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Chicago Summit: Pakistan holds ground
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May 25, 2012
The government has been endeavoring to execute recommendations of the Parliament to transform Pakistan’s foreign policy. The primary objective of the state’s foreign policy is to maintain normality in relations with its neighboring and other states of concern, especially to avoid conflict with the Great Powers.

Pakistan has always tried to maintain cordial relations with the United States. Indeed, it is in the advantage of Islamabad to have a functional strategic partnership with Washington. But, to sustain a strategic partnership with the United States at the cost of national interest is not a pragmatic foreign policy and strategic option for Pakistan. Therefore, despite the American and NATO member states’ pressure, President Zardari remained firm on the demands of Pakistan during the recent NATO Summit held at Chicago.

Presently, to Americans utter surprise, Islamabad has been frustrating their Southern Asian initiatives. It is neither comfortable with Washington’s declaratory policy to assist India to emerge as a Great Power, nor at ease with their Afghanistan policy. It is understandable that sooner the United States-led NATO/ISAF forces will leave Afghanistan. The withdrawal plan had already been announced.

The withdrawal announcement was a realistic strategic move by the Obama Administration, but it has failed to spell out a doable plan for Afghanistan. The Afghan experts have consensus that once the foreign troops leave the country, a bloody civil war will start between different Afghan factions. Many pointed out that there is a great possibility that Taliban once again recapture Kabul.

Islamabad cannot ignore the professed post-withdrawal happenings in Afghanistan. Therefore, its engagement with Washington is very much calculated. Though it has not altered its war on terrorism strategy, it is not ready to act as a pawn on the regional strategic chessboard, principally in case of Afghanistan.

The pressure tactics of the Obama Administration failed to ensure the docility of Islamabad. Secretary Clinton’s tactic to charge Pakistan from the Indian soil, during her recent Asian tour, and American Congressmen’s resilience to cut the economic assistance, if Pakistan failed to comply with their unqualified demands have further multiplied distrust between Islamabad and Washington. Despite these negativities, both sides have been endeavoring to improve their bilateral relations. It seems that both sides are not clear about each other’s limits. Realistically, Washington cannot dictate Islamabad on its sensitive security issues, yet former can exercise a decisive influence or play a constructive role in chalking out latter’s regional and global strategic agenda.

Nato Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen’s unconditional invitation to President Asif Ali Zardari to attend the two-day NATO Summit in Chicago, which had focused on the endgame in Afghanistan, was an optimistic development in the prevailing gloomy Pakistan-United States relationship and NATO’s increasing problems due to suspension of ground line of communication by Pakistan since 2011.

President Zardari accepted the invitation and participated in the NATO’s Chicago summit. The presence and participation of Pakistani president in the Summit has contributed positively in the tense environment, but was not able to completely end the stalemate regarding the opening up of ground lines of communication. The current suspension of supplies to the US/NATO/ISAF troops in Afghanistan has increased the war suspending. The increase in financial burden annoys all members of NATO and ISAF.

The Pakistan president, in his speech at the Summit, stated that the cabinet’s Defence Committee “decided to direct the relevant officials to conclude negotiations for resumption of the Ground Lines of Communication.” He added: “Pakistan believed in partnerships based on trust and respect. Partnerships that will secure the future of our people.”

The hopes about resumption of smooth functioning between the United States and Pakistan were dashed when President Zardari declined to open the NATO supply routes prior to the settlement of the charge or tariff for each vehicle passing through Pakistan. In addition, Pakistan has also not budged from its demand, i.e. US apology over attack on Pakistani military post Salala on November 26, 2011. In a bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the Summit, President Zardari also asked President Obama to revise his administration’s drone air raid strategy.

Thus, in principle, the government has decided to recommence the suspended supply routes of the transatlantic alliance without compromising on the vital preconditions Pakistan’s Parliament had put in place.


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