The first issue is ruptured communication and messaging on both sides, which leads to misplaced expectations, double-talk and unneeded suspicion. It almost appears that U.S.-Pakistan relations suffer from a chronic oversized bureaucracy that is unable to coordinate messaging—not just between the two countries, but also between the institutions within the two countries, driving relations to the edge over every strategic or ideological clash in the war on terror.
This is simply not true. Author might have some special interest due to his current position in giving a message that everything is about alright and can easily be fixed. I think there are deeper problems between two countries. America protects only her own interests and they do not give any slightest damn to Pakistani interests. There is no evolution of mutual interests but mostly conflicts of interest in this relationship.
While the think tanks and the media in Washington and Islamabad predict a total collapse in U.S.-Pakistan relations due to an impasse over the Haqqani network and other issues, the relationship has endured for over six decades, with a history of close cooperation on matters of security and intelligence. Relations are suffering, not because of the inherently different interests or evil designs between the two countries, but mostly because of the bureaucratic and logistical issues that have risen due to deep engagement in a long war that is nowhere near its end.
There was never a relation of friendship. At some point in history the interests of both countries converged to stop USSR from her expansionist policies and there was a good degree of cooperation but it would be truly misplaced to call it friendship. Though many pseudo-liberals would like to argue that United States is a great friend but the truth is that we are a Muslim country and the politics of United States is dominated by conservative hardliners that include religious conservatives, jews and some other similar groups. They consider Muslims as their enemies. We have to recall recent history how United States defence department and conservative government started a war on Iraq on the most flimsiest evidence. All the world community, European powers(other than Britain) and United Nations were opposed to war and did not want to participate but jews and religious conservatives bitterly wanted war. What happened later in Iraq should be enough to open the eyes of anyone who can use the slightest logic in his brain.
As if the humiliating defeat in the Iraq war was not enough, all the jewish and conservative lobby started clamoring for war on Iran. When Barack Obama was trying to find a peaceful solution, the conservative led congress was constantly threatening to sabotage those talks. It was only that some wise people in America had actually realized the consequences of another war and tried to look for a peaceful win-win solution for everyone despite the threatening stance of jews and conservatives. If it were not for the more intelligent and more peaceful democratic leadership, we could have seen another war in Middle East.
Though democrats are far more wiser and far more keen for peace than the conservative groups, we have to acknowledge that it is the conservatives that mostly rule the US Congress and Senate and they have no sense of empathy and compassion with Pakistani people. I am sure there would be some notable exceptions to what I have stated but my views are true for general conservative politicians in US. I would say that if there is a strong conservative president again in US, there is a good likelihood for another war and our country might as well be the target. Such a possibility can never be precluded because many jews and conservatives look at our country with great suspicion and hatred. One can see a large number of reports published in American media by these jewish and conservative groups talking about nuclear threats from Pakistan and this hype can transfer into a war hysteria some time to punish our country.
I would say that those Pakistanis who consider America a friend are great fools. However there are many other realities to consider. Democrats are generally wiser and more sensible when it comes to world politics and we should look for cooperation with them. Many stupid Pakistanis consider amount of American aid as a criteria of friendship and such myopic understanding of reality hurts our country. Many democrat governments have no incentive to give us much aid but they are generally not hostile to our country and have no special motives to hurt our country. They would generally not unduly intervene in the growth or politics of our country unlike many conservatives who are more prone to have malicious designs on our country. If I could recall older days when it was said that conservatives are friends of Pakistan and they give us more aid but they in turn manipulated things and damaged interests of our country. There used to be generally more aid but less friendship in conservative times. I would like to add that American defence department is controlled by conservatives and they continue to add their flavor to the policies of democrat governments.
While the United States has a clear policy and knows exactly what it wants from Pakistan—to ensure its support in Afghanistan, reduce the risk of nuclear fallout and push the government to eliminate militancy in its borders—the government of Pakistan does not know what it wants from its relations with the United States, both in the long term and the short term.
The author is right in saying that we do not have an intelligent strategy about relationship with United States. As a Pakistani it is painful for me that we do not understand the interests of our country. There are some demands of United States that are also in great interest of our country but we do not follow the true interests of our country. It is in perfect interest of Pakistan to have a meaningful dialogue with Afghan government and encourage peace and stability in Afghanistan in every possible way. A poor and backward Afghanistan would remain a nightmare for Pakistan in one way or other and a peaceful, stable and prosperous Afghanistan would add to stability in our country. I really think that our nation has to go out of its way to promote peace and prosperity in Afghanistan. I do understand there are hostilities between governments of both countries and in such times, the most natural human reaction seems to respond to a hostile act with an act of hostility on our side. Wisdom lies in somehow stopping hostilities and creating an atmosphere of trust between two countries. We have to take genuine actions to stop the current politics of mistrust and bring trust into the relationship between two countries. Similarly we have to take a principled stand on all US concerns. It seems very right that no act of terrorism should arise from our country to US or any other third country and we should take every action to ensure that nothing of the sort could ever happen.
Despite whatever I said about friendship with United States, I would like to add that we should try to seek friendship with United States if there is some honest leadership in US that actually makes sure that US does not try to compromise rightful interests of Pakistan.
I would end the comments by again emphasizing that we should not confuse American aid with friendship. This is the most misplaced idea that many Pakistanis have. We are supposed to take our destiny in our hands and make the right decisions that grow our economy, flourish trade and introduce technological research and advanced sciences in our country. The reason for poor state of affairs in our country is lack of intelligent planning for our economy and our society and lack of a strong will to properly implement the right plans for our country.
