It is rightly being viewed as making the start of a
new phase in the chequered history Pak-US ties
From SHAMIM AHMED
RIZVI
Feb-18 24, 2002
It is admitted by all that the US could not have
succeeded to achieve its objectives from its operation in Afghanistan
without the cooperation and help of Pakistan.
The significance of President Musharraf's 3-day
official visit to the United States lies in a host of developments
that have taken place at the regional and international levels since
the Sept. 11 mayhem. It is rightly being viewed as making the start of
a new phase in the chequered history Pak-US ties. The two sides seem
keen to develop a long term partnership this time around by forging a
closer and more substantive ties in economic and defence fields.
The US Deputy Treasury Secretary, Kenneth Dam, who
led a five-member official delegation on a two-day visit to Pakistan,
told a press conference in Islamabad last week before calling on
President General Pervez Musharraf that his department was engaged in
the preparation of a package of economic assistance and other
facilities with a view to supporting the efforts of the government of
Pakistan for boosting economic activity in the country and thereby
overcoming the present difficulties in the way of economic revival. He
declined to disclose any details of the upcoming economic package for
Pakistan and indicated that President George W. Bush would discuss the
same with President Pervez Musharraf during the course of his visit to
the US next week. Kenneth Dam at the same time expressed his
satisfaction over the policy reforms which were being pursued by the
government in different spheres of economic management.
The earmarking of $51 million for Military
financing out of a proposed $350 million package collected together
for Pakistan by the Bush administration only a few days ahead of
President Musharraf visit indicate a clear defence dimension of the
renewed partnership between the two countries in the context of US led
war on terrorism. The timing of lifting the "democracy
sanctions" coupled with praise president Musharraf has received
since making Pakistan a key ally in the west's war against terrorism
reflects the pragmatic nature of Pak-US relationship.
It may be recalled that Pakistan is waiting since
September 11 for implementation of the concessions that US government
had promised to extend in several economic fields, including abolition
of tariff on a number of items which are exported from Pakistan to the
USA, notably the textile items. Additionally the US government had
also promised expansion of textile quota imports from Pakistan on the
pattern of the policy announced last year by the European Union. It
may be mentioned here that Pakistan's Commerce and Industry Minister
Abdul Razzak Dawood had initiated this move with the US treasury
department a couple of months before the September 11 events.
Pakistan's decision to join the US-led coalition in its war against
terrorists in Afghanistan further strengthened its case for obtaining
a better economic tariff with enhanced concessions.
Although Pakistan has received a cash grant of $600
million from the US government, the proposed broad-based package of
economic assistance to this country is still awaited. The adverse
effect of this delay is a slow-down in Pakistan's exports to the USA.
In the first place, the containers with consignments of number of
textile items to that country were reportedly held up over the last
five months for the purpose of scrutiny by the customs department in
that country. Cancellation of export orders from the US buyers for
Pakistani goods was yet another problem faced by the exporters. In
consequence, Pakistan's export growth has suffered badly during the
last five months. It is expected that the proposed US package of
economic assistance to Pakistan would help solve the above problems to
a great extent and exports from Pakistan to US markets would
stabilize. Therefore, the earlier this package is announced the better
it will be.
An important dimension of Musharraf's visit is the
shadow of a conventional conflict hanging over the region in the wake
of massive Indian troop buildup on Pakistan's border. Secretary Colin
Powell and CIA Chief George Tenet have both warned of a possible
nuclear showdown as well. But, surprisingly, the recent statements by
Powell and other administration highups seem to contain elements which
India may find encouraging. It appears that the Indians have held out
assurances to the Americans that they have no intention of going to
war and that their objective is to maintain the pressure on Pakistan
to achieve the anti-terrorism goals they share with the United States.
Unstated, but probably the principal reason for reluctant American
acquiescence in the Indian Game Plan, is the BJP's assessment that
such a hard line towards Pakistan improves their election prospects in
the UP and other state elections, This was perhaps why, when Powell
was in Pakistan there was no insistence on the withdrawal of troops
from the borders but instead an emphasis on the resumption of a
dialogue and the reaching of some agreement to be followed in due
course by the withdrawal of troops. The Americans, it seems, are
convinced either on the basis of misinformation from the Indians or
from their own sources that not enough has been done by Pakistan as a
follow up on the Musharraf speech of 12th January. Americans seem to
agree with the Indian argument that Pakistan should be kept under
pressure to do more in this respect.
|
