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Why Do We Need America ?

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Why we need America

Posted on March 16, 2011

By M Saeed Khalid

Anti-American sentiment in Pakistan is once again on the rise. But the second or third generations of Pakistanis who chant slogans against America in the urban centres of Pakistan are not fully aware of the genesis of the country’s six-decade alliance with the United States. Nor do they seem to care that it was our leadership which first sought a close partnership with the world’s premier economic and military power. In an atmosphere charged with anti-America slogans, few would be interested to hear that the Pakistan-US alliance was a marriage based on reason rather than convenience.


The two sides stand to lose a great deal in case of a rupture. They believe that the partnership is mutually beneficial and, despite periods of tension, it should not be allowed to wither away. Pakistani-US relationship is based on sound fundamentals. The first of these is that from its birth Pakistan faced financial and territorial insecurity. It was natural for the Pakistani leaders, who perhaps considered themselves more as heirs to the Mogul rather than the British Empire, to turn to Washington for support in the post-World War II era.

The Americans did not seize the opportunity of mentoring the newborn Muslim country representing the world’s fifth-largest country in terms of population till they were confronted by the “red peril.” India’s reluctance to open its doors to western capitalism and its inclination to experiment with socialist methods internally and non-alignment internationally only helped the Americans to set aside their reservations and opt for friendship with Pakistan.

The relations hit road bumps because of America’s “do as I say” methods, Pakistan’s friendship with China, its use of American defence equipment against India, and other “issues,” the thorniest being America’s obsession against Pakistan’s nuclear project. This was to result in a first parting of ways during the Carter presidency. Carter will be remembered as the US president who merely flew over Pakistan to land in Tehran to raise a toast to the “oasis of peace” that Carter considered Iran under the Shah. In barely ten months, however, the US was bending over backwards to win over Pakistan to meet the challenge posed by Russian tanks rolling down Afghanistan in December 1979.

America’s disdain for Pakistan returned after the nuclear tests of 1998 and aggravated with Gen Musharraf’s coup in October 1999. By the second half of 2001, Pakistan was on the verge of default on its foreign debt repayments. After 9/11, America was once again compelled to seek Pakistan’s cooperation. There was one big difference though. The post 9/11 America was humbled but not sobered. It had turned aggressive and arrogant in its hour of grief. The mantra was no longer ‘we are in this together. The sole superpower thundered ‘you are either with us or against us’. This time around, it was not one superpower enlisting support against its rival. America ran a uni-polar world and wanted revenge from the perpetrators of the 9/11 incident.

How Musharraf should have reacted to America’s demand is still debated. To some, he sold out cheaply, seizing the opportunity of legitimising his regime. But he was in no position to haggle. The reward for that cooperation came quickly as Pakistan’s economy was bailed out. Argentina, which faced a meltdown at the same time was asked to fend for itself and defaulted by December 2001. An Argentine analyst wrote at the time that geopolitics had dictated the US choice.

Today the US is upset that its “do more” exhortations regarding Afghanistan are not having the desired effect in Pakistan. A number of US moves have increased Pakistan’s exasperation. The relations have reached a crossroads where a parting of the ways seems probable. How else can one explain President Obama’s stand-alone visit to India, his criticism of Pakistan, an old ally, on Indian soil, and his excessive zeal for civil nuclear and other lucrative sales to India, while his envoys put the heat on Pakistan over the FMCT. The US idea of Pakistan decimating the Afghan Taliban to help America successfully complete its mission in Afghanistan is bereft of logic.

However, a major difficulty with the post-9/11 American doctrine is an excessive recourse to military means rather than statecraft or diplomacy. Today, military logic reigns supreme in the world’s great democracy. Drone attacks in our border areas and gun-toting US commandoes under diplomatic cover in our cities are the visible manifestations of this military logic. Consequently, the Americans prefer to deal with Pakistani commanders and sleuths rather than the country’s civilian leadership or bureaucracy.

The prevailing situation in Afghanistan and in our border areas does not vindicate America’s militarist approach. Gen Musharraf used to argue that terrorism could not be overcome by military means alone. According to him, the military could only succeed in creating a favourable environment but solutions would come through political means. Was it his reluctance to apply Pakistan’s full military might in defeating terrorism which encouraged the US to look for a more cooperative partner with democratic credentials? We may never know the whole truth, but American pressure for a liberal visa regime for their “diplomats” has resulted in tragic consequences. The Raymond Davis affair affected a floundering partnership.

A cooling-off period is needed to work through the imbroglio. In this period, the government could benefit from a brainstorming session attended by its defence experts, senior diplomats and financial managers for a policy planning review of Pakistan’s relations with the US, India and Afghanistan. No such consultation would be fruitful without eventually bringing the major political parties on board. This way, Pakistan would be able to speak with confidence.

President Zardari would be well advised to postpone his planned visit to the US until after an in-depth reappraisal of our partnership with the US. Washington too may be reassessing its ties with Pakistan. The short-term future of the Pakistan-US alliance may very well depend on how the two sides cope with the Raymond Davis affair.

But in the longer term, a close partnership with US should not be viewed or pursued in isolation. Sixty years ago, we reached out to the US not only for financial assistance but for strengthening our defence as well. India was at the root of our defence doctrine. But that can change with an improvement of Pakistan-India ties, with this country maintaining credible deterrence. It is not too late to look for solutions nearer home rather than across the oceans. The 21st century is destined to see a gradual decline of America’s global profile to the benefit of Asian powers. Let us adjust the pendulum in time.

The writer is a former ambassador and former head of the Americas/Europe Divisions in the ministry of foreign affairs. Email: saeed.saeedk@gmail.com
 
Why not?

US can still hike its military expenditures to police around the World, and we are only interested of making money as long as we can defend ourselves. :P
 
It is not too late to look for solutions nearer home rather than across the oceans. The 21st century is destined to see a gradual decline of America’s global profile to the benefit of Asian powers. Let us adjust the pendulum in time.

Amen to that -- lets look to solve our problems near home - yes, that means with India - than rely on the US - we have argued this before, however, some are just too vested in an India as an irreconcilable hostile, this need not be the case.

A cooling-off period is needed to work through the imbroglio. In this period, the government could benefit from a brainstorming session attended by its defence experts, senior diplomats and financial managers for a policy planning review of Pakistan’s relations with the US, India and Afghanistan. No such consultation would be fruitful without eventually bringing the major political parties on board. This way, Pakistan would be able to speak with confidence.

We don't need cooling off, we are cold to each other, Pakistan at least, need out and a all party review would be a great service - We will ensure, however, that the army will never again, have the kind of role it has had in the past - if the army is unwilling to be Pakistan's army, if the army is unwilling to defend Pakistan, if the army is unwilling to be subservient to Pakistani interests, then it deserves no voice in the deliberations of the free people of Pakistan.
 
Why not?

US can still hike its military expenditures to police the World, and we are only interested of making money as long as we can defend ourselves. :P
feeling proud of being in water with a black and a white lady?? :)
Does'nt look good here on pdf. Request you to please change the pic. thnx
 
feeling proud of being in water with a black and a white lady??
Does'nt sees good here on pdf. Request you to please change the pic. thnx

Doesn't bug me any - I kinda respect it:woot::cheers: So keep it
 
Why we need America


It was natural for the Pakistani leaders, who perhaps considered themselves more as heirs to the Mogul Empire, to turn to Washington for support ...

Sixty years ago, we reached out to the US not only for financial assistance but for strengthening our defence as well. India was at the root of our defence doctrine.

True. Pakistan has reached out to the US, and then later to China, to sustain its conflict against India.

Both the US and China have been happy to oblige.

India should strengthen its defence and keep a low profile until the weather changes.
 
It is time for Pakistan to learn from its past mistakes and try to stand on its own feet.

COLD WAR is over and we are still clinging on to WEST for our economic needs and support in our affairs. This mentality must change.

We need to rethink about our issues in our neighbourhood in a new light. And we need to put our own house in order.
 
because of our political, and military needs, breaking apart with USA, shall only please Indians in their hate against PAKistan.
 
because of our political, and military needs, breaking apart with USA, shall only please Indians in their hate against PAKistan.

Some Pakistanis acknowledge that Pakistan that started all the wars against India. Others may need to believe that India is a threat.
 
there are many versions to it. though I have never seen a cat attacking a dog !!

Well, some people would claim that 1 Momin = 10 Kaffirs. Such a person will view himself as the dominant party. America and China have been happy to sustain this belief.
 

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