The United States Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has urged the US lawmakers to desist from cutting aid to Pakistan, underscoring the point that a strong bilateral relationship is essential to their country's strategic interests in that region.
The aid cut would force the US to "scale back dramatically on critical missions" in Iraq, Afghanistan and Pakistan, she told House Foreign Affairs Committee on Tuesday, as she was fighting back the calls for drastic reduction in US foreign aid and assistance. The United States, she said, is working to "deepen our partnership and keep it focused on addressing Pakistan's political and economic challenges as well as our shared threats," adding it's one of America's "key investments". On the face of it, it looks that the release of Raymond Davis may be vital for the Obama administration but not the peg to hang the whole gamut of Pak-US relationship - something that suggests the depth of talks the generals of the two countries held in Oman last week.
However, the nature and depth of the generals' parleys has been revealed by General Jehangir Karamat, former Chief of Army Staff and former Pakistan's ambassador to the United States, in a read out of the meeting, and reported by a website and Business Recorder. Reputed as a thinking military leader General Karamat has been also largely endorsed by noted Pakistani analyst and an unidentified 'senior Pakistani official'. He reportedly said that the United States did not want the US-Pakistan relationship to go into a free-fall under media and domestic pressures, the "considerations (that) drove it to ask the Pakistani generals to step in and do what the civilian governments were failing to do". "...once beyond the tipping point the situation would be taken over by political forces that could not be controlled". The official, in his comment, expressed the hope that after the meeting in Oman the "likelihood of some resolution has increased," adding "Eventually the ISI and CIA will have to work out new rules of engagement". Indeed, the inside of the meeting is greatly revealing but it is still one-side of the story, Pakistan has not yet given any account of the nature of talks, leaving Jehangir Karamat's "inside" to stand on its own feet.
It's encouraging to find Secretary Clinton call upon the Congressmen to see Pak-US relationship in its strategic perspective. But to bracket it with Afghanistan and Iraq as single whole is no more realistic. The three are different situations, each one undergoing its own challenges. Iraq is now 'peaceful and democratic' following American military intervention. Afghanistan is busy in finding the best course to elected governance, now that United States is a bout to begin troop drawdown in July. Pakistan doesn't fit in that category, its stability is much more important both for viable Pak-US relationship, as well as for the regional stability. May be the neighbouring India's business and investment tends to colour American perceptive but that means nothing compared to Pakistan's strategic position for its influence on the regional peace and security - a factor that rightly weigh in with US policy-makers. Without its active participation, the Americans would be helpless, even in bringing Afghan war to an end.
One message that emerges loud and clear from General Kayani's position in the Oman talks that America has to show 'respect' for the sacrifices in the war on terrorism. That Raymond case is now before the court and everybody must wait for the verdict. One would be profoundly naïve to think that the chief of Pakistan Army can impose a solution of its own on the imbroglio, and it is too unrealistic to be seriously entertained. Pakistan Army remains popular with people of Pakistan, and to expect an action which may run counter to public sentiments seems to be unthinkable.