No choosing of sides

The Foreign Office has done some plain-talking by reminding that Pakistan is not part of camp politics. At a weekly media briefing yesterday, it reiterated the stance that the country’s relations with all the major powers are evenly poised, and it does not believe in playing one against another. Apparently a kneejerk statement from a US diplomat prompted this reaction, as he went on to comment that “China is the past in terms of investment, and we are the future…” Probably the State Department official was boasting a recently announced $101 million assistance by the Biden administration. The tone of the diatribe was seen with a pinch of salt and led to some clarification from Islamabad.

The utterance from Islamabad that it is not about choosing between Beijing or Washington dispelled the rumours as evolving regional dynamics hinted that Pakistan is under pressure to take sides. The resolution from the US Congress expressing reservations on the February 8 elections and human rights violations instantly led to some fence-mending as the White House doled out an aid package. This also came at a time when Pakistan is in talks with Beijing for rescheduling the Chinese debt, which accounts for more than $30 billion. High-powered delegations are already rubbing shoulders in Beijing, and it is hoped that a lenient repayment timeline would be agreed. Thus, Pakistan was on the spot as it made clear that it is not about “sacrificing its relationship with China for the sake of improved relations with the United States”.

Pakistan has well-defined interaction modules with the United States and China, and they are not in a competition mode. Ties with Beijing are well-entrenched and carry an element of indispensability when it comes to regional security, development and geo-economics. The $60 billion CPEC is a case in point. Likewise with the US, the relationship is durable with constructive engagement being its cornerstone in defence, counter-terrorism, trade and tariffs. This bilateralism leaves little room for realpolitik wrangling, and Islamabad is too sure about it.