The United States’ top diplomat, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, visited Pakistan this month, along with the chairman the US Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Joseph Dunford. This was the first high-level visit by US officials to the country after the new government in Pakistan assumed office. However, this visit failed to restore normalcy in bilateral relations.
Pakistan-US relations started deteriorating after President Donald Trump assumed office. In a New Year’s tweet, Trump blamed Pakistan for reciprocating $33 billion in US aid with deceit and lies. He threatened to cut down the aid to Pakistan and has made good his claim. Just a few days before Pompeo’s visit, the US announced it would cut $300 million in military aid to Pakistan.
Moreover, the new Pakistani government led by Prime Minister Imran Khan was contemplating applying for a financial bailout package from the International Monetary Fund (IMF). However, Pompeo opposes this proposed bailout package on the grounds that Pakistan would use the funds to repay Chinese loans.
In this context, Pompeo’s visit was very significant for Pakistan. Political pundits attached great importance to the outcome of his meeting with Khan. Pakistan’s new government, however, wanted to give a strong message to Washington that it would not easily bow down to US pressure. Symbolically, it sent mid-level officials from its Foreign Office to greet Pompeo at the airport. However, the tough message given by Pakistan failed to pressure Pompeo and his team.
Pompeo arrived in Pakistan on September 5 and spent only two hours in the country. He met with Khan in a high-level meeting where the military leadership of Pakistan was also present. Pompeo later told the press that he wanted to reset Pakistan-US relations after the change of guard in Islamabad.
At the same time, he told Pakistan’s leadership that it needed to take “sustained and decisive measures” against terrorists who threaten regional peace. He defended the US decision to cut $300 million in aid to Pakistan. In short, the outcome of the visit did not change anything for the deteriorating relations between the two countries.
On one hand Pakistan failed to gain from Pompeo’s visit but on the other hand, its strategic arch-rival India gained a lot. After concluding his quick trip to Pakistan, Pompeo headed to India. There, he not only praised the Indian democratic system but also signed a military communications agreement.
As a part of this agreement, the US will provide India with the latest communication system, which will enable India to transmit real-time encrypted messages to its naval ships and aircraft. The US included India on its favored-nations list for receiving sophisticated military supplies through this agreement. This agreement will increase the defense capabilities of India against Pakistan and China.
This decision will have negative impacts on the strategic equation for Pakistan against India. The two countries have been at loggerheads ever since they were carved out of British India in 1947. Pakistan considers India to be its primary external security threat and blames it for fostering terrorism in Pakistan. Therefore, when the US signs a major military supply agreement with India, it’s considered to be a strong message of adversity against Pakistan.
The Pompeo visit has closed the doors on effective strategic cooperation between Pakistan and the US. This will reinforce the assertion in Islamabad that complete strategic reliance on China is inevitable for the national interests of Pakistan
The Pompeo visit has closed the doors on effective strategic cooperation between Pakistan and the US. This will not only further deteriorate the relations between those two countries but will reinforce the assertion in Islamabad that complete strategic reliance on China is inevitable for the national interests of Pakistan.
First, Pakistan is in dire need of bailout loans to keep its economy running. The US government is blocking one of the options for this bailout package in the form of the IMF, whereas China has offered to provide supplementary loans to Pakistan, in addition to the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) project, to help it out of the financial crisis. In fact, China has provided guarantees to Pakistan for financial assistance that will allow the South Asian country to avoid the IMF option.
Second, the US is militarily supporting India, which is considered a threat by Pakistan. Indirectly, the US is increasing the strategic threats to Pakistan, as perceived by the Pakistani government. In contrast, China is not only actively opposing India in diplomatic forums for the sake of Pakistan but also militarily supporting Pakistan in the form of facilitating production of JF-17 Thunder aircraft for the Pakistan Air Force.
Third, the US government has suspended military aid at a time when Pakistan is facing problems at its western border. Pakistan has started an ambitious project to fence its entire border with Afghanistan, which is 2,430 kilometers in length. Cutting off military aid will affect the capability of Pakistan to continue fencing its porous border with Afghanistan. Given the plight of its economy, Pakistan will be left with no choice but to seek China’s help to compensate for the shortage of resources due to the reduction of US military aid to Pakistan.
Thus the failure of a major breakthrough in the meeting with Pompeo has cast aside the US as a major strategic partner for Pakistan. China is all set to take its place as the principal strategic and financial benefactor of Pakistan. This will massively increase the Chinese influence on the government of Pakistan.
Consequently, it will further reduce the influence of the US in Pakistan, which will not bode well for the latter, because the majority of global institutions are still under the influence of the US.
Ha ha ha..
Ha ha ha..
US was never a strategic partner of Pakistan. It was along marriage of convenience. Yes, it had relationship with corrupt Pakistani rulers, who desired power n $$$. Now finally we have a leader sitting in highest office who is not corrupt, power hungry n selfish plus he is a democratically elected person with Pakistanis behind him. Wait for few days when we deny US to use our Sea, Air and Land route to Afghanistan unless this white elephant pay us $$$$ or leave Afghanistan in humiliation. We Pakistani knew the existence of nexus between US, India and Israel since 60s and they were waiting for right moment to surface. I would love to see Americans leave Afghanistan and Indian boots on Afghan ground. It will be fun. Good luck….
US was never a strategic partner of Pakistan. It was along marriage of convenience. Yes, it had relationship with corrupt Pakistani rulers, who desired power n $$$. Now finally we have a leader sitting in highest office who is not corrupt, power hungry n selfish plus he is a democratically elected person with Pakistanis behind him. Wait for few days when we deny US to use our Sea, Air and Land route to Afghanistan unless this white elephant pay us $$$$ or leave Afghanistan in humiliation. We Pakistani knew the existence of nexus between US, India and Israel since 60s and they were waiting for right moment to surface. I would love to see Americans leave Afghanistan and Indian boots on Afghan ground. It will be fun. Good luck….
Whatever the USA says, her prime focus is on making money for herself. After the disintegration of the Soviet Union and the end of Cold War, it betrayed Pakistan and switched over to India, simply because India, with the second largest population in the world, is much more beneficial than Pakistan.
Whatever the USA says, her prime focus is on making money for herself. After the disintegration of the Soviet Union and the end of Cold War, it betrayed Pakistan and switched over to India, simply because India, with the second largest population in the world, is much more beneficial than Pakistan.
Pakistan delayed on understanding US that he is not a reliable friend at all.
Pakistan delayed on understanding US that he is not a reliable friend at all.
Perfectly analyzed, Phil. Islam is something above a religion. Peace is the cardinal point in Islam. It trends all for self respect and respect for others. Islam is not anti Semetic, rather, anti-Semietism term was born out of hatered by Hitlers Nazi doctrin.
Perfectly analyzed, Phil. Islam is something above a religion. Peace is the cardinal point in Islam. It trends all for self respect and respect for others. Islam is not anti Semetic, rather, anti-Semietism term was born out of hatered by Hitlers Nazi doctrin.
Actually Pakistan does not know that India is not an enemy at all Both countries spending money resources unnecessarily on items which do not contribute to the development of economy.india and Pakistan can do great things together only if there is a will.who will bell thecat?it will be in a big debt trap soon
Actually Pakistan does not know that India is not an enemy at all Both countries spending money resources unnecessarily on items which do not contribute to the development of economy.india and Pakistan can do great things together only if there is a will.who will bell thecat?it will be in a big debt trap soon
It will be ”curved out” and not ”carved out”. With digital spell-check technology available, spelling mistakes are unpardonable.
This spate of lynching has come about only because BJP had promised that muslims can be attacked, killed at will & their property looted, under BJP rule.
All incidents are occurring where BJP is in power at state, able to let off the perpetrators. That’s why Centre is so ambivalent, it only mumbles weak words of condemnation.And their legislators, front organizations say that only beef ban can stop lynching, indirectly encouraging the acts.
Cow slaughter discouragement, as given as a desired thing in constitution, only applies to milk producing cows, it doesn’t mean bulls & male calves cannot be traded, and eaten, and we Indians will never allow a complete beef ban.
Lynching is state sponsored, state protected crime, and it will stop when north indian uppercaste vegetarian people will start getting lynched in a counter vigilate movement.
Shazib Khalil sir jee, all efforts will be useless unless we stop our out of control population…….sub bekaar hae!
This is our one and only issue……..itnee see baat hae.
haan bhai to aap konsay Norway ya Denmark key gaand say niklay ho? Apney shakal dekh aur apnee auqaat dekh pehlay. You have around 700 million people living on less than a dollar per day…….samajh aa rahee teray? You are a nobody!
Unless Pakistan sends it’s army back into the barracks, enforces redistribution of land among its peasantry and taxes the rich, it will never prosper. Pakistan is a feudal society with a burgeoning population and with rampant corruption and venality to the core. A truly basket case.
By pitting India agst Pakistan, it helps sustain US defence industry. They should not fall into trap.
Shazib Khalil
Jup
Totally made up story. US has dictated India to take it’s final decision in terms of it’s cooperation with Iran.