US and Pakistan must reconcile or risk destabilizing the region
Islamabad and Washington have drifted apart. Despite diplomatic efforts for reconciliation, both are unable to prevent the increasing mistrust between them. But the continuing strain cannot continue, or it could inadvertently benefit transnational terrorists and destabilize the region.
Relations between Washington and Islamabad have deteriorated due to their different approaches to terrorism in Afghanistan, as well as a diplomatic spat over the accidental killing of a Pakistani by an American diplomat.
The US has been pressurizing Pakistan to intensify its anti-terror campaign along the Pakistan-Afghan border, by employing tactics such as the famously coined “do-more mantra.” Islamabad has expressed its powerlessness to accommodate certain demands of Washington due to its political, military and economic constraints. Instead of recognizing its helplessness, Washington has levied economic and military sanctions on Pakistan and restricted its diplomats’ travel.
The recent diplomatic crisis reached a new high after the fatal road accident and short detention of US defense attaché Col Joseph Emanuel Hall on April 7, 2018. Col Joseph recklessly drove his SUV, jumped the lights and hit a motorcycle carrying two men at a traffic signal. One of them died and the other suffered serious injuries.
In response to the detention, the Trump administration barred Pakistani diplomats and their families from travelling beyond a 40-kilometer radius of the embassy in Washington and four consulates in New York, Los Angeles, Texas and Chicago. Traveling beyond that distance now requires prior permission, and they had to apply at least five days ahead of time.
The Foreign Ministry of Pakistan imposed reciprocal travel restrictions on American diplomats on May 11, 2018. The current restrictions do not only curtail the movements of American diplomats but also includes treating US diplomatic cargo at Pakistani airports and ports in accordance with Vienna Convention's Article 27 “which does not provide for an exemption from scanning.”
The new measures also include the withdrawal of seven services previously offered to US diplomats, such as the use of non-diplomatic number plates on official vehicles, the use of diplomatic number plates on unspecified or rented vehicles, overshooting visa periods and the use of multiple passports.
The restrictions also revealed that American diplomats were having safe houses, using tinted windows on official vehicles, and using biometrically unverified SIMs. Such permissions were not granted to the Pakistani diplomats in Washington.
So why were US diplomats keeping safe houses?
The deteriorating relationship between Islamabad and Washington is undermining efforts to fight terrorism and may even benefit transnational terror groups.
Dr. Zafar Nawaz Jaspal
The Americans already have a lesser understanding of the ground realities of Pakistan. These restrictions will further spread ignorance and misperceptions. Without mutual trust between, combating the menace of transnational terrorism will be difficult.
On May 14, 2018, Col. Joseph was permitted return to the US in line with the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations which gives diplomats immunity from criminal prosecution. However, his departure has not eased tensions between the two countries.
Although both are interested in restoring lasting political stability in Afghanistan, they differ on the modalities of ending the protracted war and establishing lasting peace in the war-torn country. Their divergent views about the internal security of Afghanistan is driving a wedge between them.
Differences over terrorist groups have also severely jolted their bilateral relationship. Washington blocked Islamabad’s request to add Abdul Wali (also known as Umer Khorasani), the leader of the anti-Pakistan Jamaat ul Ahrar, into a UN sanctions list. By doing so, Washington has undermined Islamabad’s military operations against the radicalized militants on its own soil.
The Americans are understandably frustrated by the deteriorating security situation in Afghanistan. While Washington does not accept that Islamabad neither supports nor provides sanctuaries to the Haqqani network, India’s increasing role in Afghanistan — at the behest of Washington — is not acceptable to Pakistan either. Islamabad claims that Indians have been using Afghan territory for engineering and sponsoring terrorist activities in Pakistan.
Moscow is worried about the consolidating foothold of Daesh in Afghanistan, and has been cultivating ties with the Afghan Taliban — something the US is uncomfortable about, but Pakistan is favorable towards.
Daesh has been establishing strong bases easily defendable in mountainous areas like Khogyani and Mohmand Dara in the eastern province of Nangarhar, or Kajaki in the Helmand province. The Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), splinter commanders of the Taliban, Hizb-i-Islami and other armed groups have also switched sides and announced their allegiance to Daesh. These developments have resulted in armed clashes between Daesh and the Afghan Taliban.
Afghanistan’s neighbors, including Pakistan, believe that rivalry between the two terrorist groups could jeopardize the Daesh agenda in Khorasan (Afghanistan, Pakistan, Central Asia and Iran). Russia’s increasing contacts with Afghan Taliban, therefore, have been viewed favorably.
Indeed, the rupture of ties between Pakistan and Washington could inadvertently benefit transnational terrorist organizations. It not only makes it harder for the US to combat terrorism in Afghanistan, it also multiplies Pakistan’s internal and external security problems. Hence, it is imperative that both sides act rationally to set aside their difference and restore ties.
— Dr. Zafar Nawaz Jaspal is an Islamabad-based analyst and professor at the School of Politics and International Relations, Quaid-i-Azam University.
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