Writer: Mujtaba Haider
The US and Pakistan has a definite history. One can truly quote it in a very dramatically term Kabhi Khushi,Kabhi Gham.
US-Pak relations developed during cold war era. Before that Pakistan was member of British Commonwealth of Nations. The geo political position of Pakistan played a significant role in making Pakistan a valuable partner in Western Alliance system.
During 1954-55, Pakistan signed mutual defense agreement with America and became a member of SEATO and CENTO. These agreements placed Pakistan under the sphere of influence of USA. Washington was considered as one of the Americas closest allies in Asia during cold war years.
Pakistan received large amounts of economic and military assistance from US in return of allowing US to use its routes and soil. During 1965 Indo-Pak war the President Lyndon B.Johnson placed embargo on arms shipments to Pakistan and that wasnt lifted till 1975.
Preceding the 1971 war, US-Pak relations were marked by poor communication and much confusion. Nixon administration expressed its concerns about human rights violations to Pakistan during Fall of Dhaka while Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto opinioned that US could have prevented India from intervention in Pakistans civil war but it could not. Bhutto stove to lessen Pakistans dependence on America. Following the last of east wing Pakistan withdrew from SEATO. CENTO was disbanded following the fall the Shah of Iran in March 1979 and Pakistan joined NAM.
After Bhutto, the policy of developing nuclear capacity was continued by Zia Ul Haque in response to Indias nuclear weapon explosion in 1974. America urged Pakistan to stop working over nuclear warheads. US cut off economic assistance to Pakistan in 1979 under the shadow of so called Symington amendment to foreign assistance act 1961. The relations between USA and Pakistan were further strained when a brutal crowd of protestors fired US embassy, in a misunderstanding, in Islamabad.
The relations were revived during Soviet Union invasion of Afghanistan in Dec 1979. US aided Pakistan US$3.2 billion over a period of six years to war against USSR. In 1986, US gave US$4 billion to Pakistan mostly as economic assistance. In 1989, the soviet withdrew from Afghanistan and cold war ended.
After cold war, America took a harder position on nuclear warhead issue. In 1990, US refused to aid Pakistan under the umbrella of Pressler amendment. US forced Pakistan to sign treaty on Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons but Pakistan argued to sign only if India signs the treaty first. America put sanctions on Pakistan but ,in May 1998, Pakistan successfully test her Nuclear warheads.
After 9/11 incident, a new era of US-Pak relations started. US called on Pakistan to join their war against terror in Afghanistan. Pakistan assisted the America in return for military and security aid. Pakistan faced bitter consequences after mid-2000s. Pakistan struggled with a Taliban insurgency on its own soil. In the waning years of Obama administration, US found that Pakistan was providing a safe haven to the Taliban affiliated Haqqani network and as a result withheld aid.
The year 2019 began with the tweet of US president Trump saying that Pakistan had engaged in lies and deceit over fifteen or so year period during which US has provided Pakistan with $33 billion in aid.
America is still engaged in Afghanistan and to win war in Afghanistan US needs Pakistan for supply routes as well as well as to negotiate a lasting settlement and peace in Afghanistan. PM Imrans visit to US and talks with Trump has boasted US-Pak relations but no one can quote it as immense or complete success. US have used Pakistan to meet her interests only. Now, US want Pakistan to become a direct member of US-Afghan-Taliban talks and want the soil and routes of Pakistan to use against Iran and other countries in the region.
Gawadar Port has made Pakistan a gateway to reach the hitherto unexplored oil and gas wealth of Central Asian countries and America want to reach them at all costs. Under such interests and China-US rivalry, US along with other western countries trying to dump CPEC (under the one belt, one road initiative of China) that can bring prosperity in region. Pakistan also has several concerns about US relations with her enemies like India but it doesn’t matter. Pakistan is secondary player it requires good relations with US for many reasons.
Pakistan should maintain good relations with US but not on the cost of its sovereignty, land, relations with other countries and integrity. Pakistan should not take part in any others war anymore. Sustainable relations with regional countries and world leading economies are essential for Pakistan to shape better future.
The episode of US-Pak relations is not ended yet. To be continued..