United States and Pakistan: Getting Together Again?

As Pakistan's President Asif Ali Zardari and his foreign minister Hina Rabbani Khar head to the United States this week, there is talk of rebuilding (again) the strategic partnership between the two countries.

Sceptics argue that rekindling the strategic romance between the United States and Pakistan might not be easy after the kind of turbulence and mutual recrimination that engulfed the bilateral relations during the last two years.

But realists point to the fact that Washington and Rawalpindi do need each other. While they can't stand each other, the United States and Pakistan can't stay away from each other for too long.

The two governments recognize that popular support in both countries towards the bilateral relationship has never been as low as it is today. After bin Laden was found hiding in Pakistan and killed by American Special Forces in May 2011, many in the US Congress are deeply angered by the fact that Pakistan has been playing both sides of the street in the war against terror.

Following the attack on a Pakistani military post in November 2011 by the NATO forces Rawalpindi shut down the US overland access to Afghanistan and whipped up anti-American sentiments. US in turn cut off military aid to Pakistan.

Since then, the two sides have slowly worked towards normalisation of bilateral relations. A few weeks ago Pakistan reopened the supply routes through its territory in return for a vaguely worded apology from Washington. The US resumed aid to Pakistan after that.

Despite the frustration with Pakistan army, US still needs

Rawalpindi's support in supplying American forces in Afghanistan and facilitate their exit in the coming months.

The US also knows that there can be no successful political solution to the conflict in Afghanistan without Rawalpindi's support. Pakistan needs American economic and military assistance more than ever, given its current parlous financial condition.

... contd.

ALSO READ

Everyone loves food security

'We don't appreciate each other... When people ask me to quit, do you think it doesn't affect me? And how often do you want me to resign?'

National Interest: BJP's troubled House

No yuan for growth