Thaindian News

By Salim Haq

Yet, the feeling is that the security alignment with Pakistan would continue to remain important for the US, in Afghanistan and the war on terror. Pakistan is clearly seen as linked to US success in Afghanistan. Whether it is facilitating negotiations with the Taliban or spoiling them, or continuing to support the Haqqani network or moving against them, a solution to Afghanistan is through Pakistan alone. Hence, relations with India cannot be at the cost of Pakistan. It is not a zero sum game.

But there is concern that if there is a settlement in Afghanistan, if the US withdraws from Afghanistan where would it leave Pakistan? Pakistan’s leverage would be drastically reduced. Thus, it is a transitional/temporary relationship.

Apart from the various views, what the Obama visit has done is to force the Pakistanis to see themselves in a mirror. And the image they see is not flattering. Elements of this self-image are:

(i) Pakistan cannot always leverage its geo-strategic position, which is becoming a fading asset. It cannot live on the Afghan card alone any more. Pakistan in fact has become bogged down in Afghanistan.

(ii) Accepting its geo-political limitations, Pakistan must focus on its internal problems and especially the economy.

(iii) Mainstream politicians don’t really figure in US calculations. The US talks to the military directly, which has control over foreign policy.

(iv) A core element of Pak foreign policy has been leveraging the US against India. After the Obama visit, this is no longer realistic. The US can, at best, facilitate given India’s size and development.

(v) India is in a different league due to its economy.

The overall conclusion in Pakistan over the visit is that the US had chosen firmly to pursue independent policies with regard to India and Pakistan, each with its own rationale. While Pakistan has been linked to Afghanistan, India is on a different trajectory altogether.

What has hurt Pakistan the most is that it did not expect to be put on the expedient and temporary tactical track while India was put on the long-term strategic track.

Tragically, even now, there is very little acknowledgement in Pakistan that the major consideration for the US, as with the rest of the West, is India’s fast growing economy and market. Pakistan is still frozen in a security paradigm where it feels that its geographical location alone is enough for the rest of the world to give it importance while it merrily spawns terrorist groups as a tool of its foreign policy.

The earlier Pakistan realizes that economic development far outweighs being a nuisance, the better it would be for itself and its people.

Obama’s visit has made the ‘Dear John’ writing on the wall crystal clear. The limited Wikileaks revelations only reinforces how the US perceives Pakistan. Will Pakistan read the writing? (ANI)

Attn: News Editors/News Desks: Mr. Salim Haq has authored the above article and the views expressed in tem are his.