It is unfortunate that this report indicates this general perception after all the efforts taken by both our countries to improve our bi-lateral relations. Our countries are making productive efforts in the realm of military, politics, and public relations. The U.S. is promoting bi-lateral business, trade, tackling the energy crisis, and developing educational institutes including workshops enhancing agricultural practices in Pakistan. Still it would be useful to keep in mind that this is a perception, and although it is important, is does not translate to extremities such as calling one country the enemy of the other. It is true that our bi-lateral relations have had highs and lows since the inception of Pakistan, but our willingness to work with each other to salvage our relationship should be a clear indication of how important our partnership is – far from enemy status. Those people whom this statistic is representing should ask themselves this: would the U.S. promote better relations with, and support/assist, Pakistan in so many different categories if the “enemy” notion was true?
Haroon Ahmad
DET – U.S. Central Command
www.facebook.com/centcomurdu
With two-way trade between them at around $5.1 billion in 2012, the United States and Pakistan have a long-standing and strong economic and commercial relationship. Pakistan’s largest trading partner and top source of foreign direct investment is the United States. However, Pakistan stands as a modest market for the United States and ranks at the 59th largest purchaser of US goods in 2012 with a value of $1.53 billion. The United States was Pakistan’s largest market in 2012 with almost 16% of its total exports. The United States is providing Pakistan and economic assistance over a five-year period that is work some $7.5 billion.
American businesses have a very strong presence in Pakistan. Apart from these there are hundreds of local firms representing US companies in the market. Examples of leading US companies doing business in Pakistan include, Coca-Cola, Microsoft, Pepsi Cola, Oracle, IBM, 3M, McDonald’s, KFC, Pizza Hut, DuPont, Procter and Gamble, NCR, Domino’s pizza, Caterpillar, Monsanto and Pfizer. They have collectively invested over $1.5 billion in Pakistan and the cumulative annual revenue is around $3 billion. These firms also contributed a sizeable amount of the National Treasury every year in the form of direct and indirect taxes.
Along with the contribution of the US in terms of business the number of students that line up for Fullbright scholarships and apply to the US for studies belies this public perception. Again, this has to do with major incidents such as the Salala incident being highlighted instead of the routine cooperation between the two nations. In addition, the growing resentment in society of the US has much more to do with general frustrations in society with regards to unemployment, law & order. There is a convenient blame game ingrained in Pakistani society that the
United States will not be able to end even if it pumps in the trillion dollars. That has its roots in the social and political setup of Pakistan(and other Muslim nations) and requires a different approach by the US that essentially is a mixture of isolation and disengagement from the local scene while supporting the entry of people from these countries into the US( for study and Business purposes).
So I would take an odd solace from this to CENTCOM, after the protesters are done burning the US flag in their anger over some issue, they all end up going to Mc Donalds for their meal.
@
orangzaib @
Hyperion @
Syed.Ali.Haider
...By "Their" i meant "of American people"
..or perhaps i said that in a sarcastic way to the member i replied to
