Harsh words

Ever since US President Donald Trump announced his new war policy for Afghanistan in August, where he accused Pakistan of providing a safe haven to the Afghan Taliban and the Haqqani Network, his administration has taken a progressively hawkish position against us. That has now reached its culmination with US Vice President Mike Pence, during a surprise Christmas visit to Afghanistan on Friday, telling cheering US troops that Pakistan has been providing a safe haven to terrorists for too long but that those days are now over since Trump has put Pakistan “on notice”. Pence’s threat is different to those issued by the US before since it has dispensed with all diplomatic niceties. He hasn’t bothered to provide any proof for his accusations nor balanced it out by asking the Afghan government to take action against the likes of the TTP, which continues to target Pakistan from bases in Afghanistan. Whereas previously the US would at least pay lip service to the sacrifices we have made in fighting militant groups, whether of the tens of thousands of our citizens who have been killed or the thousands of soldiers and law-enforcement officials who have lost their lives in the line of duty, this time Pence did not even make a pretence of acknowledging Pakistan’s efforts.

Naturally, the response from Pakistan has been filled with anger and regret. The Foreign Office pointed out how the Afghan government has allowed the drug trade to thrive, given the Islamic State a foothold in the country and been beset by corruption and misrule. It also explained how easy it is to scapegoat Pakistan for Afghanistan’s problems when the US has been unable to defeat the Taliban despite waging a brutal war for 16 years. ISPR DG Major General Asif Ghafoor too gave a detailed explanation of how Pakistan has waged a war against militant groups, and warned the US that its careless rhetoric could undermine this war. The harshness of Pence’s statement can partly be explained by the nature of the Trump Administration, which has shown no aptitude for diplomatic niceties. Additionally, it is determined to pursue better ties with India and there is no better way to cosy up to Narendra Modi than by bashing Pakistan. But the US also realises that it has very little leverage against us beyond threats. Previously, the US could get Pakistan to do its bidding by warning that it would cut off aid and payments from the Coalition Support Fund. Now, however, we are no longer as reliant on US aid. While ideally we would still seek a strong partnership with the US, such a relationship requires both sides to make an effort. The US, it is clear, is no longer willing to make that effort.