WHEN the relationship between Pakistan and United States turned sour after Salala incident in May 2011, it was feared that allied forces could lose the plot on war against terror. The two year long stalemate has allowed both countries to reassess the importance of their engagement and define common goals to safeguard their national interests. In this regard, the recent agreement between US Secretary of State John Kerry and new leadership of Pakistan to deepen their partnership and revive the strategic dialogue is a good omen for regional stability.
With the allied forces slated to withdraw from Afghanistan in 2014, a stable and prosperous Pakistan is key to ensuring a safe exit from the war-ravaged country. The US fully appreciates Pakistan’s efforts in facilitating a dialogue process with the Taleban and end violence in neighboring Afghanistan. The country has also led from the front and sacrificed the lives of several thousands of civilians and security forces in the fight against terror. Pakistan’s turbulent north region, which borders Afghanistan, is key to withdrawal of US forces from the region as it is remains a key logistics route. To achieve its objectives, the US administration has expressed its interest to develop its mercurial relationship with Pakistan on a broader and more comprehensive level.
However, the strategic dialogue faces several thorny issues that have remained in the spotlight of Pakistan’s public. Drone attacks that violate Pakistan’s sovereignty and the return of Dr. Aafia top the list of these contentious issues. The US government needs to urgently resolve these outstanding issues to change its perception in Pakistan and overcome other obstacles to counterterrorism. At the same time, the US should also extend greater financial support to Pakistan and encourage US-based companies to explore the country’s tremendous business potential. Any US support to overcome the country’s crippling energy crisis and sluggish economic growth would be welcomed by Pakistan. The US has already previously warned Pakistan that any decision to import gas from Iran to deal with the country’s persistent energy shortages would prove counterproductive and harm regional stability.
Reviving relations with Pakistan are also in the interest of America’s greater designs for the Asian region. The US is seeking to protect its strategic interests by trying to contain China’s growing influence in the region. China’s military and economic rise has posed a serious challenge to US dominance in the region. As Pakistan and China historically enjoy brotherly relations, the US efforts to revitalize its relationship with Pakistan may face a limitation and strategic dialogue may only yield mixed results. Warm ties between the US and India may also help the peace process between India and its archrival Pakistan. By bringing the two sides on a negotiation table, the US can actively play its role in ensuring regional peace and stability. Nevertheless, Pakistan’s stand on Kashmir issue could prove to be an irritant in the dialogue and disrupt the peace efforts. At the same time, Pakistan may use its influence on Iran to convince its neighbor to surrender its nuclear ambitions as desired by the US and global community.
Despite its limitations, close cooperation between Pakistan and the US remains in the best interests of South Asia. Full restoration of bilateral ties between the two countries, based on mutual respect and understanding, would help Pakistan to deal with its internal and external challenges, while at the same time promote US interests in the region.
• This article is exclusive to Arab News.
US-Pak ties key to region’s stability
US-Pak ties key to region’s stability
Prominent lawyers arrested in Islamabad amid controversial social media case
- Police detain lawyer couple en route to court, family says no warrants were shown
- Mazari-Hazir, husband face charges under cyber law that carry up to 14 years in prison
ISLAMABAD: Prominent human rights lawyer Imaan Mazari-Hazir and her husband, advocate Hadi Ali Chattha, were arrested by police in Pakistan’s capital on Friday while on their way to a court appearance, a family member said, in a case that has drawn attention to tensions over freedom of expression and prosecution of critics.
Mazari-Hazir, one of Pakistan’s most outspoken civil liberties lawyers, and Chattha are being prosecuted, among other cases, under the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) over posts on X that authorities say incited ethnic divisions and portrayed the military as involved in “terrorism.” Both reject the allegations. If convicted under the relevant PECA provision, they face a prison term of up to 14 years.
A district and sessions court had directed law enforcement to arrest the pair in mid-January saying they had repeatedly failed to appear in hearings, and non-bailable arrest warrants were reissued.
“Imaan and Hadi were on their way to court when police arrested them without showing warrants or a copy of the FIR,” Shireen Mazari, Imaan’s mother and a former federal minister, told Arab News.
Police could not be reached for comment.
Earlier this week, an anti-terrorism court rejected the couple’s pre-arrest bail applications in a related case tied to a scuffle outside the Islamabad High Court, resulting in the couple spending the night at the Islamabad High Court Bar Association office to avoid arrest.
The couple’s legal troubles have drawn criticism from lawyers’ associations and rights groups, who argue that the proceedings reflect broader concerns about freedom of expression and the prosecution of activists in Pakistan. The Islamabad High Court Bar Association and the Islamabad Bar Association both condemned what they described as an “illegal and unconstitutional move” by police, calling for lawyers to gather at the police station where the couple were being held.
Mazari-Hazir has a history of representing clients in cases involving alleged abuses, including enforced disappearances. Her work on sensitive human rights issues, including missing persons and other civil liberties cases, has drawn public attention over several years, and she has been involved in legal battles that critics say are connected to her activism and criticism of state policies.
Enforced disappearances have been a longstanding concern in Pakistan, with activist groups estimating thousands of cases over the past decade and calling for greater transparency and accountability. The government and military deny involvement.
