For more than six decades Pakistan
has been fighting proxy US war in the region. Those in power are reluctant in
admitting this harsh reality. The US terms Pakistan front-line partner in war
against terrorism. The country might have received peanuts in terms of military
support but the focus of economic cooperation has remained India.
The US has been a major buyer of
textiles and clothing but when it comes to outsourcing India is the preferred
choice. The logic is that India is one of the biggest democracies, its economic
policies are consistent and above all foreign investment in that country is
more secure. Political instability and precarious law and order situation does
not permit American investors to make any substantial investment in Pakistan.
In one of the previous blogs I have
stated categorically that the US install and dislodges governments in various
countries to pursue its foreign policy and more importantly establish its
hegemony in any specific area. South Asia and MENA have remained prime focus,
it was to counter communism in the past and now controlling natural resources, particularly
oil.
An important point to be kept in
mind is that the US first creates phantoms like Al Qaeda and ISIS, which get
funds and arms to pave way for the entry of US combat forces under the disguise
of UN approved assaults or peace keeping forces, the worst examples are
Afghanistan, Iraq and Syria.
The facts of US policy become
evident when one reads the details of briefing of Marine Corps General Joseph
F. Dunford Jr. He currently heads the US Marine Corps and is the next chairman
of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff. According to him the areas of divergent
interest with Pakistan include “our views on the use of proxies and the
importance of a positive and stable Pakistan-India relationship”.
He specified the US still has three
key interests in Pakistan, averting Al Qaeda’s re-emergence, preventing the
proliferation of nuclear weapons and promoting regional stability. He said that
the US-led coalition and the Afghan government were closely watching the ISIS’s
attempt to expand its reach to Afghanistan and Pakistan and were collaborating
closely to prevent this threat from expanding.
The US-Pakistan relationship,
according to general, was fundamental to US vital national security interests.
The US needs to continue cooperation with Pakistan to defeat Al Qaeda, support
Pakistan’s stability and achieve a lasting peace in Afghanistan.
Dunford said, “Regional partners
have an important role to play in ensuring a stable, democratic Afghanistan. We
have encouraged stronger ties between Afghanistan and Pakistan and have been
pleased with their recent bilateral efforts to address their security
concerns.”
Dunford said Pakistan had been, and
remained, the largest recipient of the Coalition Support Fund. It is in US
interests to have an enduring partnership with Pakistan. He expressed his
commitment by saying “I will continue to evaluate the efficacy of the mil-to-
mil cooperation we have with Pakistan and identify ways in which we can work
with Pakistan to enhance regional stability.”
Do more mantra was also evident as
Dunford said the US assistance to Pakistan had enabled operations in
Afghanistan and operations against Al Qaeda and helped secure its strategic
interests. “If confirmed, I will continue to work with the Pakistani military
to ensure that they continue to do more.”
His statement has come at a time
China is supporting Pakistan in the development of infrastructure under China
Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). One fears that the US once again wishes
Pakistan to fight its proxy war rather than focusing of its economic
development. For the implementation of projects under CPEC peace is the prime
requirement, which can’t be achieved unless all the militants, be it foreign or
funded by outsiders are weeded out.
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