By Mustansar Klasra
US Foreign policy in South Asia mainly revolves around three key indicators i.e. economy, security and issues pertaining to governance.
One factor that kills the trustworthy relationship between any two states is the abrupt shift in foreign policy. The shift in favor of one state at the cost of others is not considered to be a sensible move in international arena. That’s what US did in the last few years in South Asia.
Pakistan and US has always remained key partners at different levels of international politics. Pakistan once enjoyed non-NATO ally status in the aftermath of 9/11. However, India-US relations also kept on evolving increasing concerns in Islamabad. COMCASA and PECA agreements between India and US are two significant examples of their bilateral relations and shift in Foreign policy of US towards India.
It is beyond doubt that alliance networks of the US is one of the most enduring and highly successful element of its foreign policy, but in contemporary world politics China challenge has created significant troubles for the US. When it comes to South Asia, it is the established truth that India and Pakistan are two highly important rather critical countries of South Asia.
The US clear tilt towards India would not only create troubles for Pakistan but also for the US as well. Unrest in Afghanistan, presence of terrorist organizations, China’s rise, issues with Iran are some of the challenges that the US may encounter. Americans delicate dance with India will no longer be useful to address all these above mentioned foreign policy challenges in South Asia. One thing that is worth mentioning in the context of US and Pakistan relations is that the US needs to view Pakistan by the bilateral prism. Looks like this angel is missing since the last 75 years.
Emerging Indo-US strategic cooperation has significantly changed security and economic led architecture of South Asia. China is actively pursuing its economic goals across the region. China’s active model of connectivity is overshadowing the US economic as well as security advantages in the region.
The prime objective of the US in South Asia was always to exercise dominant role in the region but fault line of American policy experts for this region was that they were unsuccessful in formulation of uniform policy for the South Asian region where prism of strengthening of the bilateral relations was missing. Americans are continuously making this mistake even till today. Indo-US cooperation is to contain China; Pak US cooperation was always maintained under the context of Afghan conundrum.
The US needs to mitigate several challenges in this crucial South Asian region. A vital challenge in South Asia is the rise of China and its engagements with SAARC countries at different levels.
China is enjoying healthy economic and security relations with Pakistan and at the same time its continuous trade pattern with India despite having border issues. SCO is another platform that is connecting almost all the South Asian nations including Iran. China is not letting any room free for US in the region. US discriminatory policies in South Asian region, in particular, for India and Pakistan is creating trust deficit for it in the region.
Refugee crisis and unrest in Afghanistan is another policy challenge for the US. On top of that the threat of terrorism and extremism is still very much alive despite of US two decades efforts in this regard.
In the light of these challenges, marginalizing Pakistan in its foreign policy context can never be fruitful for the US in South Asia. Islamabad and Washington both need to realize that peace and stability can never be achieved without building trust and uniform policies for the region. These adjustments and revival of trustworthy relationships on equal and bilateral levels are badly needed for US to engage with nations of South Asia.
Pakistan is the only country in the South Asian region that stood with the US against violence and militancy since 1947. In recent years despite tensions and misunderstandings both US and Pakistan found ways of cooperation and collaborations at different levels.
In recent years as US-China competition picked up, it also constrained relations of Pakistan with the United States. There is still space for cooperation between Pakistan, America and China in Afghanistan. Pakistan has lost its utility for the US as a mediator in Afghanistan.
There is still an opportunity for Pakistan to cooperate in the US efforts to counter any potential resurgence of terrorism in the region. Regional rivalry endures and taking on new dimensions. Pakistan has always remained a key partner for US in all the domains i.e trade, security and education. Before shifting alliances, internal dynamics of South Asia are badly needed to be addressed by international community, in particular by China and the US collectively.
The author is a PhD Scholar at the Area Study Centre, Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad.
