For much of the last half century, the US’s relations with Islamabad and New Delhi were perceived as part of the same equation. Improvements in ties with either Pakistan or India were usually seen to come at the expense of the other. However, this changed in the wake of the 9/11 terror attacks, following which White House found itself maintaining a healthy relationship with both countries at the same time.
But now, almost eight years since, the Islamabad-based diplomatic community believes that Pakistan is leveraging on its new-found position as a frontline state in the renewed war against the Pakistani Taliban to gain diplomatic advantage over India and Afghanistan. Professor Sajjad Naseer, a senior political analyst and academician, says that Pakistan’s importance in the US’s war on terror can be gauged from the fact that, despite the clear involvement of a Pakistani-based and ISI-backed jihadi group in the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks, a senior Obama administration official recently said that it was the deep historic distrust between the two neighbours that was reducing Islamabad’s focus on terror.
Pakistan has therefore been using the Kashmir issue — a traditional US concern — to divert attention from the 26/11 investigations. In fact, many here believe that India had successfully cornered Pakistan on the Mumbai terror attacks, and had built enough diplomatic pressure on Islamabad. Now, Pakistan is trying to pay India back in the same coin, exploiting its status as an ally in US’ war on terror.
Senior writer and analyst Dr Hassan Askari Rizvi says Pakistan has gained American appreciation through its Swat operation. Pakistan should use this leverage to obtain more economic assistance, he says, besides asking Washington to advise India to moderate its military and diplomatic disposition towards Pakistan.
“If relations improve between Pakistan and India, the former can pursue military action more effectively against the Taliban in the tribal areas,” Askari said.
The improving US-China relationship should not worry Pakistan either, said Askari, because both Washington and Beijing have a shared interest in containing militancy in Pakistan. “The US is likely to build pressure on Pakistan for more counter insurgency through China, in addition to those by its own prodding,” he said.
