being used by China & India by USA. None of them are the friends of the people of the Indian Sub-continent.
Let’s learn to Co-exist and be supportive of each other. Our region cannot afford this maniac behaviour. We are both from the same race though different faiths.
There are fanatics on both side but majority wants a peaceful Co-existance.
I Hope Sanity will prevail in the end & Outsiders will not be able to divide us & conquer us any more. Fighting over History is the most stupid thing. Best is to learn from it.
Ram Naths would wish that America use Pakistani services, but pay India instead, lol.
Pakistan need not respond to Trump’s tweets. Just bid for time. Soon when the unwisdom of America’s folly would manifest, reap the rewards. Patience is a virtue.
This column is about Pakistan and America, but has generated great interest in Indian lol.
But India has learnt no lesson from Pakistan’s past, especially its friendship of America. Here are some Pak firsts:
1. Free Enterprise – Pakistan 1947, India 2000
2. Free Trade – Pakistan 1947, India 2000
3. Alliance with the West – Pakistan 1950, India 2000
4. Friendship with China – Pakistan 1960, India 202?
5. Distancing from Socialism – Pakistan 1947, India 1990
6. Distancing from dying Corporate Capitalist West – Pakistan 2000, India 2050?
7. Talibanization: Pakistan 1977 with Zia, India 2014 with Modi.
8. BRI/New Silk Road Pakistan 2013, India never?
Pakistan’s partnership with America was immensely profitable for both to the detriment of India. Pakistan, principally with Afghan help, destroyed India’s guiding star – the USSR, a feat the Nato could not do for 50 years. Once mission accomplished, US abandoned Pakistan.
Pak’s friendship with US was when it was a world power. Today, with $20+ Trillion in debt, what good could America do to Pakistan or India or whatever. Beggars can not be choosers.
How can USA LEAVE Afghanistan, who would guard the opium and ship the drugs.