Home > Turning Point: a survey of Pak-US relations

Turning Point: a survey of Pak-US relations

by Open-Publishing - Sunday 28 September 2008
2 comments

International Governments USA

By Yousuf Nasim
Sunday, 28 Sep, 2008 | 10:00 AM PKT |

President Zardari and President Bush of the United States during a meeting in New York. - Reuters

Pakistan’s foreign relations with the United States are once again at a turning point. The US’ increasingly aggressive counter-insurgency tactics and Pakistani indignation at border violations signal a stark increase in tension between the two ’War on Terror’ allies.

Regardless of their reservations, it is essential that Pakistan and the United States work together if they are to conquer the threat of regional destabilisation. Not only is it a tactical necessity, it is also a historical responsibility which both parties share.

In his remarkably prescient article ’Blowback’ of February, 2000, Mr Ardeshir Cowasjee highlights the "terrible cost" at which the end of the Cold War was hastened by US and Pakistani policy-makers.

Mr Cowasjee writes: "Tomorrow came, and with it terrorists, bombings, killings and bloodshed. The thousands of Pakistanis and Arabs sent in did their jobs, fought the ’holy war’ against communism, and when that ended they turned their sights to another holy war, on a much grander scale."

Though many in Pakistan today credit the United States with the ’creation’ of those very same Mujahideen who they have now vowed to eliminate, the role of Pakistan in those foundational years cannot be overstated. It was a truly unholy alliance founded on coldly strategic objectives.

While America provided the weapons and funding, Pakistan provided the men, the training, and the single-minded ideology which went on to dominate on both sides of the Durand line.

Though their motivations were different, their intentions converged. In a 1998 interview with Le Nouvel Observateur, Mr Zbigniew Brzezinski, National Security Advisor to President Jimmy Carter and architect of the Soviet demise, recalls his delight at "the opportunity of giving to the USSR its Vietnam war."

"What is most important to the history of the world?," Mr Brzezinski asks. "Some stirred-up Moslems or the liberation of Central Europe and the end of the cold war?"

Meanwhile, Pakistan was motivated by a desire to infuse strategic depth to its regional ambitions, and a non-commissioned militia with which to destabilise the Indian state.

After all, it is no coincidence that as Russian tanks were pulling out of the Persian Gulf in 1989, the secular nationalist resistance in Kashmir was being transformed into a militant Islamist one. Thousands of recruits pouring out of CIA and ISI funded Madrassahs merely replaced one mortal enemy with another.

Through the ’90s the Afghan Mujahideen continued to evolve. It did not take much imagination to replace the ’godless Communist’ foe with the ’godless American imperialist’ one.

Scant days after the events of 9/11 transformed the global landscape, Pakistan was given a choice. To either aid the Americans in reigning in their errant progeny, or be "bombed... back to the stone age." For Pakistan to turn its back on the Taliban was a difficult but necessary choice.

President Musharraf’s decision to ditch the Afghan Mujahideen was as coldly rational as General Zia-ul-Haq’s plan to create them - ideological rhetoric not withstanding. Sooner or later, it was inevitable that Pakistan would have to deal with the Pandora’s Box they had opened during the Soviet-Afghan War. Pakistan’s experiment with realpolitik had come full-circle.

Today, Pakistan is paying for its past sins: its failure to develop the empowerished tribal belt; its draconian rule in FATA; its support of militant Islamism to further its own ends. Under the umbrella terms of ’Taliban’ and ’al-Qaeda’ countless lateral militant groups challenge the writ of the state in Bajaur, Waziristan, Swat and Kurram.

Slowly, public opinion in Pakistan is shifting. Recent attacks targeting civilins such as those which occurred in Dera Ismail Khan and the Islamabad Marriott have coalesced opposition to the Taliban in an unprecedented manner.

Conservative hawks of the Zia era who interpreted the Taliban as nothing more than disgruntled patriots are slowly being side-lined. The same goes for middle-class intellectuals who continue to deny Pakistan’s vested interest in the War.

Once again, we find that Pakistani and US interests have converged: this time to work towards the elimination of rampant militancy from Afghanistan to Swat. And yet, Pak-US relations seem to be at their lowest point since the inception of the alliance in 2001.

The dispute stems from Pakistan’s lack of sovereignty in FATA and the northwest. These are de facto autonomous regions - the writ of the state does not exist here. Whereas Pakistan wishes to deal with the problem through a strengthening of their state machinery, the US has an opposing desire to first root out the Taliban by force if necessary.

The recent spats over cross-border raids by US ground-troops, drones and helicopter are an attempt by the recently elected Pakistani government to consolidate its strength. Whether the Americans will be impressed by these attempts is another matter entirely.

While the Zardari government is still learning to flex its muscles, the by-now cynical Bush administration is nearing the end of its second term and domestic pressure to show results is at a premium. However, the fact is that there are no short-term solutions to the problem.

In a recent interview with the Telegraph, the Governor of the North West Frontier Province, Mr Owais Ghani - someone who knows the Taliban as well as anyone in Pakistan - was cynical about the possibility of a comprehensive military victory.

"I think Afghanistan is practically lost," Mr Ghani told the UK newspaper. He went on: "to eliminate the Taliban you have to slaughter half the Afghan nation."

"They (the US) have to talk to Mullah Omar, certainly – not maybe, and Gulbuddin Hekmatyar and the Haqqani group," Mr Ghani continued. They are "a political reality."

Forum posts

  • I am Pakistani American and this is how I see the recent Jihad.
    Russia takes over Afghanistan back in 1979.
    USA wanted Russia out of Afghanistan.
    Pakistan asked to help USA , Pakistan Accepted
    ( Many in Pakistan believe that was mistake as USA has been not on been on the side of Pakistan-1)
    If you remember we used to see news programs praising Mujahdeens ( Jihadies) who fought for Afghanistan with the help of USA and Pakistan.
    We called them hero and they came from many countries and they did kick Russia out of Afghanistan. They did that with faith + USA + Pakistan help. All 3 played equal role.
    This is when Jihad was revived. But these Jihadies ignored the fact that with the help of faith only it was going to be almost impossible or very long term war. But some how they thought it was won with faith only, They started to believe in Jihad more. They got into Idea if they can kick Russia’s azz ,they can kick anyone’s azz. It became easy for them to recruit people as now their resume looked good. They went after young kids who truly believed these Mujahdeen’s Jihad. This gave these people such as Osama and Taliban’s Edge and suicide bombers became their lethal weapons.
    Then here comes 9-11 and the same people who we trained to fight Russia turned against USA for the reasons as follow.
    They did not like increasing influence of USA in oil rich countries.
    They did not like USA ‘s blind support to Israel.
    Now I am talking about them not all the Muslims. But all Muslims were disturbed by the blind support of USA to Israel. Even people like Doctors when sat home they showed concerns over it. You can ask this to your friend.
    These misguided people took Jihad as a tool to level their jealousy with west for supporting Israel with blind eyes..
    Mean time there was no Muslim leader out there to take care of issues like Israel and Palestine etc. So these people took things in their hands.
    So these people launched their version of Jihad on USA. In my understanding Jihad is against the people who attack Islam. As I need to learn a lot about Islam as well. In no way Muslims like me or all moderate Muslims support these people. But with all honesty when they see images of Palestinians beaten by Israel , They kind of that moment feel these extremist after all our only hope. Provided there is not credible leader in Muslims World.
    Now I was raised in Pakistan I never heard of Jihad from anyone other than the one at the time of Prophet Mohammad
    (Peace be upon him) , I have read Pakistani version of history in school and there was no mention of Jihad during Pakistan’s nationalist movement in 1947 against Brits. I must wonder why Jihad all of sudden? Above is my analysis of recent Jihad. Now this is not only a tool for extremist Muslims but also for Israel and Oil greedy business community. I feel these extremist are provoked to get oil based issues resolved and to protect Israel. Israel has all the right to exists. I have no problem with that. I do not even give a damn about Palestinians as my friends who were raised in Kuwait tell me these Palestinians always looked down on non Arab Muslims. Which we are as Pakistani.
    People always blame people like me why we bring Israel in the picture. Guess what yesterday’s debate was not with out the mention of Israel either. So Israel is either being used by USA to get what some groups want from Arabs and Muslims. Or Israel has control on USA to get the world changed the way Israel want. This is very clear.
    Now back to why Pakistan has no hopes from USA.
    As per Henry Kissinger in 60’s this was Pakistan’s role to help USA:

    Kissinger writes how "boyishly ecstatic" General Yahya Khan was at having pulled off the secret operation. He had personally reviewed each detail of the clandestine departure and arrival and put the full facilities of the Pakistan government at Kissinger’s disposal. He asked nothing in return, contrary to media claims at the time; "he performed a great service for our country and it must be recorded that he dealt with us honourably." Nixon thereafter "adopted a somewhat warmer tone toward Pakistan. He and I were profoundly grateful for Pakistan’s role as the channel to China. It was a service for which Pakistan’s leaders, to their lasting honour, never sought any reciprocity or special consideration." But then "our relations with Pakistan were marked by a superficial friendliness that had little concrete content."

    Then here comes 1979 Russian occupation of Afghanistan, Once again USA turns to Pakistan even though USA never helped Pakistan in wars between Pakistan and India , Once again Pakistan agreed to help USA. Not knowing this will bring the war inside Pakistan.

    After job was done USA left these Mujahdeen who were once praised by USA in Afghanistan. They left Afghanistan in mess. Result is in front of us today. Pakistan has paid very high price for that. Because these people moved in border areas which never have been ruled by any one since Alexander the Great. But those people always defended Pakistan when Pakistan went on war with India. This is very valid point why Pakistan does not want USA to attack them.

    Then when 9-11 Happened Pakistan was asked to help USA and once again Pakistan Agreed. But USA leaves Afghanistan for illegal war in Iraq. Based on Lies. How can Mc Cain claim we won war in Iraq, Won what? There was no threat from Iraq to USA so what did USA win there. But at the time when USA should have been in Afghanistan they got busy in Iraq. Causing regrouping of these extremists in Afghanistan and Waziristan border areas of Pakistan.
    Its very easy to ask Muslims if they accept any responsibility of what is going on today with out knowing lots of truth which usually is not told in west. It just does not sell here. News channels make money on lies so they are ok with that.
    This is where we stand. Muslims has many issues like Christians and other religions do as well. There are Christians who will shoot innocents in Schools , There are hindu’s who will kill nuns. There are Jews who will deny rights to Palestinians. There are thief in Christians and there are thief in Hindu,Muslims, Sikhism and Judaism. There are liars in all religions, there are murderers in every religion.
    One can say why Muslims are so backward in some countries , well then help them educate rather than spending trillions of dollars on bombs and bombing them. Open American schools ,build roads and bridges and make money from that not from bombs. The way I see America, I see this is best place on earth to live . I think American people are the great people. Greed of corporations has brought this day in USA. I was not born here but I never want to see America go down. But no one want to listen to the facts and logics any more. Everyone buys into lies.
    God Bless America so America can bless rest of the world with fairness.
    Join this group for the unity of Pakistani people and to educate them
    http://www.new.facebook.com/topic.php?topic=5833&uid=26257839395

    • idiot america’s decline has started , afghanistan war can never be won . Y america escaped from iraq, vietnam and many others .

      FUCK AMERICAN ASS !