While the world is shifting towards the rising Eastern bloc, Pakistan is attempting to revive its relations with the US, which could increase regional and international challenges for the country.
A History of Exploitation: The US-Pakistan Relationship
Globally, the United States is known for its betrayal of its allies. Even Henry Kissinger, a renowned former US Diplomat and Political Scientist, famously stated, “It may be dangerous to be America’s enemy, but to be America’s friend is fatal.” However, despite the bitter history of Pakistan-US relations, the latter has once again revived its relationship with Washington. Many analysts and observers around the world, and even Pakistani citizens, are skeptical of this new approach of the incumbent government. Under the previous government, Pakistan announced a new policy to establish its relations with all countries based merely on geo-economics instead of geostrategic issues. However, the recent regional and global developments suggest that Islamabad’s regional and global approach is back to square one.
Shifting Geopolitics: East Rising, West Declining
For the past few years, the US-led unipolar world order has been rapidly declining due to its hard and violent approach towards third-world nations. The US involvement in sparking the Russia-Ukraine conflict, pushing the latter into an invincible conflict, to achieve its international ambition, and its unwavering support to the Israeli government in its war crimes and genocide in Gaza have further maligned the US establishment. In the past few years, the world has seen an unprecedented and rapid rise of the Eastern powers, Russia and China. Both countries are playing a pivotal role in establishing an inclusive and peaceful world order. In addition, they are also leading the BRICS, an organization posing a significant threat to the US-led unipolar world order.
Historically, Pakistan enjoyed cordial ties with China. It is also hosting the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), the flagship project of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). Beijing has always supported Pakistan unconditionally in the international arena. Both sides also share deep strategic and defense ties. Unlike the United States, China shares military technology with Pakistan. On the other hand, bilateral relations between Russia and Pakistan have also improved over the past few years. The Pakistani population also sees Russia as a reliable alliance. However, the incumbent government’s revival of relations with the United States jeopardizes the country’s relations with the Eastern powers and also increases regional and international challenges for Islamabad.
The Financial Times’ report of Pakistan’s offer to provide the Pasni port, a critical port near the Gwadar port, to the United States has created domestic and regional agitation. Balochistan province is already suffering due to armed clashes between the Pakistan army and separatist movements. Any such development in the province will further increase armed clashes in Balochistan province. It will also increase terrorism in Pakistan, as the Baloch separatist movements and TTP will never allow the presence of the US troops in the country. The Afghan Taliban will also see this development as a security threat, further intensifying the relations between the two sides. In addition, it will also deteriorate Pakistan’s relations with China.
Policy at a Crossroads: Balancing Alliances or Repeating Mistakes?
Pakistan has played a key role in the recent Trump-brokered ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas. The majority population inside the country and throughout the world views this ceasefire agreement as a farce to provide face-saving to the Muslim nations to join the Abraham Accord. Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has already been criticized by the people inside the country for his flattery of US President Donald Trump in Sharm el-Sheikh. Despite Trump’s repeated confessions of military support to Israel in its genocidal operations in Gaza, the Pakistani premier declared him a “man of peace” and once again nominated him for the Nobel Peace Prize. However, as of this writing, Israel has already violated the ceasefire 47 times, leaving 38 Palestinians dead. The incumbent government already faces massive unpopularity in the country. The opposition accuses the government of rigging the election. Israel’s resumption of war in Gaza and the deterioration of the country’s relations with regional nations and the Eastern superpowers will further decrease the domestic popularity of the PML-N government.
In addition, these developments will also impinge on Pakistan’s regional and international ambitions in the long run. The policymakers in Islamabad need to realize that Pakistan’s revival of alliance with the US will increase diplomatic challenges for the country. In addition, it will strengthen India’s regional and international diplomatic clout. Indeed, Pakistan needs to have cordial ties with the US, but doing this at the expense of domestic stability and regional alliances will only prove detrimental for the country. Pakistan needs to critically balance its relations with all regional and global powers. Otherwise, the country would further destabilize, and a new wave of terrorism and inflation could be seen sooner. In addition, the country will also have to suffer diplomatic isolation in the future, as the United States is known for hypocrisy and betrayal.
Аbbas Hashemite is a political observer and research analyst for regional and global geopolitical issues. He is currently working as an independent researcher and journalist
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