pre r=) BY MUNIR AKRAM «= Future of Pak-US relations America’s new hostility towards Pakistan is due mostly to its emerging global rivalry with China. PAKISTAN’ Ions, close and turbulent relation ship withthe US has had a pervasive ispact om ts ‘country 'shistory. Thelast phase of that elationshi tho war on terror’ allianee, ended in August 201 ‘shen Donald Trump anounced a punitive policy Towards Pakistan, suspending highovel contacts, freezing Coalidon Support Funds ropayments and Sematnding Buku! cocgenstion on Ale ‘ver thenext 18 months, America’s tially eee ‘lve demandson Afghanistan became prigresively realistic, eventually asking Islamabad to help start {irect alksborween the US andthe Afghan Taliban. Pakistan has delivered om this request Several rounds of US-Talibam talks, held mostly in Doha, hhave reportedly led to draft agreements for with: drawal of US troops from Afuhanistan and to pre= vent Afghanistan's territory from being used a base for global terrorism in future. However the Taliban have refused to talk to what they call the ‘puppet’ government in Kabul oro aceepr a cease fre unt US troop withdrawal is under way. "The US has not offered Palcstan any tancible ‘concessionsinexchange forts assistance. Contrary pealierassiranees rd ole in ‘nga successful conclusion of the ‘peace process 'US demands have been extended tothe eastern font Dunn and after the Pulama minveriss, US pressure: was ratcheted up — directly and through the UN and the PATE —to demand actions against fashkareTaiba and. Jalshee: Motiarimad and the inchudon of JeNs Maulana Achar on the UN Security Council's terrorist list. “slamabad has sem it in ts own interest to com ply with the demands to proscribe the setvities of the LeT and Jet Tehas also continued its cooper tion on Afghanistan, is may not prove Sslficient to restore friendly tes with tite US. "America’s new hostbity towards Pakistan is due amoxtiyfosts emerging #labal rivalry with Chinn ‘which India has heen chosen as Washington's stra tegie partner whereas Pakistan i sted on China's Side of the powcr equation. The recently announced US South" Asia Polley is predicated on India's regional domination. Tf Paldstan isto establish an equitable relation ship withthe US, will have to butld the capability More from this page to resi India-US miliary, nancial and domestic pressure. To Jo so, it heeds strong ae nationally Oriented governance and Chinas unreserved Pakistan is well placed ro resist military pres sure, "The Pubrama minicrisis demonstrated two things: ono, that Pakistan ean defend itself by cou ettioual testis; two, that uclest deterrence ‘worked once agai 19 moderate military behaviour ‘on both sides. Yet, India je embarked on major trata ecquistion and modernisation process whch Pakistan will have to connie to neutralise If not match. Most importantly, Pakistan must disabuse India of any presumption that, under 3 US timbrella, it could "test” Pakistan's nuclear deter feiice or resort 10 a preemptive strike against Pakistan's stratogic assots “A. Puldstani “second strike” capability will eliminate this danger. Pakistan's financial defonces are. vulnerable. The nation neo to come together to Implement the politically dificult yot vital tax and other ‘measures requited to ensure a sustained balance ‘country’s fiscal and external accounts, For fa should join the nascent nd some ether countries ‘mate or supplementary arrange ments the US-dominated inancial system, Tikerwise, Pakistan ts not fully equipped to ft the “hybrid war being waged by tna and others in alochistam, ex Pata sections ofthe media and pol: tiesto destabilise the country domestica. Using Ail the tols of modern technology, Pakistan enust develop a sophisieated intelligence, counternst> tency and politcal action capability for defence, “Defensive’ measures do aot imply systemic hos: tity with the US. There ate vast areas for mute ally beneficial cooperation which ean be promoted fs long as the US docs not threaten Pakistan's core interests and positions, especially its rejection of Indian domination and support Tor Kashmieh sele-determination, ‘Counterterrorism, regional arms control and tlobal non-prolifersion are identiied Issues Tor ‘contimied cooperation, "Trade and investment are the most promising areas to build a Future Pakistan US relationship. ‘The US is Pakistan's prime export market Pakistani exports are held back duct lack of com petitive capacity. Pakistan's current industrials ‘Hoa dive should target production for exports (0 the huge US as well as Chinese and Asian arly, even thoush US official assistance to Pakistani! beminiteal and conditional, Pakistan should make a concerted effort to invite US private Inyestibend Lony dhe vast ete uncapped ecu ‘opportunities that exist in almost crery sector of the Pakistan economy, including the SEs nd the privatisation programmine. Apartram finance, such Investment will bring advanced management techy nniquce and production technelogics to Pakistan, Pakistan amd the US also sures that there are vast opportunities for regional economic coopera: tion and integration, although their respective oulonal priorities are not yet fully convergont. Despite the now Cold War, tho US may find it expedient to cooperate with China and Pakistan to ‘Sabilise the Afghan economy in postsetTem Scenario, including through Afghanistan's imegra- tion into CPEC, and collaborative exocution of sev ‘eral agreed transnational projects, stich as the ‘TAPL and CASA-1D00 ventures, Pakistan's revived “teletionship with Saudi Arabia andthe UAE offers another avenue fr indi rect ceonomic |“ Pakistar-US "cooperation. jamificantl, Saudi and UAE investments in the energy aud petrochemicals sector, berdes poten ‘ally building Pakistan's bridges with US Corpo- Fates, will alo link thom, v4 of nd wa exports ‘China and Central Asia through Pakistan Hope resides nthe possibility that the US will perceive the economic momentum in Asia, unleashed by the Delt and Road Initiative and ‘Aslan economic tegration, ass strategie opport0- fity rather lenge. US. participation ‘ould transform the Belt and Road endeavour nto SHlobally beneticil enterprie. Indeed, Yaced by lobal threats of climate ‘change, porerry_ and nuclear annihilation, and ‘ffered’ the alternative of cooperative, knox fedge-driven future of growth sind prosperity, the US, Ching, Russia and other powers, inclading India, ultimately would be ise toopt for wins cpopeeation rather than Tooele’ confrontation. ‘Tho wor fa former Pakistan ambassador to tho UN,