Editorial

Pak-US ties — a downward spiral

US lawmakers moved to stop the government from funding a sale of eight F-16 jets to Pakistan

Editorial May 17, 2016

US lawmakers recently stopped American administration from funding the sale of eight F-16 jets to Pakistan. PHOTO: PAF

Relations between Pakistan and the US are on yet another downward swing. In accordance with an oft-repeated pattern of cooperation followed by coldness, the US is once again reevaluating the extent of its relationship with Pakistan. Most recently, US lawmakers moved to stop the government from funding a sale of eight F-16 jets to Pakistan. Alarm bells are now going off, as this could be an indicator of a further cooling of relations similar to that after 1989. The official Pakistani explanation put forward regarding this change claims that it is due to the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor and the presence of strong Indian lobbying forces in Washington. It is felt that the US is both anxious to undermine China’s influence in the region and to strengthen its ties with India.

While both these reasons might be part of the problem, they do not present the whole picture. Pakistan has been slow to move when it comes to the matter that has always raised serious concerns with the US administration: terrorism. Individuals and outfits considered dangerous enough to pose a direct threat to US interests in the region have not always been pursued with alacrity. Our foreign policy, too, is struggling due to the absence of a full-time foreign minister who can represent the country’s best interests abroad. Indian lobbyists may have been successful in promoting a certain narrative on Pakistan in the US; it is after all what they are paid to do. But what about our own lobbyists in Washington and their failure to protect our relationship with the US against external influences? This is not to say that the demands placed on Pakistan by the US are always wholly justified. As a sovereign nation, Pakistan must first and foremost protect its own best interests, which include having a stable relationship with China. However, the importance of US goodwill to Pakistan cannot be understated and our policy in certain matters is well worth a revisit.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 18^th, 2016.

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COMMENTS (10)

quatro | 8 years ago | Reply However, the importance of US goodwill to Pakistan cannot be understated . If one believes the various comments posted on this website it would appear that many would disagree with this statement. Most Pakistanis don't think fondly of the USA and would prefer that they cut off aid, military weapons etc. While I have no doubt that Pakistan will survive without USA subsidies - I am less sure that Pakistan would survive if the USA imposed an Iran type embargo. Loss of your most important trade partners and IMF/ADB funding would have devastating impact on Pakistan's economy likely endangering even CPEC funding.

Asim Ali | 8 years ago | Reply Fortunately, the young talent in Pakistan still gets admitted to top US universities and many on full scholarships where the only requirement is to prove your smarts. This has not required any lobbyists or the foreign office. The country has not been able to craft a policy vis a vis to the United States which speaks of failure. In spite of this the US recognizes the talent from Pakistan and the talent has carved out a niche through academic excellence and has done well for themselves the country they chose to study in.

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shashi | 8 years ago | Reply @ Adnan Siddiqui - You hit the nail on the head! Chinese are past masters at manipulating equations. It is sad that most Pakistanis haven't realised this. One highly erudite and perceptive Pakistani intellectual who has constantly been hinting about Chinese deviousness has been Hasan Nisar. I heard him several years back cautioning about the ways of the 'yellow race' and more recently, at some talk show he went out on the limb to say something like "mark my words, if the CPEC is operationalised, the Chinese would outnumber the locals in Gwadar by a huge margin". All said & done, the US is any day a better bet for the Pakistanis but for that Pakistan needs to make a course correction like yesterday.

Adnan Siddiqui | 8 years ago | Reply Pakistan was NEVER a sovereign nation to begin with. Its sovereignty was always on sale to the highest bidder. US is not interested anymore. China has stepped in. There is no difference except that with the Chinese there will be no free lunch. They will squeeze every paisa out of Pakistan.

Tyggar | 8 years ago | Reply @F35: Your writing style reminds me of a certain Cambodian gentleman.

IndianDude | 8 years ago | Reply ..As a sovereign nation, Pakistan must first and foremost protect its own best interests, which include having a stable relationship with China.. A a sovereign nation should pay $$ for the F16s it wants. Not beg for freebies with begging bowl in hand. How about higher than Himalayas friend give a grant of $700 millions for the F16s, from its $ 4,000, 000 million dollar (That is 4 trillion) US reserve? The reserve, Pakistani keep talking about as if its their own!

F35 | 8 years ago | Reply "and our policy in certain matters is well worth a revisit." +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ what an astute observation.Usually an editorial defines the certain matters!

numbersnumbers | 8 years ago | Reply @Thomas Houlahan: Hmmm, you claim lack of lobbyists! Would love to see Pakistani "lobbyists" in US Congressional offices explaing just how Pakistans extensive support of its Good Taliban assets that claimed so many American lives over a decade was good for US Pakistani relations!

Thomas Houlahan | 8 years ago | Reply Pakistan does not have lobbyists in Washington. That is as powerful evidence as possible that Nawaz Sharif's government is incompetent at foreign relations. Another is the utter ineffectiveness of Pakistan's embassy. If it was shut down tomorrow, I doubt anyone would notice.

numbersnumbers | 8 years ago | Reply Note that "editorial" conveniently avoids mentioning what the American Congress CLEARLY stated! Pakistan has avoided taking any meaningful action against its Pakistani based Good Taliban Terrorist Assets for more than a dozen years! Enjoy the consequences!

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