In international politics, every state is motivated by its national interest, frequently concealed as a moral concern. In other words, there is no friend or enemy when it comes to the national interest of any state in this global world.
Diplomacy, deterrence, bilateralism, multilateralism and blame-game tactics provide grounds for these interests. The ambiguous and confused history of relations between the US and Pakistan is a clear example of this political realism.
Since 1947, relations between the two countries have been disturbed and unclear. Both countries have sabotaged each other’s interests at regional and international levels. Since the terror attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, Pakistan has paid a very high price in this relationship.
President Donald Trump’s Afghanistan policy and his criticism of Islamabad on the issue of terrorism marked a clear line of conflict between the US and Pakistan. Trump’s allegations against Pakistan and his support of India as a strategic ally on both security and economic fronts prompted Islamabad to review its policy options toward Washington.
Trump tweet prompts chilly response
Pakistan’s cool welcome for visiting US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson in October demonstrated Islamabad’s grievances over Trump’s Afghanistan policy statement. Trump tweeted Jan. 1 that, “The United States has foolishly given Pakistan more than 33 billion dollars in aid over the last 15 years, and they have given us nothing but lies & deceit, thinking of our leaders as fools” helped Pakistan clarify its relationship with the US. Only cooperation is acceptable and Trump’s demand that Pakistan do more to combat terrorism will be responded with no more.
This is the century of economic ideologies. Economic prosperity, sustainable development, and resource exploration are the best options for a country’s to retain its national integrity. With the One Belt Road Initiative (OBOR) and the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), China and Pakistan are strengthening their strategic and economic ties which will help Pakistan reduce its dependency on the US and its allies in the West.
It’s in America’s interest to keep Pakistan closer to benefit from political and economic opportunities in the region.
Interestingly, the UK, France, Germany, and Russia have also expressed interest in CPEC, and will probably join this game-changing project. In view of this scenario, it’s in America’s interest to keep Pakistan closer to benefit from political and economic opportunities in the region.
Pakistan is looking to China, Russia, and the five Central Asian republics to enhance economic aims and improve security. Normalization of ties between Russia and Pakistan and Russia’s withdrawal from India indicate a shift in alliances regionally and internationally. Further, the belligerent behavior of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan towards the US, and the country’s friendly ties with Russia are clear efforts to contain US involvement in Asian politics.
Beijing wants relations between the US and Pakistan to deteriorate in order to maintain its influence in the region. OBOR and CPEC will help enhance Chinese naval and military activities in the Arabian Sea and improve its access to the Middle East.
Afghan security concerns worry Beijing
China is concerned about security issues in Afghanistan which pose a threat to the completion of CPEC. Pakistan is the best option for China to get easy access to Afghanistan and increase Beijing’s influence with Kabul. Without Pakistan, China may not be able to secure these goals and to counter US interests in the region.
The American and Nato presence in Afghanistan is a threat to Russian influence in Kabul. Russia is supporting the Taliban to counter Isis and US interests. To counter the US, Russia needs pro-Moscow and pro-Beijing Islamabad in order to cause trouble for US-Nato security forces. Along with China, Russia will support Pakistan to secure Islamabad’s national and global interests.
Last August Pakistan received four latest MI-35 military helicopters fro, Russian and more agreements will be signed between Russia and Pakistan for military and security purposes. These deals can never favor Washington. Pro-Moscow Islamabad is a threat to US interests in South and Central Asia.
Beijing’s tilt towards Pakistan is of concern to India. The uncertainties climate between Islamabad and Washington won muted appreciation in Delhi which has always blamed Islamabad for providing safe havens for terror groups inside Pakistan. Pakistan, in turn, has complained to Washington about US support of India on strategic and economic fronts.
Stronger US ties to India annoy Islamabad
Indian military strategists believe that President Trump will put pressure on Pakistan to eliminate Haqqani network and Taliban terrorists. But Pakistan will resist the pressure because of Washington’s critical stance and its stronger ties with New Delhi, the main reason for sensitivities between US and Pakistan.
India also fears that China’s desire to expand its naval and military might in the Arabian Sea and Indian Ocean will sabotage India’s interests in South Asia.
New Delhi currently is the best option for Washington to counter hostile states, especially China. Neither geo-political nor geo-strategic scenarios presuppose friendly ties between the US and Pakistan. The Trump administration is more interested in Delhi for future strategic partnership. The uncertain future of US-Pakistan relations will be more influenced by four factors: the Pakistan-China-Russia triangle, US-India relations, the future of OBOR and CPEC and India-China relations and US intentions to secure its interests in the region.
Vikram Reddy You are one smart dude! I think in the previous life I was a Hindu, some day I will work up the courage, and a clensed soul to join my ancestrers rank. Thanks. Much obliged.
David Bedford Actually, the US spends more than the next 20 countries combined and that’s just about 6% of our GDP, well when you have got the world’s biggest economy on top of it the entrepreneurially spirited population, high on freedom that loves to innovate, that gives our so-so politicians money to fool around in the name of peace. Sure we make mistakes, men are no angels that’s why we have to have governments. So, I agree we go around keep our boys and gals, if not necessarily battle hardened, but ready for war, a price we have to pay, and for those much is given much is expected, blah blah blah you know what I mean. Thanks.
you think the US is interested in peace? Hahaha!
America spends more on their military than the next 10 countries combined because they want peace in the world LOL that is just pure fantasy and you need to stop watching the mainstream media.
Spot on brother.
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just copy and past this…..
Applying System’s Theory model of Survival, Growth, Evolution, in a 2011 invited lecture on Pak-US relations to the Pak Naval College in Karachi I theorized that no two people are closer in Psyche than Pakistan and USA – not US/UK, US/Canada, or Pak/India.
Besides having similar goals – to demolish USSR, Pak/US are also birds of the same feather in origins, history trajectory, and future. Traits that bind Pak/US:
1. Same National Symbol – Eagle soaring free above the clouds: Individualists, freedom-loving government-hating
2. Manifest Destiny – Global universal vision. Extra-Territoriality
3. Newest nations in respective blocks – founded as Republics, against Democracy (of PMs Frederick Lord North and Nehru) – de facto leaders Free/Muslim worlds
4. Weak State, Lowest law abidance, Lowest tax
5. Military tradition and Industrial Complex, guns, armament, violence, regime changes, drugs
6. Largest population, Largest family size, Fastest Growth, Widest Gene Pool; Net population influx
7. Profoundly religious, God fearing, Charitable, Generous, Hospitable, Poor-friendly, Resilient
8. Drugs, Unique musicality – Jazz, hip-hop / Qawwali
9. largest population, Lowest literacy and education, anti-intellecual, innovative, practical sense of humour
10. Extremely mobile, multicultural, multilingual, mixed language
11. Freest lively Media, Reality and talk shows
12. Born Free Enterprising, Negotiating, deal making, positive public attitude to business US #1, Pakistan #2
13. Efficient markets, cheapest living in their blocks
14. Can survive without trade – feed population with borders shut.
Of the only two global, universal, ideological camps today (Islam, West) Pak to Islamic world is what America is to West – a de-facto leader, trend-setter – not the richest, but the most daring.
Pak will emerge the dominant partner in the relationship in near future. This is because Islam, being a natural religion of the Globalization and Free Trade as a system is growing, while Corporate Capitalism being less efficient is losing ground. Election of Trump makes the 2011 prediction all the more firm.
you need to lay off on those weeds…
This is the most absurd article I have seen in a while from a Third Worldian, that shows gross ignorance of a) Islam, the driving passion of the Muslims which is the root evil that will forever prevent the formation of the civil-society, b) Knowledge of the West and in particulat the US position as the sole super-power of the world that has the task for over the past fifty years to keep the world peace, howver, in shambles in the Middle-East, c) Nature of the Chinese communist regime, inherently weak, which would not last, for it has a teneous hold on the chinese society and lastly and most importantly d) Pakistan (a misnomer of a mess to begin with for it had died back in 1971, with the formation of the state of Bangladesh) making it a failed state that best be characterized as a zombie state, that is currently fighting insurgency wars in three out of its four remaining provinces.
And the Pakistani Army Cabal that has usurped the executine powers of the civilian Prime Minister’s with the aid of the Judiciary (puppets) with the collusion of a handful of powerful clericks (mullahs), and together has the nation arrested in bondage. It’s in the nature of the Army, when addicted to power, luxury, and lucre it will maintain the region in perpetual termoil to justify its hold on power to the nation and so it will continue killing, bombing, suicide missions, they don’t give a rat’s ass about moral compunction that might beset a civilian goverment which may rightly derives its power through the civilians’ consent.
Finally Islam, here the presumption is that it offers Muslims (nay mankind if you can believe it) the perfect way of life both for the here and now on the earthly realm where the laws are man-made and mutable but also for the hereafter where laws are eternal and God made. So, Islam ends up working like krypton does with the superman, Muslims go weak and lose all senses for Islam does no such thing as to offer the perfect way of life: One could summarily chuk the Sharia laws out the window for that stuff was conjured by here say some two-hundred years past the death of the prophet. It’s amazing that it’s revered in the world of Islam for its disgusting, take just one example in the case of rape: the poor victim would have to produce four witnesses who have to have seen the actual penetration, in action, or else the rapist walks, try offering the DNA evidence, fat chance.
So, the US rightly must come to its senses and break this bastardy faild state cum zombistan Jahiliya into four to twelve tiny nation states at the prephery of India as its setalites; with only police force and that would be the way when there will be peace and harmoney along with good neighborliness.
Phew! Sorry, somebody had to talk sense here. Muslims will have peace divided up into smaller manageable geographies.