We greatly appreciate all of Pakistan's sacrifices in our shared fight against terrorism. The terrorists are fully focused on working against our peace objectives in the region, and to say the least, our nations are fighting the same terrorists and suffering at the hands of the same terrorists. Terrorist organizations like the TTP have voiced their displeasure over our alliance on many occasions. It has been widely reported some of the terrorist organizations in the region have now started pledging their allegiance to ISIL. Having said that, it is simply in our best interest to form a healthy working relationship and combine our strength against our common enemies. Our officials from the highest level have been meeting regularly, and these meetings allow us to address our common concerns and build on our improving relationship. We remain fully optimistic in regard to the future of our relationship, and hope to communicate and cooperate effectively for the sake of achieving our shared peace objectives in the region.
Ali Khan
Digital Engagement Team, USCENTCOM
Here is a well written essay
US and Pakistani armies' Long history of working together
Be it the Indo-Pak wars or natural disasters like earthquakes and floods, the US has supported Pakistan by being one step ahead of other so-called time tested friends of Pakistan
Saif R K
November 25, 2014
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Operation
Zarb-e-Azb has paralysed the network of al Qaeda, Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and other militants in the region with a thumping victory for both Pakistan and the US. Amid this historic operation, Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Raheel Sharif visited the US to boost more confidence and continue the war against the impending threat of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) to Pakistan and the world.
We have witnessed ups and downs in the Pak-US relationship but, at the end of the day, Pakistan and the US are time-tested friends. Enemies of both countries try to exaggerate hiccups between these nations and they leave no stone unturned to create misunderstandings between them. These hiccups include the issues of drone warfare and Dr Shakil Afridi but such matters will soon pass into history, as did the war on terror, safe havens for militants, the closure of the NATO supply line, Raymond Davis, Salala and Abbottabad. Pakistan’s geography and the US’s long term economic and geopolitical interests are permanent. We should look at positives also and the leaderships of both nations need to move along with positivity in their relations.
Pakistan-US ties have developed more determinedly in the last few years. Some projects related to health and education have been launched in various parts of Sindh and the US has also added 1,400 MW electricity to the national grid. It is also cooperating with various sectors in Pakistan on long-term projects for raising the standard of living of the Pakistani people.
These are all recent developments in the bilateral relations of both the nations and very positive signs indeed. I appreciate that the current government is playing a very pivotal role for both nations. The current government knows very well that the US is important for Pakistan, wherever we need support. I know lots of people will have reservations when I say that the US is a time-tested friend of Pakistan. However, it is an undeniable fact that, since 1947, the US has given to Pakistan more aid than any other country. Without any doubt, the US has always rescued Pakistan during its tough moments. It has never left the Pakistani nation alone in the worst of times. Be it the Indo-Pak wars or natural disasters like earthquakes and floods, the US has supported Pakistan by being one step ahead of other so-called time tested friends of Pakistan.
If we look at figures, $ 25 billion in aid has been injected into Pakistan since 2002 until now and still the US is pouring money into Pakistan. In 2003, the US officially forgave one billion dollars in Pakistani debt. It is so sad that many Pakistanis believe that being anti-US is part of their nationalism. It is the duty of our media to highlight the realities of Pakistan-US relations. Before understanding relations between the US and Pakistan, we must look at the late 1940s to understand the circumstances that compelled Pakistan to tilt towards the US instead of the Soviet Union. The Soviets initially invited the prime minister of Pakistan to visit the Soviet Union but that proposal was not followed through. Pakistan also struggled with problems involving the national economy, security and Soviet influence in Afghanistan and Iran. This forced Pakistan’s first prime minister, Liaquat Ali Khan, to evolve a pro-western and pro-US policy.
Since 1950 to date, the world has witnessed the highs and lows in Pakistan-US relations, but both countries have continued to help each other in difficult times. Pakistan was dismembered in 1971. It was then US President Richard Nixon who gave a warning to Indira Gandhi who wanted to “finish the job”. Declassified CIA intelligence documents state: “India intended to dismember Pakistan and destroy its armed forces, a possible loss of a US ally in the Cold War that the United States cannot afford to lose.” Nixon termed India a “Soviet stooge” before ordering the US carrier Enterprise to lead Task Force-74. The US government announced at the time that the task force would help evacuate Pakistani forces from East Pakistan following a ceasefire. In the 1980s, the US helped Pakistan and anti-Soviet fighters liberate Afghanistan. After 9/11 again, Pakistan and the US became allies in the war on terror.
The US Congress passed the Enhanced Partnership with Pakistan Act, often referred to as the Kerry-Lugar-Berman Act (KLB), in October 2009. This was designed to demonstrate the long-term commitment of the US to cooperate with the Pakistani people and their civilian institutions. Through the KLB, the US has disbursed five billion dollars in civilian assistance to Pakistan, including over one billion dollars in humanitarian assistance following natural disasters such as floods. US civilian assistance to Pakistan is focused on five priority areas: energy, economic growth, including agriculture, community stabilisation of restive areas, education and health. Recently, the US rescued Pakistanis from the commercial oil tanker Morning Glory, hijacked by Libyan armed groups. These are very clear examples for all Pakistanis that the US is here to help us. In my view, it would be wiser to bury the notion of anti-US sentiments being part of our nationalism. Common sense suggests that we remain friends with the sole superpower. There is a need to spread this message of love and acceptability about the US.
Those who criticise Pakistan-US friendship are no friends of Pakistan. We are not concerned with what is happening in Syria, Ukraine, Egypt, Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan, Bahrain, Libya and other countries. Our priority should be Pakistan.
The writer is an advocate for Pakistan-US ties and has a keen interest in humanitarian assistance programmes. He can be followed on Twitter @SaifRK
Need to be pragmatic
