Since 9/11, Washington and Islamabad have been partners in the war on terrorism. Simultaneously, the Indo-US Strategic Partnership has received a constructive response from both Washington and New Delhi. The United States, therefore, is in a position to play an affective role in the South Asian politics.
The Obama Administration has been seriously engaging Pakistan to combat menace of terrorism pragmatically and professionally. Last week, the US Senate had unanimously passed a bill that approved $1.5 billion a year for five years in humanitarian and economic aid to Pakistan. Islamabad is in a dire need of this kind of economic package due to the increasing burden of military operations in Federal Administrative Tribal Areas and Malakand Division. The military operations displaced millions of people from their homelands. In this hour of need the passage of bill by the United States Senate was an encouraging movement for the determined Pakistanis to eliminate menace of extremism and radicalization from their country.
The government and people of Pakistan have been doing their best to look after these Internally Displaced Persons. These victims’ rehabilitation, however, requires colossal economic resources; and thereby the international community’s economic assistance becomes inevitable. President Asif Ali Zardari stated: “Pakistan needs much more assistance to rehabilitate the internally displaced persons and embark upon a massive socio economic development program of the area to banish poverty and thereby the forces of militancy.” The prevention of militancy requires socio-economic development in the effected areas. Without it, the military operations simply end up killing the terrorists and leaving behind the causes of terrorism.
Ironically, the international community is good in accusing Pakistan and pressurizing it to do more, without playing its due role. Many western states analysts portray Pakistan as the breeding ground of terrorists. They failed to realize that Pakistan is the victim of global terrorism rather than cause of it. The transnational terrorism necessitates that international community should be united and collectively fight against it. Therefore, the international community ought to assist Pakistan in countering Al Qaeda and its sympathizers roaming in its Federal Administrative Tribal Areas. Richard Holbrooke, the US Special Envoy to Afghanistan and Pakistan very rightly stated on June 27 that “Pakistan’s allies are not doing enough for the people displaced by the military operation in Swat and its surrounding areas.” He added: “The US is by far the largest contributor (of aid) to the refugee relief crisis in Pakistan. I don’t mind that ... But other countries are not doing the right amount in my view.”
The war on terror has devastating consequences for Pakistani economy. It increased its foreign debt and also discouraged foreign direct investment. Theoretically speaking, if the developed world writes-off Pakistan’s debt, it would boost its capabilities to prevent radicalization and extremism in the society. It was reported that Prime Minister Yusaf Raza Gilani appealed to the United States to write off its debt to help Pakistan overcome the economic crisis and make up for the losses it suffered because of the war on terror.
Prime Minister Gilani also asked the US National Security Adviser, General (Retd) James L Jones in Islamabad to persuade Indian leadership to restart composite dialogue with Pakistan. He also emphasized that the Obama Administration should play an effective role in resolving the Kashmir and Water Dispute between India and Pakistan. Though Gen Jones stated in Pakistan that he would be carrying a message of equality, fairness and reason for the Indian leadership, yet we could not ignore Washington’s tilt towards New Delhi. The Indo-US strategic partnership has impressive impact on both states relations. Therefore, the Americans give significance importance to the Indian perceptions and conclusions about the South Asian affairs.
The new Singh government seems unwilling to move ahead on the issue of Mumbai terrorist attacks and restarting the suspended composite dialogue. It is because, Singh government is more interested in isolating and condemning Pakistan at the international level rather than working with Islamabad to eliminate the menace of terrorism from South Asia. It has failed to realize that Pakistan is itself victim of similar extremist groups’ terrorist activities. Despite Pakistan’s military operation in Malkand Division and South Waziristan the Indian leadership has been parroting similar allegations on Islamabad and not decreasing its forces from India-Pakistan common border. Nevertheless, rhetorically the Indian high-ups are generating an impression that they have no problem with Pakistan. On June 27, 2009, for example, the Indian Army chief General Deepak Kapoor claimed that India had never been a threat to Pakistan. These statements are well received in the Western countries, because majority of people are not aware of the factual reality.
The peace between India and Pakistan is a pre-requisite for the elimination of both terrorists and terrorism from South Asia. The United States have strategic relations with both states and thereby, it is in a position to mediate and improve their bilateral relations. In this context, the Americans balanced and non-discriminatory approach would have positive outcomes.
