Zardari congratulates Obama
Government officials have fingers crossed over US revisiting drone policy.
ISLAMABAD:
Pakistan is a key ally in the US ‘war on terror’ but anti-American sentiments runs deep in the country and ties with Washington over the past two years have been fraught.
In a BBC opinion poll last week, Pakistan was the only nation where Barack Obama’s Republican rival Mitt Romney scored more highly than the president. Be that as it may, President Obama’s return to the White House is not being viewed in the same light in government circles.
In fact, senior Pakistani officials from the bureaucracy and military appear to be satisfied with Obama’s re-election for the simple reason that it will ensure continuity in American foreign policy.
“On the face of it, both candidates’ approach towards Pakistan was more or less same. But Obama’s re-election means we have to deal with the same administration,” said a senior foreign ministry official. Therefore, it came as no surprise that President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Raja Pervaiz Ashraf immediately sent felicitation messages to President Obama.
Zardari congratulated his US counterpart, saying he was confident their countries’ relations would “continue to prosper”.
“President Asif Ali Zardari has warmly felicitated President Barack Obama on his re-election as the President of the United States of America,” a statement issued by foreign ministry said.
“The president expressed the hope that the relationship between Pakistan and the US would continue to prosper during President Obama’s new term in office.”
President Zardari added that he looked forward to working closely with President Obama towards the shared objective of peace, security, stability and prosperity in the region.
Drone surge in the making?
On the other hand, many fear Obama’s re-election will mean a surge in America’s unpopular drone campaign in Pakistan’s semi-autonomous tribal areas. Dr Ishtiaq Ahmed, an expert on international relations, was skeptical about a complete U-turn in the Obama administration’s stance on Pakistan.
“This can work both ways. Obama can even be tougher during the second term towards Pakistan,” said Dr Ishtiaq, who is also a Jinnah Fellow at the Oxford University.
During one of the presidential debates, Obama defended his decision to keep Pakistan in the dark about the Abbottabad raid to kill Osama bin Laden, suggesting that had he sought prior permission from Islamabad, the world’s most wanted man may have escaped.
“This is the fundamental problem. Pakistan and the US are technically allies; yet, the trust deficit is huge and in this situation there is no guarantee that Obama will review his policies towards Pakistan,” Ishtiaq added.
PTI chief urges Obama to hold drones
Meanwhile, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf chief Imran Khan, who has campaigned vociferously for an end to drone attacks, urged Obama on Wednesday to halt them.
“What Pakistan would be hoping for is a de-escalation of violence now in Afghanistan and the drone attacks in Pakistan’s tribal areas,” he told reporters at the India World Economic Forum.
Drone attacks surged during Obama’s first term and Khan said this had led to greater militancy in Pakistan.
“Now he (Obama) is no longer under the pressure to be re-elected, we hope that he will give peace a chance which we so desperately need,” he said. Another Pakistani official, who regularly interacts with American interlocutors, was confident that Obama will revisit the US drone policy. He revealed that the two sides had been discussing a new arrangement for months but could not strike a deal due Obama’s domestic commitments ahead of the elections.
“Since he (Obama) has booked his place for the White House for the next four years … this may help him take such decisions,” the official said. (With additional input from AFP)
Published in The Express Tribune, November 8th, 2012.
Pakistan is a key ally in the US ‘war on terror’ but anti-American sentiments runs deep in the country and ties with Washington over the past two years have been fraught.
In a BBC opinion poll last week, Pakistan was the only nation where Barack Obama’s Republican rival Mitt Romney scored more highly than the president. Be that as it may, President Obama’s return to the White House is not being viewed in the same light in government circles.
In fact, senior Pakistani officials from the bureaucracy and military appear to be satisfied with Obama’s re-election for the simple reason that it will ensure continuity in American foreign policy.
“On the face of it, both candidates’ approach towards Pakistan was more or less same. But Obama’s re-election means we have to deal with the same administration,” said a senior foreign ministry official. Therefore, it came as no surprise that President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Raja Pervaiz Ashraf immediately sent felicitation messages to President Obama.
Zardari congratulated his US counterpart, saying he was confident their countries’ relations would “continue to prosper”.
“President Asif Ali Zardari has warmly felicitated President Barack Obama on his re-election as the President of the United States of America,” a statement issued by foreign ministry said.
“The president expressed the hope that the relationship between Pakistan and the US would continue to prosper during President Obama’s new term in office.”
President Zardari added that he looked forward to working closely with President Obama towards the shared objective of peace, security, stability and prosperity in the region.
Drone surge in the making?
On the other hand, many fear Obama’s re-election will mean a surge in America’s unpopular drone campaign in Pakistan’s semi-autonomous tribal areas. Dr Ishtiaq Ahmed, an expert on international relations, was skeptical about a complete U-turn in the Obama administration’s stance on Pakistan.
“This can work both ways. Obama can even be tougher during the second term towards Pakistan,” said Dr Ishtiaq, who is also a Jinnah Fellow at the Oxford University.
During one of the presidential debates, Obama defended his decision to keep Pakistan in the dark about the Abbottabad raid to kill Osama bin Laden, suggesting that had he sought prior permission from Islamabad, the world’s most wanted man may have escaped.
“This is the fundamental problem. Pakistan and the US are technically allies; yet, the trust deficit is huge and in this situation there is no guarantee that Obama will review his policies towards Pakistan,” Ishtiaq added.
PTI chief urges Obama to hold drones
Meanwhile, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf chief Imran Khan, who has campaigned vociferously for an end to drone attacks, urged Obama on Wednesday to halt them.
“What Pakistan would be hoping for is a de-escalation of violence now in Afghanistan and the drone attacks in Pakistan’s tribal areas,” he told reporters at the India World Economic Forum.
Drone attacks surged during Obama’s first term and Khan said this had led to greater militancy in Pakistan.
“Now he (Obama) is no longer under the pressure to be re-elected, we hope that he will give peace a chance which we so desperately need,” he said. Another Pakistani official, who regularly interacts with American interlocutors, was confident that Obama will revisit the US drone policy. He revealed that the two sides had been discussing a new arrangement for months but could not strike a deal due Obama’s domestic commitments ahead of the elections.
“Since he (Obama) has booked his place for the White House for the next four years … this may help him take such decisions,” the official said. (With additional input from AFP)
Published in The Express Tribune, November 8th, 2012.