• Login
  • Home
  • Pakistan
  • International News
  • Business
  • Sports
  • Entertainment
  • Opinion
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Pakistan
  • International News
  • Business
  • Sports
  • Entertainment
  • Opinion
No Result
View All Result
Time of Pakistan
No Result
View All Result
Home Opinion Editorials

Nawaz Sharif’s US visit

ToP by ToP
October 21, 2013
in Editorials, Featured
0
prime minister nawaz sharif
0
SHARES
6
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

prime minister nawaz sharifPrime Minister (PM) Nawaz Sharif’s first formal interaction with the Obama administration is about to take place, starting with a meeting with the US President on October 23, along with meetings with top administration officials, including Secretary of State John Kerry.

The two ostensible allies come together in a climate of improved relations after the horrible downturn in 2010 and 2011 over a host of issues that included the raid that killed Osama bin Laden and the bombing that killed Pakistani troops on the Afghan border. The latter incident led to the closure of the US/NATO Ground Lines of Communication for seven months. Those logistics lines are once again open and Pakistan is being praised in Washington for efforts to control the manufacture of improvised explosive devices and the recent offensive in its tribal areas near the Afghan border against terrorists. The likely agenda, from the PM’s remarks in London before boarding his flight for Washington and reports in the media, will probably focus on four major areas: drone attacks, Afghanistan, the Pakistan economy/energy, and India Pakistan relations. On drone strikes, the PM has banged the sovereignty drum again, but it is not clear that Washington will be listening without earmuffs on. There are statements from US administration officials claiming drone strikes have already petered off, but this is such a grey and unverifiable area that it is difficult to assess the claims.

Meanwhile Pakistan has confirmed to a UN human rights investigator that of the 2,200 people killed in drone strikes in Pakistan since 2004, 400 were civilians and another 200 may have been “non-combatants”. Most knowledgeable observers contend that this is probably an underestimation since the whole drone programme suffers from opaqueness and the areas hit are inaccessible to independent investigators. Pakistan argues that such collateral damage from drone strikes fuel militancy and terrorism, are therefore counter-productive, apart from the sovereignty and international law violation contention. Even if Washington takes the earmuffs off, it will likely counter by asking Pakistan how it intends to deal with its militant hotbeds on the Pakistan-Afghanistan border. To that question, Nawaz Sharif may not be able to supply a convincing answer, even if the widespread perception that his government is drifting aimlessly on the issue four months after coming to power were untrue.

A reduction, let alone a cessation of drone attacks will therefore remain contingent on Pakistan coming up with a credible plan or strategy for tackling its terrorist safe havens in the tribal areas on its western borders. Afghanistan post-2014 has the potential to pose new headaches as the US/NATO forces withdraw without the strategic pact between Washington and Kabul settled so far that would encompass residual US force levels and immunity from prosecution under Afghan law. Fears widely held by informed opinion centres on the possibility of a fresh civil war once the foreign forces depart, either in toto or all but a small residual presence. This scenario has the potential for repercussions for Pakistan too, given the notoriously porous western border.

The Afghan imbroglio is further complicated by the rivalry between India and Pakistan for influence in Afghanistan after the withdrawal. Their mutual relations, on the verge of a resurrection of the stalled composite dialogue, are once again fraught because of tensions on the Line of Control. Whether the US can play any role in easing these tensions and helping India and Pakistan to normalise their relations is an open question, since for many years New Delhi has been prickly about third party mediation, let alone intervention. The India-Pakistan-Afghanistan conundrum defies easy solution. PM Nawaz Sharif’s strong card may well be a call on Washington to help revive Pakistan’s economy and overcome its chronic energy crisis. One sign of better relations between Islamabad and Washington is the ‘quiet’ release of $ 1.6 billion in stalled military and economic aid.

After Finance Minister Ishaq Dar’s recent interactions in Washington with the IMF, World Bank and American business leaders, Nawaz Sharif will be hoping to attract US investment and other aid. The two countries are also expected to restart their stalled strategic dialogue to define (or redefine) their long-term bilateral relationship independent of Afghanistan. Since that conflict may not figure as prominently in the US’s calculus any more, Pakistan will lose the leverage of having the US over a barrel because of logistics. It remains to be seen how that redefinition will play out and how far it will go. On that outcome may hinge all the other areas discussed above. *- Dailytimes

Previous Post

Ordinance Adds Teeth to law Against Terror

Next Post

Membership of 70 lawmakers to be Suspended

ToP

ToP

Related Posts

Entertainment

Hareem Shah reveals why Sheikh Rasheed never married

by Jameel Ahmad
April 12, 2021
Pakistan not surprised by Biden’s intent to review US-Taliban deal
Editorials

Pakistan not surprised by Biden’s intent to review US-Taliban deal

by Jameel Ahmad
January 25, 2021
Pulwama Attack: 10 Questions Indians should ask their Govt, Media
Editorials

Pulwama Attack: 10 Questions Indians should ask their Govt, Media

by Jameel Ahmad
January 20, 2021
Conflict Brewing in the E-Commerce Arena of Educational Products for Children
Editorials

Conflict Brewing in the E-Commerce Arena of Educational Products for Children

by Jameel Ahmad
November 27, 2020
TTP regroups with JuA, HuA in Afghanistan
Editorials

TTP regroups with JuA, HuA in Afghanistan

by Jameel Ahmad
August 19, 2020
Virulence of Bats-Caused Diseases
Editorials

Virulence of Bats-Caused Diseases

by ToP
June 25, 2020
TRUMP’S VISIT INDIA
Editorials

TRUMP’S VISIT INDIA

by ToP
March 3, 2020
Next Post
election of pakistan

Membership of 70 lawmakers to be Suspended

Popular Stories

  • Welcome to Ghas Mandi: Asia’s largest gambling den

    Welcome to Ghas Mandi: Asia’s largest gambling den

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Bodybuilding Champion Found Happiness in God, not Competition

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Watch Video: Indian Father Buried His Ten Year Old Daughter Alive

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Google shuts failed social network Google+

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
Time of Pakistan

About Times Of Pakistan

kralbetbetturkeyikimislibahis1xbetm.infohipas.infohttps://www.wiibet.com/restbetcdn.com

Other Categories

  • Beautiful Pakistan
  • Fashion News
  • Funny News
  • Viral Videos
  • Weird News

Recent Posts

  • 11th J.A. Zaman Memorial Open – Powered by Gem Golfers
  • Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi Sentenced to Jail in £190 Million Case
  • World’s Largest Submarine Cable Arrives in Pakistan: Could This End Internet Woes?

Times Of Pakistan © 2024. Design & Developed by E2E Solution Providers.

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Pakistan
  • International News
  • Business
  • Sports
  • Entertainment
  • Opinion

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In