Resolution 901

Pakistan and the United States are considered to be natural allies at the diplomatic level due to many common values. Pakistan’s first prime minister Liaquat Ali Khan, despite an invitation from the Soviet Union, decided to visit Washington to establish cordial relations with the world champion of democracy, human rights and civil liberties. Since then, every Pakistani leader has tried hard to develop close relations with the US.

However, bilateral ties between the two allied countries have also suffered from setbacks due to various factors. There have been numerous such occasions in the past when both sides became very close to each other. Similarly, both countries also openly expressed reservations and mistrust towards each other in the past.

A recent example regarding these complex relations is Resolution 901 in the US Congress, which was passed on June 25, 2024 with an overwhelming majority. Reiterating the need for free and transparent elections, the resolution acknowledged that on February 8 this year, hundreds of thousands of Pakistanis participated in the general elections, with record numbers of women, youth, and members of religious and ethnic minority groups. Interestingly, the resolution acknowledged that Pakistan is an important and valued partner of the United States.

Under the resolution, the US president and secretary of state have been asked to strengthen ties with the government of Pakistan to ensure democracy, human rights and rule of law in the country. The resolution also “urges the government of Pakistan to uphold democratic and electoral institutions, human rights, and the rule of law, and respect the fundamental guarantees of due process, freedom of the press, freedom of assembly, and freedom of speech of the people of Pakistan.”

The passing of the said resolution in the US House of Representatives received significant coverage in the international media and sparked a new debate at the global diplomatic level. Some observers saw it as a positive sign for strengthening democratic values and protection of human rights, while most analysts criticized it as interference in Pakistan's internal affairs.

On the diplomatic front, the resolution has resulted in creating a potential rift in Pak-US ties, as it is being seen as a negative development from the Pakistani perspective. The government of Pakistan has shown a strong reaction to allegations of electoral irregularities in the February 8 election. The Foreign Office has termed the US resolution as a "misunderstanding of the political landscape" with "neither constructive nor objective" aims. The National Assembly of Pakistan has also dismissed the US resolution and passed a counter-resolution, in which the US initiative has been described as regrettable, completely contrary to reality and interference in internal affairs.

In December last year before the elections, I had highlighted some predictions in the light of Vedic astrology regarding the post-election situation in Pakistan. During my interview with a private TV channel, I warned that the socio-political scenario in Pakistan seems to be getting tough in July. Now, the passing of Resolution 901 in the US House of Representatives has proven my predictions to be true and accurate.

I still stand by my stance that what happened in the last few months and what is going to happen in the next months will bring several new complicated challenges to increase Pakistan's diplomatic tensions. Today, there is a dire need to devise a concrete plan of action by analyzing the motives of this US initiative with a cool mind and to remove doubts amicably. Otherwise, I am afraid that the US allies including India, Saudi Arabia and the UAE may also use this resolution to justify a review of bilateral relations with Pakistan.

Today, while congratulating the American people on the 248th Independence Day, I hope that the top leadership of the two natural allies will show prudence, seriousness and tolerance on this sensitive issue and will not take any extreme step that would harm the cordial ties of two natural allies.

The writer is a member of the

National Assembly and patron-in-chief of the Pakistan Hindu Council.

He tweets/posts @RVankwani