Mistrust of US Runs Deep in Pakistan
By Rahil Yasin
25 July, 2011
Countercurrents.org
LAHORE: Although the US Congress has rejected a bill to cut all aid to Pakistan but still mistrust runs deep in the relations between the two countries. Following outright delusional insanity and learning no lesson from past mistakes, the US once again pushed the matters to the breaking point. US volatile policy towards Pakistan always fuel anti-Americanism in the country making us believe that it could not be our true friend. It changes sides whenever its interests achieved.
Even rhetoric of using terms like friend, partner or ally does not fit well in the bilateral relations of the two nations. As we have witnessed after the death of Osama bin Laden in Abbottabad attack, the US took a one-eighty degree turn in its policy towards Pakistan, discontinuing the long term partnership rhetoric and enhanced the drone strikes amid the diatribe it resorted for its erstwhile frontline ally nation in the war on terror.
Osama bin Laden’s killing without prior information of Pakistani authorities proved to be catastrophic in multiple ways: it breached Pakistan’s sovereignty, demoralized its security forces, damaged its status of being a trusted ally, sabotaged its integrity in fighting militancy for ten years, zeroed its sacrifices and shattered its image worldwide. Adding insult to injury, the US rushed to announce a cut of 800 million dollars in Pakistan’s military aid along with putting immense pressure to expand military operations to North Waziristan and other areas bordering Afghanistan. With shattered sovereignty and mounting mistrust, Pakistan ousted American military trainers in an apparent attempt to limit latter’s covert operations in the country. This brought a brisk and negative response from the US by using the same old trick of withholding military aid. During this chaotic period, high level US officials kept on visiting Pakistan and ISI chief also went to America in an effort to avoid a complete breakdown in the ties. Pakistan issuance of visas to CIA officials and US Congress rejection of the bill demanding aid cut put the ties on right track.
The relationship between Pakistan and US always remains wobbly because the latter doesn't treat the former on equal basis. Whenever, a mission accomplishes, the US leaves Pakistan in the lurch. Similarly, in the wake of the killing of bin Laden, Pakistan automatically became less important to the US. A recent report also proves that America’s reliability on Pakistan for supplying goods and arms and ammunition for its troops in Afghanistan has been reduced to just 35 per cent. In addition, American policy towards India also harms Pakistan’s security. The US should not provide full space to India to spread its influence in Afghanistan, at the expense of Pakistan’s interests. Being an ally in the war on terror and suffering huge losses, this was Pakistan’s right to have a central role in the Afghan endgame. Fu Xiaoqiang in his latest article published in China Daily rightly said, “the US may have its reasons for the overtly pro-India stance in its South Asia strategy. But that could harm Pakistan's national security and the sustainability of US-Pakistan relations.”
It is a high time for Pakistan to review its policies towards the US to safeguard its interests in Afghanistan. As the US is largely dependent on Pakistan for Afghan drawdown, Pakistan must try to establish a friendly government in Afghanistan. If America wants peace in South Asia, it has to understand Pakistan’s concerns and interests. Instead of dealing with it like a satellite or client state, the US needs to treat Pakistan and India equally without putting more pressure on the former through cutting financial aid and others such tactics. This mistrust can be reduced only if America proves to be a long term partner of Pakistan. Otherwise, a complete breakdown in the relations is on the horizon.
Rahil Yasin a senior writer and researcher based in Lahore. He can be reached at [email protected]
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