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US, Pakistan need to be honest about differences: senator

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US, Pakistan need to be honest about differences: senator
Anwar IqbalUpdated January 11, 2019
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There seems to be a realisation in Washington that the administration’s attempt to force Pakistan to change its Afghan policy is not working. ─ Reuters/File

WASHINGTON: “To be honest about differences, that’s important, to be honest,” said Bob Casey, a senior member of the US Senate while describing how he thinks relations between the United States and Pakistan can improve.

Senator Jeanne Shaheen, a member of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, pointed out that historically the United States and Pakistan “have been very good friends” but “that relationship has cooled, somewhat in the last few years”.

Senator Shaheen, who as a member of the Senate Subcommittee on Near Eastern and South and Central Asian Affairs plays a key role in shaping US policies towards Pakistan, acknowledged the need to rebuild the once-close relationship and urged the Pakistani-American community to play its role by getting involved in the American political process.

“I think it is important for us to figure out how to right the relationship, so that we can continue to be very strong allies,” she said.

These two senior members of the Democratic Party were among about 20 lawmakers who spoke at a reception that the Pakistani American Political Action Committee (PAK PAC) hosted for the new, 116th Congress in Washington on Wednesday night.

The presence of so many American lawmakers at a Pakistani reception was a pleasant surprise as these days US senators and congressmen maintain a safe distance from Pakistan.

Even the Pakistan Embassy struggles to lure US lawmakers to its receptions and recently turned to state legislators to ensure an American presence.

But that seems to be changing with a softening of the US administration’s approach towards Pakistan. There seems to be a realisation in Washington that the administration’s attempt to force Pakistan to change its Afghan policy is not working. So, they are now seeking Islamabad’s cooperation for ensuring a graceful end to America’s longest military engagement, the 17-year-old war in Afghanistan.

Senator Casey, the first Democrat to win re-election to the Senate from Pennsylvania, however, was honest and frank in explaining how he thinks US-Pakistan ties can be mended.

He urged both sides to ensure that “we continue to engage even when we have disagreements” and one of the most important areas of cooperation, he added, has to be counterterrorism.

“There’s no place in the world that has suffered more gravely from terrorism and terrorist attacks than Pakistan,” he said, noting that Pakistanis have worked with the US government in implementing US counterterrorism strategies.

“Sometimes it works. Sometimes we do not share enough information. Sometimes it is a breakdown,” said Senator Casey, explaining why Washington often seems frustrated with Islamabad.

“And every president, I think, should have the right to question the relationship, to ask more questions about the bilateral relationship,” said the senator in an apparent reference to President Donald Trump’s recent statements about Pakistan. “But I think it is of critical importance that we continue to engage to defeat terrorists and to counter any terrorist activity,” he added.

Senator Casey noted that the US and Pakistan have also had difficulties in maintaining a strong economic and trade relationship.

“We should continue to pursue that because the Pakistani people have a lot to offer the world and have a lot to offer our markets. And I hope we can continue that,” he said.

Senator Shaheen reminded Pakistani-Americans that “democracy is only as good as the people who engage in it” and if they wanted to influence policy-making, they need to get engaged.

“It is really important because that’s how we make policies. Unless we engage, we are not going to change the things we disagree with,” she said.

House of representatives; Democrats Rashida Tlaib, Ilhan Omar, Elissa Slotkin, Susan Wild, Madeleine Dean, Greg Stanton, Steven Horsford, Raja Krishnamoorthi, Andre Carson, Mary Gay Scanlon, Andy Levin, and Max Rose, and from among Republicans; Joe Wilson, Jack Bergman, Brian Fitzpatrick and Jim Banks attended the reception.
 
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It was a temporary relationship and lasted while it did. Let's not remain stuck in the past. Like our PM Imran Khan said, Pakistanis simply won't be a gun for hire anymore.
 
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The problem has never been the americans, rather it was the failure of successive Pak govts (mil and civ) that could never articulate themselves much less stand up for itself. It has, and continues to try to fit into the policies and narratives of outsiders.
 
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The problem has never been the americans, rather it was the failure of successive Pak govts (mil and civ) that could never articulate itself much less stand up for itself. It has, and continues to try to fit into the policies and narratives of outsiders.

It was like putting a 16 year old in charge of a factory.

They were inept, incompetent and not articulate enough to deal with world powers. In every other society the cream rises to the top and you have best of the best as head of states but in Pakistan any uneducated criminal can wind up having a senior post.
 
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agreed!

so can we say that US took full advantage of those inept and incompetent govts?

because they were never sincere with Pakistan they always had an agenda for a certain time period to achieve and that was it.
 
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Since this was a primarily Pakistan focused gathering so let me focus on the crux of matter which is what Pakistan wants from United States of America, which frankly is far more relevant then to what United States wants from Pakistan given the reality of World and of geopolitics in which we stand today!

What Pakistan will be interested in is the economic, trade based co-operation as well as Transfer of Civilian Industry and Technological co-operation........Military and Counterterrorism etc Pakistan wont be interested in US for it anymore....We already have a robust mechanism and co-operation for that with Regional countries and we r content with it.

What America can do, if it wants good relationship with Pakistan is to look at how our relationship was in 60s, which was multidimensional like the one we have with China today and are building the same type with Russia today as well. It should invest in Pakistan's industrial sector in terms of money and technology so the manufacturing ability of our country gets better and we can be made a regional manufacturing and export hub of their products just as China is doing through CPEC....in future Pakistan will trade by land with India, and greater South and East Asia, Central Asia and Russia as well as Europe through these land based routes as well as MENA region and greater side of Africa.....They should see this as a great potential and invest today for great returns of tomorrow for these investments, Bill Gates is already trying to do that, and in same way invest in science and Research and development to better train and educate the labore in here to work in your factories and companies like its being done in India....Pakistan has started an ambitious project of making making an aviation manufacturing hub in the region, I think the high end American companies also need to see that and same way invest in this field as well...So they can make their commercial airliners in Pakistan and export them to their markets in Asia, Africa or Europe etc....and return make lots of revenue by using our manpower and resources in making them hence saving a lot of hard cash that they will have otherwise invest in US market in labor and resources etc

America, instead of blocking the paths of our recovery from this War in Terror economically like taking our case out of the way in FATF to be greylisted in there as well as stopping IMF to co-operate with us on the conditions which will help our economy and generate revenue for the betterment of our people, America should sincerely and honestly co-operate with us inorder to salvage this relationship among these above mentioned lines.......or else there isnt much incentive for a country as BIG as Pakistan 220 million population, which is 5th largest in the world to continue this what was at best a cold war era relationship which has largely lost its true value in this Modern Digital age.

In short make it worthwhile for Pakistan to truly value this relation which has otherwise past its best! to say the least by putting to bed forever the security and counterterrorism etc.
 
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When you have someone honest working for the interest of your country and not for others, the world tends you start respecting you even if they dont agree with you. With americans the problem always that they knew Pakistanis would sell their mother for the right price. All the governments of PPP and Nawaz did were to reinforce these reviews held by the americans. Result even though Pakistan was the most hit and affected country from terrorism, we got bashed regularly and held responsible for even their own failures. So Americans tried to push their way through PTI led government in a similar fashion however the reaction they got was unexpected for them.

So after all the arm twisting and twitter diarrhea of Trump, the Trump administration has began to understand that it will not be business as usual with Pakistan and we have left with little leverage to continue blackmailing. Hence the stance is slowly but gradually softening up. I hope Pakistan remains firm on its core interests and make sure our interests are served in any Afghan settlement reached.
 
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I upvoted it as a thanks for taking the time out and writing down your thoughts. However i don't agree with much of it. Once/if i get time to, i'll explain. But you're smart enough to do a thought experiment and see for yourself where the problems lie. Hint: too wistful and wishful. And the same structuring of the problem and supposed solutions that got us to this stage in the first place.
 
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I do agree in us demanding more from US for every move we make for Afghanistan but i would avoid another strategic partnership with them given our differences in vision for the region lets keep the relationship economical only
They consider OBOR a threat we consider it our economic future if we get too tangled we may end up in an uncomfortable situation
 
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I upvoted it as a thanks for taking the time out and writing down your thoughts. However i don't agree with much of it. Once/if i get time to, i'll explain. But you're smart enough to do a thought experiment and see for yourself where the problems lie. Hint: too wistful and wishful. And the same structuring of the problem and supposed solutions that got us to this stage in the first place.
i know! lalay i know....lekin economic competition bhi to koi cheez hoti ha na ya nahi? Agar hum apne mulk ko sirf China he ki jannat banana chahty hain to ye bhi ghalat hojaye ga, sirf Amreeka or kuch mulk he hain jo Pakistan main bhi manufacturing hub apni products ka bana k China tough competition dy sakty hain, orr in any case bhalla to in the end of the day hamara he hogana!:azn: market competition sy he india bhi EU/China/America ko successfully blackmail krta ha Pakistan k against.

When it comes to business, learn from Chinese and specially from Hindu Banya! agar ye kaam ye EU waly or Amreeki India main krr sakty hain, to Pakistan main q nahi? jaha koi khas local industry bhi nahi ha k market protectionism ho india ki tarha or ye mulk india sy zyada cheap sabit hoga interms of profits.

This country is a heaven for capitalists and use the capitalism to make them make this relationship which benefits Pakistan! warna shayad hum log bhi future main socialist ho jain, jitna influence unnka barh raha ha Pakistan main....orr asal baat k ye log Pakistan ki nazro main capitalism or apni hasiyat banain, warna jaisy pehle bhi kaha ha, Pakistan DOESNT HAVE ANY REAL INCENTIVE TO VALUE THIS RELATIONSHIP WHICH HAS OTHERWISE PASTED ITS BEST AND ISNT IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE MODERN DIGITAL AGE VALUES! WHERE pAKISTAN IS NO LONGER A SECURITY STATE ANYMORE, BUT A REGIONAL ECONOMIC, TRADE AND MANUFACTURING HUB and Pakistan is heading towards that path!

Think it this way, let Americans worry about what they wish or dont or whats wishful in my post in their eyes or not......But in the end do evaluate my post with an open mind while remembering that today America needs Pakistan most or else it will lose its complete worthwhile influence in South Asia.

As for Pakistan, we are a completely changed country, and its upto America to salvage with relationship in tune with modern era dynamics!

I do agree in us demanding more from US for every move we make for Afghanistan but i would avoid another strategic partnership with them given our differences in vision for the region lets keep the relationship economical only
They consider OBOR a threat we consider it our economic future if we get too tangled we may end up in an uncomfortable situation
o yera! security prism sy harr cheez dekhna band kr......Ambassador David Hale had also said that they would like it invest in CPEC too....orr main to ye bat kr bhi nahi raha, Main kah raha hun k Amreeka bhi Pakistan sy sath economic relationship banaye jaisy China ny banaiye ha! Oirr China ki tarha hamari bhi economy main invest kary or Pakistan main apni products ki manufacturing start karry like it does in india already or Pakistan ko bhi apna manufacturing hub banaye or yaha sy bhi apni products ko export kary hamary cheap labour or resources ka faida uthaty hue!

Abb Samjha?

forget about Afghanistan, move beyond Afghanistan, warna Amreeka Afghanistan sy nikall kr foran Pakistan py pabandian laga dy ga!
 
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Pakistan is in such a position if we play our cards right we can have great relations with both China and USA. But issue is USA to scared of China and to counter that it for sure would help India in every way to keep a check on India and which would lead China to help us more in economy as well as defence circle. This would be a vicious circle for many decades to come @Umair Nawaz
 
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i know! lalay i know....lekin economic competition bhi to koi cheez hoti ha na ya nahi? Agar hum apne mulk ko sirf China he ki jannat banana chahty hain to ye bhi ghalat hjoga, sirf Amreeka or kuch mulk he hain jo Pakistan main bhi manufacturing hub apni products ka bana k uss tough competition dy sakty hain, orr in any case bhalla to in the end of the day hamara he hogana!:azn:
That is what i am saying jani let the relation be only economical in nature do not get involved in military or strategic partnerships they burn all they shake hands with well except for Israel
This country is a heaven for capitalists and use the capitalism to make them make this relationship which benefits Pakistan! warna shayad hum log bhi future main socialist ho jain, jitna influence unnka barh raha ha Pakistan main....orr asal baat k ye log Pakistan ki nazro main capitalism or apni hasiyat banain, warna jaisy pehle bhi kaha ha, Pakistan DOESNT HAVE ANY REAL INCENTIVE TO VALUE THIS RELATIONSHIP WHICH HAS OTHERWISE PASTED ITS BEST AND ISNT IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE MODERN DIGITAL AGE VALUES! WHERE pAKISTAN IS NO LONGER A SECURITY STATE ANYMORE, BUT A REGIONAL ECONOMIC, TRADE AND MANUFACTURING HUB and Pakistan is heading towards that path!
Their government even ignores the capitalists to them their economic policy is a reflection of their security narrative we should approach US with cautious optimism
Think it this way, let Americans worry about what they wish or dont or whats wishful in my post in their eyes or not......But in the end do evaluate my post with an open mind while remembering that today America needs Pakistan most or else it will lose its complete worthwhile influence in South Asia.
Every action with US needs to be taken with a backup plan in place you cant trust them just in 2 years they have broken countless accords even with countries who were their ww2 allies at one point in time
forget about Afghanistan, move beyond Afghanistan, warna Amreeka Afghanistan sy nikall kr foran Pakistan py pabandian laga dy ga!
Wish we could sadly its our neighbour you cant change neighbours
 
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Pakistan is in such a position if we play our cards right we can have great relations with both China and USA. But issue is USA to scared of China and to counter that it for sure would help India in every way to keep a check on India and which would lead China to help us more in economy as well as defence circle. This would be a vicious circle for many decades to come @Umair Nawaz
pta ha, but US ko focus na karo orr apni baat karo, US ko Pakistan ki zarurat zyada ha Pakistan sy uss ko.....ye capitalist hain orr ye mulk waha k billionaires or trillionaires sy chalta ha.....hum Capitalism or capitalist greed ko innkay khilaf isstimal kar sakty hain. read post#12 for details.
 
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