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U.S.-Pak Relations: The Love-Hate Dichotomy

Friday, January 29th, 2010

By Dr. Kamran Iqbal

The history of Pakistan-US affairs has been one of love-hate relationships for many decades. But the strategic relevance of both the countries in the current war on terrorism binds the two countries closer than ever, and it’s not unusual for partners to occasionally snap, especially when confusion can sometimes prevail and definitions become murky. These definitions are largely based on misunderstandings, stereotyping and under-addressed gaping voids. This matter is, in many ways, becoming serious to an extent where failure of democracy in Pakistan can indirectly affect the Obama administration for the next term, as it would define the U.S.’s ability to operate in Afghanistan. An untimely American departure from from that troubled country without credible success in the war against terror could exert deleterious effects on Pakistan, adding fuel to fire of the alliance which often operates on a short leash of trust.

Currently, the relationship between these two important countries is largely shaped by insecurities than anything which guarantee peace through long term and mutual understanding. In this series, I have attempted to throw light at the confusions from both the sides and attempted to bring forward its origins, causes and solutions with its possible shape in future. I believe it’s important to learn and realize about misunderstandings on both the sides because these countries are major stakeholders in this war and will be stakeholders in peace afterwards. I believe if US bolts from Afghanistan as it has done in the past, leaving vacuum in its wake, the move will leave Pakistan unsupported and alone to deal with its problematic neighbor, there’s a chance Afghanistan will fall back into the grip of extremists, which would be something greatly unsettling and difficult for U.S. specifically and world in general to undo.

The first, foremost and important thing to point out in mutual confusions is the anti-American sentiment in Pakistani public and institutions. These sentiments stem from past history of United States’ relationship with Pakistan when the U.S. participated in the war against the Soviet Union in Afghanistan, where many Pakistani youth were recruited alongside with Afghans, Arabs and others in so called ‘Jihad-e-Afghanistan’. Pakistani youth involved was mostly from the North Western part of Pakistan bordering Afghanistan who shared similar or closely related traditions, cultural values, tribal dynamics, languages, strict religious practices and most importantly, ability to blend in well with the fabric of Afghan society.  These youth in particular, from Pakistan’s southern Punjab and elsewhere in general, with U.S. and Pakistan’s cooperation, was provided with the easy and robust access and means to infiltrate and sustain in Afghanistan and was greatly benefited by already longest porous border that traverse through endless series of rugged mountains.

This pack of adventure came with the side effects without any expiry date, as this led to the historically largest influx of Afghan refugees to Pakistan, bringing with them the ‘Poppy and Kalashnikov Culture,’ the social imprints of which can still be found widely with most strong impact on Northern and fading effects on Southern areas of Pakistan. This also helped them blend in with the pockets of Pukhtoon communities all over Pakistan. Since the war thrived on political support generated by religious slogans, it introduced, promoted and consolidated the politics of nationalism with strong religious blend. It’s where religion entered the politics into religion. It brought religious zeal to conflicts which were otherwise purely territorial in nature. This affected Pakistan greatly and fragmented this society by each passing day, the wounds of which will perhaps take longtime to heal.

Participation  in this war against the Soviets was the decision completely made by the leadership which was pure military dictatorship, not a democratically elected government, that had taken power via coup. US, knowing this very well, preferred power over principles by collaborating with the regime which was directly in conflict with the defined democratic values of United States. To participate in that war was something the whole Pakistani nation was hurled into and people were not given any choice to exercise any freedom of opinion for that matter.  Moreover, as a question of Jihad-e-Afghanistan came, it introduced Wahabi’s Jihadi radical version of Islam in Pakistan and Afghanistan, to fuel this war which was actually a proxy element of the Cold War. As a silent but important participant in Afghan War, Saudi influence in Pakistan grew and the people of Pakistan, having strong religious and emotional relationship with the Kingdom, welcomed their version of Islam, the laws of which were copied and pasted into Pakistani laws by the then General Mohd. Zia-ul-haq without understanding the socio-cultural dynamics, needs and values of people.  This paved the way for even greater misuse of religious slogans and motivations especially in sensitive institutional settings. In those days US used to call these warriors as moral equivalents of American founding forefathers. After the USSR was defeated and American objectives were achieved, the scope of U.S. interests in the region shrank considerably. The U.S. fled from Afghanistan without any support to Pakistan, leaving this country alone, between devil and the deep blue sea. This was not all. Pakistan was confronted with the series of embargos and sanctions by the U.S. in return which greatly limited the functions of state security, and as a consequence, discouraged the emergence of democratic regimes even further and strengthened the position of military regime on the basis of ‘doctrine of necessity’.

The resultant social phenomena of illiteracy, intolerance, religious zeal, military regimes,  territorial conflicts, demographic bulge of youth, anti-US sentiments and foreign interventions orchestrated the complex interplay of events to which we all are now a witness. It is not unusual for Pakistani people to recount these facts every time they see U.S.-Pakistan cooperation and dialogues on any media forum. They think the current war too, which actually is a Pakistani war as well, is no different and US again would do the same. Below are the links which provide snap shots to media testimony to American participation and their view of these Mujahideen of Afghanistan, this is what Congressman Charlie Wilson said in an interview about Afghan war against Soviets:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2JgVc8jAHIw

This is what US currently feels as shown by opinion of US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton,

Hillary Clinton http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dM1BG_NnHaA

This is what Pakistani main stream media and people feel about current US and Pakistan relationship.

Pakistani Media http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I7PYUxMxkWA

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This is the first part of a 4-part series on the misunderstandings, history and complexities of relations between Pakistan and the U.S.


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