Recipe for disaster

America’s strategy to throw its weight around and achieve its strategic objectives in different regions of the world – even to the extent of issuing direct threats of military action – is making the world an increasingly dangerous place to live in.

America’s growing reliance on its coercive power instead of using its soft power through diplomatic channels to manage international affairs and the impulsive streak of the US president to wriggle out of commitments has raised concerns around the globe. Nevertheless, the US continues to tread the same line notwithstanding the fact that this strategy has already been rejected by the concerned countries and has started having a boomerang effect.

The new policy on Afghanistan and South Asia announced by Trump – particularly the way it looked at Pakistan’s role with regard to terrorist activities within Afghanistan, the accusations of safe havens for terrorists within Pakistan and the threatening tone that urges Pakistan to fall in line – is quintessential of this initiative by the new US administration.

The civilian and military leadership of Pakistan rightly rejected this new approach by reiterating the fact that a military solution to the Afghan conflict was not possible as this approach has failed over the last 16 years. Pakistan also objected to the growing Indian involvement in Afghanistan, which was inimical to its strategic interests in the region. Above all, it has strongly rejected America’s allegations about the existence of safe havens for terrorists on Pakistani soil.

This led to the initiation of a new round of engagement between both countries at different levels to resurrect bilateral relations after the nosedive that had been triggered by the announcement of the new US policy. Pakistan showed an unswerving commitment in clearing the haze about the alleged safe havens. It has persisted with its stance at all forums, including during the visit of the US secretary of state and the interaction with the US Defence Secretary of State General James Mattis.

However, just before the arrival of the defence secretary and his parleys with the civilian and military leadership, CIA Director Mike Pompeo thought it befitting to issue a warning to Pakistan. He said that: “if Pakistan does not eliminate the alleged safe havens [within] its territory, we will do everything to destroy them. The safe havens inside Pakistan have worked to the detriment of our capacity to do what we need to do in Afghanistan”. This constitutes a naked threat for the use of force within Pakistan. It negates all diplomatic norms and the previous nature of relations between both states. More importantly, the threat was made to a long-standing ally like Pakistan that was committed to promoting the process of reconciliation in Afghanistan even though it didn’t agree with the new US policy.

Encouragingly, what transpired in the talks between the defence secretary and the Pakistani leaders suggests a much saner approach to dealing with the prevailing situation. Even before his arrival, the defence secretary told a journalist that he would not prod Pakistan to take more action. According to Mattis, “that is not the way [he] deal[s] with issues”. Instead, he believes that both countries must work towards finding a common ground whereby America and Pakistan must work together.

While Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi vehemently defended Pakistan’s position regarding the non-existence of safe havens on Pakistani soil, it was agreed that both Pakistan and the US had common stakes in securing peace and security in Afghanistan for the long-term security of the broader region. Our prime minister strongly made the point that no other country benefited more from peace and stability in Afghanistan than Pakistan. The outcome of the talks was that the US, while acknowledging the sacrifices of Pakistan in the war on terror, underscored the importance of continuing and enhancing cooperation and efforts from Pakistan for the common objective of eliminating terrorism from the region.

In his meeting with the COAS General Qamar Javed Bajwa, Mattis said that the US was ready to address Pakistan’s concerns. His aim was not to make demands but to find a common ground between both countries. Meanwhile, General Bajwa reiterated that Pakistan had eliminated all safe havens from its territory and was also prepared to look into the possibility of miscreants exploiting the hospitality shown towards the Afghan refugees by the government. General Bajwa said this in response to the defence secretary’s remarks in which the latter hinted concern that a few elements had continued to use Pakistani soil to further their terrorist agenda in Afghanistan. The US general’s remarks represent a climb-down from his oft-repeated insistence on the existence of safe havens in Pakistan.

This is what dialogue and diplomacy will result in when it comes to resolving contentious issues between both countries. They will promote an understanding of Pakistan and America’s point of view and help both states finding a common ground for collective action. The US must realise that its policy of blowing hot and cold isn’t going to produce any positive results. The approach adopted by the defence secretary to promote an understanding of the stakes involved and find a common ground for action is the right strategy. We must pursue this policy with honesty of purpose if the US is genuinely interested in finding an amicable solution to the festering conflict in Afghanistan.

America must also realise that no solution for the Afghan conflict will be possible without Pakistan’s participation. In order to enlist Pakistan’s unqualified cooperation to resolve the Afghan conundrum, the US has to accommodate its concerns. American must also ensure that Pakistan’s strategic interests aren’t undermined by any US initiative with regard to Afghanistan.

The new US policy on Afghanistan and South Asia is a perfect recipe to destabilise the region and jeopardise the chances of lasting peace. America and Pakistan will have to work together with a cooperative spirit and remain engaged in a continuous dialogue to defuse the situation and achieve the ultimate objective. Any approach that runs contrary to this is bound to fail.

The writer is a freelance contributor. Email: ashpak10@gmail.com