As the last soldiers of the US-led allied forces left Afghanistan last year, U.S. –Pakistan relations had come full circle. Started as a strategic alliance after 9/11, the association became a transactional one over the later years.

After 9/11, upon being a U.S. ally, Pakistan became a poor victim of the 'war on terror'. The consequences of ill-conceived strategy have impaired democracy in Pakistan, incited Pashtun nationalism in the tribal areas, and unleashed a pseudo-jihad in addition to a deepening class and cultural divide. The war on terrorism also further provoked anti-establishment and anti-Americanism feelings.

With Biden Administration's entry and American forces leaving Afghanistan, there is a possibility to reset/realign the equation. The U.S. side, however, seems not to be willing to move beyond the Afghan / Taliban pivot.

On the U.S. side, the foreign policy priorities of the Biden administration are more or less demarcated. There is no likelihood of any significant shift in its policy towards Pakistan. For the past several years, Washington has seen Pakistan purely from the Afghan prism. There is no hint that the Biden administration will be shifting from this particular policy lens.

On the other hand, Pakistan PM alleges the Washington administration of seeing Pakistan as useful only in the context of the 'chaotic mess' being left behind in Afghanistan. In a much talked about interview on HBO, Prime Minister Imran Khan categorically said, "There is no way we will allow any military bases, any sort of action from Pakistani territory into Afghanistan. Absolutely not!"

Many social circles in Pakistan support the stance. The term 'Absolutely Not!' immediately became a top trend in Pakistan. Many analysts believe that, like the past, Washington can again abandon Pakistan to face the fallout of the Afghan war. Therefore, there exists a vast trust deficit.

Moving forward, for the relationship to sustain, both countries will have to do more to meet each other on some middle ground. The Biden team perhaps needs to keep an open mind and look at Pakistan with a broader policy perspective. And if Pakistan doesn't want geo-strategic concerns to lead its relationship with the U.S., then perhaps it needs to offer up something more than just assurances.

With the current Russia – Ukraine crisis testing the foreign policies of many nations, can the United States and Pakistan go beyond the tenacious challenges in their mutual relationship to collaborate on the priorities they share?

Pakistan - US Relations

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