"If in 65 years, you haven't been able to find sufficient common ground to live together, and you had three separations and four reaffirmations of marriage, then maybe the better way is to find friendship outside of the marital bond," Husain Haqqani said, addressing the Center for the National Interest, a Washington think tank.
Haqqani's recommendation that the United States and Pakistan essentially downgrade their status was based on the premise that it may be the only way to break from what has been a dysfunctional relationship.
A post-alliance future would allow both countries to hold more realistic expectations of each other, cooperating where possible but perhaps without the sense of betrayal, which has become acute in Pakistan.
He cited a survey by the Pew Research Center released in June showing roughly three-in-four Pakistanis consider the United States an enemy, even though the United States pours billions of dollars of aid into the country.
"If this was an election campaign... you would advise the senator with these kinds of favorability ratings to pull out of the race, instead of spending more money," said Haqqani, who plans to publish a book entitled "Magnificent Delusions" next year about the US-Pakistan relationship.
His candid remarks represented Haqqani's first address in Washington since he resigned as Pakistan's envoy last year after, he says, being framed for drafting a memo that accused the Pakistani army of plotting a coup - allegations he defended himself against before the Supreme Court.
Many of Haqqani's comments underscored the friction between Pakistan’s civilian government and military.
Haqqani, who served as an adviser to four Pakistani prime ministers, identified himself among a small minority who support good relations with the United States but "who do not have the ability to influence the course of policy at home."
He said Pakistan's military needed to be under greater civilian control, adding Pakistan's national interests are defined "by generals, not by civilian leaders."
But he also doled out criticism of US policymaking, saying it was too often short-sighted, lacking the necessary historic perspective needed to appreciate realistically what Pakistan might do in return for aid and cooperation.
The depths of the strained US-Pakistan relationship have come into full public view since the United States, without telling Pakistan, secretly staged a raid to kill Osama bin Laden last year. Haqqani was ambassador at the time.
He repeatedly said someone in Pakistan knew of Bin Laden’s presence, even though he stopped far short of blaming Pakistan’s principal intelligence agency, the Inter Services Intelligence directorate (ISI).
"I still think a full proper investigation on the Pakistani side is needed to find out how Osama bin Laden lived in Pakistan and who supported him - within or outside the government," he said. "I really do not know (who helped Bin Laden). All I am saying is that somebody knew."
Unrealistic expectations
He said it was just as unrealistic for Pakistanis to think that the United States would side with Pakistan by launching war on India as it was for the United States to think Pakistan would give up its nuclear weapons or sever ties with extremists.
"Equally unrealistic is that Pakistan... will give up support for jihadi groups that it deems to be a subconventional force multiplier for regional influence," Haqqani said.
Describing his vision for a post-alliance future for the United States and Pakistan, Haqqani appeared to downplay US security concerns. He said Pakistan's eight-month shut-off of ground supply lines for NATO forces in Afghanistan showed the United States it could rely on more costly routes to the North.
And when it comes to unpopular US drone strikes against militants, Haqqani believed the United States would press ahead with the campaign even in a post-alliance future.
"I have no realistic expectation of the United States ending the drone campaign and (no realistic expectation of) Pakistan accepting it," he said.
COMMENTS (59)
Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.
For more information, please see our Comments FAQ
1713904359-0/burn-(1)1713904359-0-270x192.webp)
Dear Joel, It would require a 100,000 word dissertation to outline all of US/UK/ZION political/economic/banking/capitalist/warfare/media machinations, but they are all working in synergy, and are controlled by people with doubtful morals. I am not allowed to be present when they make their ridiculous decisions so I use what logic I have to determine why and what their planned and brutal mischief is all about. I suspect that you are also intelligent, but using normal honest logic. I am afraid it just does not work when trying to determine what those guys in Washington, London and Israel are planning. However, getting back to South Asia , and getting more to your point, I would be very pleased if you would explain why the aforesaid people have wasted trillions of dollars, and other currencies, trying unsuccessfully to fight a bunch of hill billies in Afghanistan for eleven years. Even more to the point, why doesn't America divorce itself from South Asia? Incidentally, I may have it wrong, but you seemed to indicate the US had left Iraq in a stable position. If you believe that it must be because you have been watching too much FOX news. .
@Joel Harding: Dear Joel, I hope you were pulling my leg when you indicated that it is not easy to steal oil anymore? The US bombed Iraq into the stone-age, and now the oil fields have been taken over by BP, which the UK Queen owns a large chunk of. Work it out.
@Sexton Blake, as you yourself note, your argument cannot apply to Pakistan because it is not oil rich.
Stealing Middle Eastern oil was easy 50 years ago before the OPEC countries got their collective acts together, at least when it comes to oil. Okay, only when it comes to oil. Using oil as a (not the) basis for diplomatic efforts, a stable government that exports oil is the best that the West can hope for. Notice Iraq now sells its own oil and the US does not get a price cut.
@Arjun: No Arjun, the US do not want "water to energy technology". They want to steal all the Middle-Eastern oil so that a few capitalists can make huge profits. It all started when Britain and one or two European countries started stealing all the worlds assets that were not nailed down. Even then Britain had some very large crowbars. When the Zionists and America saw how easy it was to steal they joined up with the Europeans and have now surpassed them, although they are still working in conjunction with each other. I guess, the only compensation the robbed countries have is that the US/UK/Israel/Europeans are also robbing their own citizens blind. Let us hope that Pakistan does not discover huge oil fields.
@freeman: Why divorce, Pakistani (wife) is having affairs with many militant organizations. Pakistan should be punished for adultery.
@kashiff
Yeah, pal...They're trying to steal your water to energy technology...
I disagree, sorry. By 'divorcing' Pakistan the US makes an already tenuous relationship worse. By at least 'pretending' to have good relations, we will have some form of communications that otherwise would not happen.
Yes, it is extremely awkward, like having to work with an ex, but maintaining good communications between two nuclear powers is better than an openly adversarial relationship.
I borrow a friend's words: Just think about the result of the "divorce" on the "kids" (the neighboring countries). Starting a war of roses between the parents would also result in a battle of the parents battling for the (influence) kids.
People with disgraceful history of telling lies should better keep their trap shut ! The press should also stop making heroes out of the rotten vegetables who have brought nothing but disgrace to the country !
Pakistan’s disgraced Ambassador to the US, commonly believed to be an American Ambassador in Washington, DC was sent home unceremoniously after it was established that he attempted to stage a unique coup against Pakistan’s security establishment with the help of American armed forces. Like experienced and hardened criminals, he has been dodging the prosecution process with the help of his comrades. Misusing the position as Ambassador, he even tried to have inserted a loan conditionality which would make the process of promotions in the armed forces open to American interference. Before becoming the Ambassador, he was known to be spewing venom against Pakistani armed forces in the US. Old habits die hard, like they say. Read more at: http://passivevoices.wordpress.com/2012/08/23/disgraced-ambassador-castigates-his-home-country-yet-again/
after losing it all position he is now adivising pakistan. what he has do in his time?
Will US pay alimony for the divorce?? Afterall, Pak economy is too dependent on US funds.
he can say this because the word "former" has been added to his name now!
Pawns such as Haqqani are known for making statements that their masters like to hear. Look for him getting a lucrative assignment at some strategic think tank such as Stratfor, which is funded by CIA.
Regarding the gist of his statement, whether the US and Pakistan like it or not, the two countries are tied together strategically. They cannot simply divorce each other, as Haqqani states. The US knows that, no matter how they feel about Pakistan.
********pakistan's military needed to be under greater civilian control ...Pakistan's national interests are defined "by generals, not by civilian leaders".********Well, how can the people of pakistab trust most corrupt, less patriotic and least nationalist civilian leadership, both present and past, whose interests are outside pakistan. The civilian leaders have palatial buildings abroad, their children studying in expensive colleges and universities and who have amassed riches which they looted in pakistan. Some of them have foreign nationalities as well. So how can they be more faithful and sincere to pakistan compared to military. these civilian leaders are less civilian and more aliens. Shamefully, some of pakistan's ambassadors and high commissioners have taken foreign nationality and have no courage to go the country they represent abroad. Regrettably, the views expressed by mr. haqqani in his statement clearly project american views viz-a-viz pakistan.
Why now? Just because you lost your job?
This analysis is completely outrageous and unrealistic for plain following reasons:
Pak-U.S. strategic relations will never be cut off for next few decades till - if any - Afghanistan's own strong military and civil establishment emerges. Until the vacuum is there, Pakistan and U.S. will continue to play their proportionate roles. Hence, they will have to coexist.
U.S. can never let Pakistan become a full-fledged Chinese proxy state and will continue to engage Pakistan.
We are also geographically contiguous to 2Is i.e. India and Iran, one friend and another foe.
This marriage or whatever relationship will continue. I wish Mr. Haqqani had the courage to spill the beans while he had the chair.
Unfortunately due to sheer incompetence ,Pakistan has been out-manoeuvred and has lost golden opportunity to progress and prosper What does Pakistan want?.Does Pakistan know?
Ironically US aid allowed us to avoid tough decisions. These decisions should have been made 50 years ago. Those decisions would have hurt us but not much as pain we are going through now. US aid allowed us to build up the terrorist virus. We are like UK Pakistanis who live off government welfare. If economic forces had forced us to change our priorities we would be in much better position today.
@salman:
What do you think Prof Haqqani was referring to when he said, “If in 65 years, you haven’t been able to find sufficient common ground to live together, and you had three separations and four reaffirmations of marriage, then maybe the better way is to find friendship outside of the marital bond,”
Very much agreed with what ex-ambassador said.His views are quite cogent and convincing. Infact we both the countries should de-construct this myth of alliance. This forged relationship can not go along for long time and both the sides have realized it. The marriage of convenience is about to over.What Hussain Haqqani said is based on ground realities. His analysis are always thought provoking.I suggest that Hussain Haqqani should be appointed as advisor on US-Pak policy matters, we can not find a better man for this job than ex-ambassador. Compared to Hussain Haqqani, Sherry Rehman lacks that vision and capability to keep Pak-Us relation going. She must be consulting Hussain Haqqani for improving ties between both the countries.
Mr. Haqqani, these are INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS, not Girl-Boy Relations. Are you sure what you say is right for all time to come. Your view of international politics is myopic at best, and soap like at worst.
Putting aside his vision,agree or disagree is not a question. According to my personal considered opinion,I understand that Pakistan must say ''Good by''to the United States war on terror and frame its own policy.
It is better and goes to the favor of my home land.What we have gained as a ally,looks no superficial gain around.
Would you like to say this friendship,it is not a friendship,forcibly made us ally in war on terror which dragged us to the point of failed or fragile state.
Who is this guy and what is his credibility?
He makes abundant sense. The reality is that the marriage has produced children and not all of them are behaving and this would complicate the divorce.
@Maher: A fugitive, absconder of law, evidence tamperer.
Nice attempt to get back media attention.
this is marriage of convenience anyway so there is no need of divorce.
So how is Pakistan going to survive after this Divorce ? I don't think that USA will be considering maintainance allowance or any share of its assets either ! So hust how is Pakistan going to survive, without Aid & soft Loans ?
Mr HH why didnt u say this when you were the ambassador why is it that every person who is known as former always come up with truly
So if you agree with haqqani then your sane tolerant if you dont then your a fanatic? How does that work?
yep as usual, the 'ghairat brigade' would love to play the man, not the ball.. Dont listen to what he is actually saying, just make comments about his sincerity, loyalty and mental state.
No wonder Pakistan is now classified as one of the most 'intolerant and hated' nation in the world..
didn't take him long coming out of the shell.
True Lies!!
Irrespective of the fact whether he is loyal or disloyal to the country ( personal opinion ), but whatever he has said is "absolute sense". Now who agrees or does,nt agree with him is again personal opinion.
Just because you are no more the ENVOY to the US, you say we should end the relationship. Moreover the love-hate mixture in the ties with the US is nothing new. Now it is being played up more in the public.
He is like Ghamidi of politics; you cannot publically approve of everything he says despite personally agreeing to almost all of it.
Harsh words crossing the lips of haqqani there, harsh but true. Hard to admit, but it stands a common perspective among the masses that the US have crossed their word too many a times where their own tongues speak of their BLIND loyalty.
65 years is indeed deemed a long time under any sane thought and really, the two so-called allies have found little common ground during this span where their heads have moved together in a nod.
What happened on May 2, 2011 in Abbottabad was an absolute, breach of Pakistan’s geographic privacy. But it would have been fascinating to see the slave voicing against the master- something you don’t find happening quite often and something, that fortunately for the slave didn’t happen here either.
And to those who dream the US declaring all-out-war against India in an attempt to side Pakistan, I say “DREAM ON”
One sensible and brilliant guy who should be taken seriously by Pakistani establishment and US! Rest are living in Cuckoo Land. Sad we lost him as PK envoy to US.
@salman: don't blame express tribune,if you see the source of this article,it's actually of Reuters,express tribune just copied and pasted it,just the same thing what we do in our project reports.
Haqqani being close to four prime ministers of Pakistan knows a lot more than what he said. However, he could not have said even this much had he been the ambassador in the USA. It is a well known fact that Pakistan's foreign policy is controlled by the army and that the vision of Pakistan and USA in most cases are diametrically opposite to each other.
in all of his talk that i have seen .he has not once said that divorce should take place .express tribune really needs some overhauling :P
Mr. HH, today, I have lost all respect for you. I knew what you were like before and it now makes complete sense. There should be no divorce. Pakistan and the US have always been allies, and will always remain allies. It was because of men like HH that our relationship suffered. For heaven's sake, if it weren't for US investment in the 1960s, Pakistan would be like a dying African state right now. We need to learn to appreciate our most generous ally more, and we need to stop listening to pseudo-intellectuals like HH! Here's to a better US-Pakistan friendship! Regards, Rehan
@Maher: the one who is saying this is the one who knows the hard reality more better than any other Pakistani, including the lal topi (the great strategic thinker). He has served in the highest offices of Pakistan, and certainly a better person to comment on Pakistan and US than all those who will post comments here.