Muhammad Ijaz
The nature of Pak-USA relations are actually a true reflection of power and power related theories in international relations. Since the birth of Pakistan, our rulers remained very keen to attach themselves with USA. Behind this enthusiastic effort of attachment with USA were two major reasons. One was the colonial mindset owned bureaucracy that led to another version of slavery of international politics known as capitalism after colonial experiences. Like other colonial aspects, our bureaucratic mindset also accepted the theory of capitalism because it was suited to their needs and mental approach. Second factor was our geographical location in the region that can be used in the best way by international politics as compare to other third world countries. This location was more suitable for Uncle Sam since bipolar politics till today with the perspective of Central Asian and Middle East politics. But unfortunately in every occasion of international or regional politics we are misused by these powers politics due to our ruler’s personal interest and weak foreign policy. Our most repeated faults on the platform of foreign policy is one sided tilt between two opportunities and unable to maintain balance with the perspective of foreign policy between two states, doctrines or opportunities. Historically we missed the chance of balanced foreign policy all the time. Pakistan’s relations with the USA remain “to and fro” and based on “Carrot and Stick” diplomacy. This kind of diplomacy always favored the power politics as compared to third world country, where super power or regional power adopt this type of diplomacy for developing or third world countries. Since 1950’s till today Pakistan became victim of USA’s stick internationally and carrots domestically.
USA used the “sticks” in the form of sanctions at that time when her interest are not secured and the example of these sticks are in the form of USA’s sanction such as in 1965 and 1971’s executive sanctions, in 1977 Symington Amendment, in 1979Glenn/SymingtonAmendments , in 1990 Pressler Amendments, in 1998 again Glenn and Symington Amendment, in 1999 Military Coup Sanctions and lastly in 2017-18 sanctions based on the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 and “carrots” are given by USA in the form of aids, loans and debts that proved problematic for the state and also for society in the form of further dependency. In spite of all these factors, blame game from both sides are continuously reported as a hot topic of international and national media as well. Nowadays a new move of Pak-USA relations is on the table of media, national and international politics. Let’s see in this move, history of blame game is going to repeat or if this move can be stable for a long time. Time will tell us in a better way. For USA, Pakistan remained valuable since her birth due to its geographical location. During bipolar politics, Pakistan’s territory was used by the Americans to contain Russian hegemonic rule in the region of South Asia, Middle East and Afghanistan. Before the visit of our first PM Liaquat Ali Khan, our pioneer leader Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah highlighted the importance of Pakistan’s geostrategic location for the Americans, at that time Quaid send a delegation for help to USA saying that it is their compulsion to cooperate with us. Liaquat Ali Khan also justified his visit to USA and not to USSR that was enough to understand the Pakistani ruling class mindset for Americans. After Liaquat Ali Khan, Muhammad Ali Bogra and Ayub Khan struggled hard to please Americans even during the Ayub period U-2 incident was defended by our military dictators in return of USSR direct threat over it, and hold the Russian aggressiveness against the usage of Pakistani territory in this episode. While silent tone of Americans over this issue of U-2, remained interested for the students of international politics. During the second military rule of Yahya Khan, Pakistan and her ruling class was again used in the international politics at that time when Pakistan involved in track-II diplomacy of USA and China. Pakistan paved the way for Sino-USA détente and paid a high price for this hand shake in the form of defense agreement of Indo-Russia that led us to the breakdown of Pakistan. While both beneficiary states stay away from the 1971 war of Indo-Pak.
This was the first lesson for us that international politics demand high price for the usage of geostrategic location. After that, Bhutto era was not suitable for American interest and our ruling class copied the socialistic approaches and imposed that doctrine on us in the form of “Roti, Kapra, Makan” slogans. During this era, capitalist world was away from Pakistan’s regional politics but did not forget the betrayal gesturing of Bhutto within Pakistani politics and Middle Eastern politics including “Petrodollar” issues. Again rejoicing time came for US after Bhutto’s removal and this was the era of another military dictator and Pakistan was in the hands of “brass” man. This time Pakistan’s geographic location proved heaven for USA in the form of proxy war against her major doctrinal rivalry country.
The territory of Pakistan on this occasion was used as a “front line” state in return of pea-nuts in true sense. According to Pakistan intelligentsia that war was won by USA just in return for the spending of $ 35 billion which were transferred to Pakistan covertly and apparently. Finally, USA won not only that proxy war in Afghanistan due to geostrategic position of Pakistan but also due to Pakistani man-power, led toward Unipolar politics where USA became sole power in the jungle of international politics.
Now sticks become more visible as compare to carrots for the rest of world particularly for third world and developing countries.
Later on during the decade of 90’s, Pakistan faced American’s self-obsessed “carrot cum stick”diplomacy till 9/11. In the year of 1999 again Pakistani politics enjoyed fourth military dictator and American interest also moved towards us. It is not a co-incidence that when Pakistan enjoyed military government, at the same time, Americans enjoy Pakistan’sgeostrategic importance in international politics since Ayub till Parvez Musharaf in the shape of proxy war from Vietnam to Afghanistan. After 9/11, Pakistan was on the top priority of USA’s new global strategy regarding war on terrorism because Pakistan was sole country for them to get their targets in Central Asia behind the curtain of so called 9/11 incident that was suspicious due to Nom Chomsky’s conspiracy theory. Best territory along
with suitable military rulers for Americans and that was announced as non-NATO alliance. Again carrots were ready for us in the form of uplifting of all the sanctions and on the other end of 180 degree, there sticks were also ready. Definitely our ruling class was ready for carrots not for sticks.
History proves that American’s carrots remained always absorbable for specific groups and institutes of Pakistan not for the whole society. But sticks are applied to all. Thanks to those specific chosen institutes and groups of people that they are always ready for carrots and due to these people of Pakistan, rest of the society is safe from the American sticks.
Nowadays, the remaining’s of 9/11 drama and Afghanistan proxy war highlights the importance of Pakistan for the Americans. Again, carrots are ready for us and sticks are not visible so far. Lets see, that how our beloved Prime Minister can cash these carrots, either this time for the whole society or again for sacred and chosen group of people or institutes? This time, a big question belongs to the carrots whether these will come with dignity or history will repeat itself once more.