Breaking the logjam

“Disappointment and adversity can be catalysts for greatness. There is something particularly exciting about being the hunter, as opposed to the hunted. And that can make for powerful energy.” – Cathy Freeman

The importance of Pakistan having transited to a different realm has caught the headlines much as it should have. This is so because never before was there a leader with the conviction and courage to step forth and state Pakistan’s case to the world candidly and boldly. It has not only been done; it is now an integral cornerstone of its policy.

For a galaxy of reasons, Pakistan has been at the receiving end of international politics and proclivities. From the very beginning, our leadership decided to become partners with the Western brand of democracy which came at a heavy cost to its regional interests. Worse still, there was no leader along all these years who could see the immense damage being done and get down to reviewing Pakistan’s priorities to align them with its core strategic and economic interests. In the process, it became a rolling stone in the hands of the West, most notably the US, and was tossed around at their discretion.

Pakistan’s partnership in the defence treaties led by the US took the early gloss off and its subsequent involvement in the wars in Afghanistan gave it cuts and bruises which have continued to lacerate. But nothing was enough for the US to be happy and there was always demand for doing more on various fronts. That further aggravated the wounds and a strong perception developed that no matter how much Pakistan would do, it would not please the US and further demands would continue to dent its ingrained objectives.

Despite the pioneering role that Pakistan played in bringing about a rapprochement between the US and China, its growing relations with the latter had become an eyesore for the former – leading to increasing pressure to contain this partnership. This assumed an ominous posture after Pakistan became a key partner in the groundbreaking China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), which the US thought would be a direct threat to its interests in the region.

With Pakistan unwilling to surrender its prerogative, it was India that was built as the alternate power base to lead the ‘contain China’ policy and become the beneficiary of the US largesse at multiple levels encompassing military, economic and political support together with condoning its brutal human rights violations in the Indian-held Jammu & Kashmir which have found a mention in a number of documents published in the last few years by the United Nations, the most recent one being the Report by the Secretary General on Children and Armed Conflict: “I remain concerned by grave violations against children in Jammu and Kashmir and call upon the Government (of India) to take preventive measures to protect children, including by ending the use of pellets against them...I am alarmed at the detention and torture of children”.

Instead of forcing India to stop these grave violations, the pressure on Pakistan kept mounting. This travesty could not continue to eternity. It was damaging Pakistan on multiple fronts. The logjam that it was entrapped in for almost all its years as a sovereign country had to be broken. What was required was a mix of imagination and courage to initiate the process and regain its freedom to tailor its policies for promoting its interests.

Prime Minister Imran Khan’s understanding about the futility of war in Afghanistan had taken shape long before every other world leader. He had always pleaded for negotiations to end the conflict in Afghanistan even when others were busy trying to decimate the Taliban. After two decades of mostly a fruitless war, the US finally decided to withdraw its troops. It was Pakistan that facilitated a dialogue which led to the agreement between the US and the Taliban that paved the way for foreign troops’ pullout in exchange for a commitment that the Afghan soil would not be used for initiating any terrorist activity.

But the story did not end there. More was expected of Pakistan in the shape of granting the US the facility of using its air bases for continued operations inside Afghanistan. In other words, there was an effort to keep Pakistan boiling in the cauldron of fire. That gave it its big moment when the prime minister responded with his “absolutely not” comment that changed the course of things in this part of the world. The US is still trying to come to grips with the refusal while Pakistan has been forthcoming with the plea for establishing economic partnership.

In an interview with a Chinese television network, Prime Minister Khan further reiterated his position by terming “very unfair” the pressure that the US and other Western countries are exerting on Pakistan to change its relations with China: “If pressure is put on Pakistan to downgrade its ties with China, it would not happen”. He stated that “in good times, everyone stands with you. But in your difficult, tough times, bad times, you remember those people who stood by you. Pakistani people have a special fondness for China”. He termed CPEC as “the biggest thing happening in Pakistan and the economic future the country was moving towards”.

There comes a time when a need is felt to look for new openings and redraw the lines to block out the forbidden spots. I think that moment has arrived in the context of US-Pakistan relations. Acknowledging the mistrust that has built over time, there is a need for engaging bilaterally with the express intent to mend the fences for the mutual benefit of both.

This could begin with initiating renewed effort for peace in Afghanistan and the region. It is important for the US to understand that Pakistan has to stay clear of the ensuing mess in Afghanistan and guard itself against a twin scourge: destabilising it from across its western borders and weakening it internally by using hostile forces to unleash terrorist activities. Under the circumstances, piecing together an anti-China block and expecting Pakistan to join it would be a simplistic view.

This is a watershed moment for Pakistan. There are risks inherent in the clear position that it has taken to devise policies to promote its inalienable interests, but a compromise at this stage would spell doom. Pakistan has gone through the cauldron of fire to come out the country that it always deserved to be.

The logjam stands removed. Pakistan will continue to desire good relations with all countries, but without compromising its relations with China.

The writer is the special assistant to the PM on information, a political and security strategist, and the founder of the Regional Peace Institute.

Twitter: @RaoofHasan