By Ayiza Salman
As the relations between the United States and India thrive, debates in Pakistan are on the rise, especially in the wake of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the White House. Prior to the event, Minister of State, Hina Rabbani Khar made it clear that “there is no need to look at anything negatively” regarding PM Modi’s visit to the US. She also expressed her optimism toward the outcomes of this visit for the region.
In fact, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif made it clear in an interview that Pakistan does not have “any problem with the United States developing a partnership with India if it is not at the cost of Pakistan”. However, the joint statement at the conclusion of Modi’s visit has raised many concerns as heads of both states were quick to mention Pakistan by name on the subject of terrorism and threats to global peace.
In a joint statement released by the White House, President Biden, and PM Modi “condemned cross-border terrorism, the use of terrorist proxies and called on Pakistan to take immediate action to ensure that no territory under its control is used for launching terrorist attacks”.
The irony of this statement lies in the fact that the points of contention and congruence between Washington and New Delhi are Moscow and Beijing. India’s geostrategic position presents a significant opportunity to combat the threats from rising Chinese influence whereas its continuous trade with Russia reflects a total disregard of Western sanctions imposed in the aftermath of the Ukraine war.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Pakistan officially condemned this joint statement by calling out its “unwarranted and one-sided nature and its “misleading” stance that was “contrary to diplomatic norms and having political overtones”. This joint statement of Prime Minister Modi’s visit presents a number of implications for Pakistan at the regional and international level.
Smear Campaign against Pakistan
The first implication of this joint statement is that it will encourage the terrorism-linked narratives against Pakistan, as Pakistan is often portrayed in international media for its nostalgia for terrorism, its safe havens for non-state actors, and its cruciality as a nuclear-armed state in influencing regional and global peace.
Therefore, explicitly mentioning Pakistan in a joint statement officially released by the White House, especially with reference to the 26/11 Mumbai and Pathankot attacks reinforces the long-standing narrative of extremism and illicit actions associated with the country.
Moreover, a joint statement between two sovereign states itself holds critical value in guiding their future policies. Hence, many scholars also expressed concerns about the potential manipulation of this statement for imposing sanctions against Pakistan in the future. Such an officially endorsed document can embolden India’s alleged attempts at coercive diplomacy against its neighbor which is already on the brink of an economic and political collapse.
Disregard for Counterterrorism
The second implication as observed by many officials, policy experts, and analysts is overlooking “Pakistan’s close counterterrorism cooperation with the US”. Pakistan on various occasions particularly in the post-9/11 episode remained a staunch ally of the United States in its War on Terror. Pakistan supported the counterterrorism operations at the national and regional level and also provided bases to grant US forces direct access into Afghanistan for targeting the militants associated with the attacks on the twin towers.
However, the joint statement failed to reflect any acknowledgment from the United States of Pakistan’s crucial role in a war that was not hers to fight. In fact, the document only mentioned Pakistan with reference to “cross-border terrorism” and “the use of terrorist proxies”. Even though Pakistan has been facing this menace of terrorism for the last many years but completely neglecting its efforts and going the extra mile with accusations in official statements represents a disregard for Pakistan’s efforts and sacrifices in US-led the campaign against terrorism.
Reminiscence for Pakistan
Moreover, many policy experts showed no surprise towards this diplomatic indifference. The relationship between Pakistan and the United States has always been contractual and temporary. Friendly alliances, bold criticisms, and political sabotage constitute their multifaceted collaborations.
However, geography remained the consistent foundation of Pakistan-US relations. Washington may have sanctioned Pakistan in 1965 for violating the use of American defense equipment in the war against India. But the then leader of the capitalist block of the bipolar world turned a blind eye when the geostrategic location of Pakistan became indispensable in containing the spread of communism and winning the Soviet-Afghan war.
Hilary Clinton also warned Pakistan to not “keep snakes in its backyard” and questioned Pakistan’s intentions in the war on terror. However, the geostrategic position of the country was crucial in combating the rising terrorist threat in Afghanistan.
During the prime of US-Pakistan relations, Islamabad could anticipate grand state visits, joint press conferences, and high-level protocol. Therefore, in an era of shifting geopolitics, Pakistan should not find it hard to accept another wave of fluctuations in its relations with the United States as it survived the sanctions and aid suspensions.
In fact the red carpet welcome, the 21-gun salute, and an “official state visit” for PM Modi should only be reminiscent of an age where Pakistan’s geography used to spin its favor.
Hypocrisy or Geopolitics?
However, Pakistan did not shy away from criticizing the United States for hosting a controversial political figure who was previously banned from visiting the country.
Defense minister Khwaja Asif pointed out the audacity of the Indian Prime Minister in his condemnation of Pakistan, recalling his role in “overseeing a pogrom of Muslims when he was the CM of Gujrat” and suggested President Biden “consider these facts the next time he fetes the Butcher of Gujarat”.
The minister’s comment holds substance and value because his complaint is neither unprecedented nor isolated. Muffled between the roaring applause and standing ovation received by the Indian PM are the voices of more than seventy US democrats and lawmakers that signed a letter urging President Joe Biden to acknowledge the violation of human rights, repression of religious and ethnic minorities, and crackdown on press freedom growing rampant under PM Modi’s leadership.
Although, when questioned about the human rights violation in India, PM Modi was quick to reply: “There’s absolutely no space for discrimination”. Of course, he never addressed the grievances of Muslim and Christian minorities, countered any accusations with facts and figures, or promised any remedies for the future in his response.
Even though President Biden showed “a commitment to civil rights” when addressing the same question, he conveniently evaded any criticism towards the Modi regime or BJP’s discriminatory policies.
After all, it is not in the geostrategic interest of the United States to condemn India’s unilateral action in Kashmir or drag PM, Modi, into the court of international law for his crimes against the minorities. The enemy is not Afghanistan, but India’s rival, China.
Moreover, Pakistan is not in the position to highlight the Western hypocrisy either especially when it has been party to it before. After all, the defenders of democracy found Pakistan as its closest ally when dictators like Ayub Khan and brutal fascists like Zia-ul-Haq ruled the country.
Hence, evaluating PM Modi’s visit and the thriving US-India relations from an isolated lens without any reflection on the past, present developments, and future prospects is futile. Alliances and diplomacy function under the umbrella of power politics and double standards will remain an inevitable byproduct of the great game that is shaping the new world order.
The course of action that remains for Pakistan is to plan its next move.
Moving Forward/ Recommendations for Pakistan
Pakistan’s response is clear. The world must recognize its efforts and sacrifices for counterterrorism. However, speaking from a position of contempt and authority will bear only mockery and indifference.
Since the beginning of Pakistan-US relations, the ties between the two states have never been a partnership of equals as is the case with US-India relations. The United States only served Pakistan with carrots and sticks to strengthen their alliance. However, India- home to a thriving economy and biggest democracy, stepped up to the role without submitting to any coercive pressure.
Therefore, sitting back and considering India in the shoes Pakistan wore in the last decade is misleading. The dynamics of US-India relations are unique and must be evaluated for their future potential rather than possibilities analogies. Retrospection
Given the outcomes of Modi’s visit and its implications for Pakistan, introspection of our foreign policy is crucial at the moment. Pakistan has already suffered from creating an enemy out of India and the United States because it has closed doors for trade and sabotaged avenues of long-term cooperation. The best it can do is acknowledge the grave dangers facing the state and aim for stability so that it can design a consistent foreign policy and have some substance and worth in its reaction to offensive statements and narrative building around it.
Ms. Ayiza Salman is a researcher at Pakistan Council on Foreign Relations (PCFR) Karachi.
The views expressed in this article are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect Coverpage’s editorial stance
