More bickering

The Americans are warning that visa delays could ‘disrupt’ vital US programmes in Pakistan and that harassment of their diplomats could ‘vitiate’ the relationship between the two allies. –File Photo

In a different time and a different context, the escalating accusations and counter-accusations between the US and Pakistan could perhaps have been the source of some mirth. But at present, it is a serious, and completely unnecessary, distraction from core issues and common interests.

The latest twist is that the American side has decided to go public with its unhappiness over Pakistani visas for US officials being ‘delayed’ and American diplomats being ‘harassed’ in the country. The Americans are warning that visa delays could ‘disrupt’ vital US programmes, both military and civilian, in Pakistan and that harassment of their diplomats could ‘vitiate’ the relationship between the two allies in the fight against militancy. Connecting the dots between these complaints and the recent flurry of American accusations that Pakistan isn’t doing enough to help stabilise Afghanistan is not very difficult. Perhaps what is going on is a complex game of signalling, where both sides are trying to make the other uncomfortable without crossing any ‘red lines.’

But even if there is some method in the madness, it must stop. Pakistan is already at the top of high-risk countries for foreigners and few citizens of any country are in any case willing to visit for whatever reason. Yet the country very much needs foreign aid workers, diplomats and other officials, both private and public. So, for example, using delay tactics over visas to signal the state’s possible displeasure over the American government’s cage rattling is self-defeating. The country simply cannot afford to become any more isolated from the outside world. Diplomats and visa-seekers must not become pawns in larger, strategic disputes with the US, or any other country.

On the other side, the US needs to recognise that attempting to squeeze or bully the Pakistani security establishment into falling in line with American interests risks undermining the healthier aspects of Pak-US cooperation. A quick scan of major American media outlets and newspapers in recent weeks throws up a paradox: since President Obama announced his new strategy for Afghanistan recently, the bulk of the commentary of American officials has focused on Pakistan. It appears as though the Obama administration really does believe that Pakistan is the key problem and not Afghanistan. In which case, it calls into the question the very foundation of the relationship between the US and Pakistan, a relationship American officials have frequently proclaimed is long term and ‘non-transactional.’

Our suggestion: drop the public bickering and the tit-for-tat games and get down to the real business of squaring the differences in the strategies to defeat militancy in the region. Neither country can win this war on its own and their public comments and actions should reflect that reality.LINK