The Pakistani Spectator

The traditional approach to international relations says that there is nothing permanent but national interests. John F. Dulles, the US Secretary of State under D. D. Eisenhover (1953-59) and architect of SEATO and CENTO said that there are several de facto regimes in the world that we do not recognize. We act, in this respect, as our national interests dictate. It can also be vice versa as Noam Chomsky (1928-) a US leading ideologue whom a large number of leading universities have honored with honorary doctoral degrees argues that there are a number of elected governments which America does not tolerate and busy in their removal with the replacement of dictators/military generals for their national interests, no matter how contrary they are to the democratic ideas their founding fathers struggled for the promotion of a just republican and democratic order.

Nonetheless, a deep look into the two administrations’ relations with Pakistani rulers show that Republicans have been more friendly to Pakistan and supportive of praetorian forces with more financial and military aids than Democrats. Since 1947, from Harry Truman to Barrack Obama, there have a total of 12 Presidents, evenly belonging to either administration. Truman showed more preferences to India. In May he invited Indian Prime Minister Nehru without “simultaneously issuing a similar invitation to Pakistani Prime Minister. The situation which later on and even to this day is regarded factor to have Pakistan dependent on America was that it was after Soviets rendered invitation to Premier Liaquat Ali Khan, there was a change in Truman Administration behaviour. Soviets offered Liaquat Ali Khan invitation to visit Moscow soon after Truman unilaterally offered Nehru. Liaquat Ali Khan accepted the invitation on July 8, 1949; he visited USA in May 1950 and ignored his visit to Moscow, a strategic and diplomatic blunder.

The elections of Eisenhower as the President was hailed in Pakistan as the beginning of comparatively more friendly era between the two with more cooperation towards Pakistan. Dawn on November 6, 1952 wrote, “Politically, Bharat (India) may not be heard with so much attention from now on by America. His administration supported Pakistan’s stand on Kashmir and Afghanistan and rejected Afghan offer for Helmand Valley project. Eisenhower became the first US President to visit Pakistan in 1959. Nixon quotes him in his memoirs about Ayub Khan, “My saddest experience in traveling abroad was the funeral of the Shah of Iran in Cairo, in July 1980. No one was sent from Washington to represent the United States at a funeral for a leader who had been one of staunchest and most loyal friends. I was reminded of a haunting remark President Ayub Khan of Pakistan made to me in 1964. In commenting on US complicity in the assassination of President Diem of South Vietnam, he said that event proved that it is dangerous to be a friend of the United States; that it pays to be neutral; and that sometimes it helps to be an enemy”. I wish our rulers including Ayub Khan had learnt a lesson from cost-benefits analysis of US friendship.

Pakistan though a strong ally and having jumped from qualified neutrality to unnatural alliances by joining SEATO and CENTO, enjoyed little support from Kennedy Administration. Kennedy as a brilliant Senator criticized Dulles’s policy of military pacts with developing states, particularly Pakistan, and supported India’s neutrality under Nehru whom he praised as “one of the great leaders of 20th Century. Nevertheless, Kennedy did not corner Pakistan as his successor did.

President Johnson in April 1965 cancelled President Ayub Khan’s schedule visit to US largely because of his visit to China a month earlier. It was Johnson’s interference due to which World Bank delayed $ 250 million funds to Pakistan for its 3rd Five Year Plan. He had shown his displeasure in pubic over the border agreement between Pakistan and China in 1963 and $ 4.3 million load due to Pakistan was suspended. This pattern of relationship continued till Johnson remained in white House January 1969. From 1961 to 1966 the US foreign aid commitment to Pakistan were lower than similar commitments to a non-aligned India both in terms of volume and percentage. Later on, it was Pakistan which brokered China-America relationship. India despite all diplomatic fronts would never have made it possible.

Things changed under Nixon. He is on record when he said to President Yahya during his visit to US that “nobody has occupied the White House who is more friendlier to Pakistan than me” Nixon despite all resistance and inside pressure to intervene due to massacre in East Pakistan adapted a policy to help Pakistan.

General Zia-ul-Haq and General Pervez Musharraf are on record having been happy over the success of Republican candidates. President Ayub lamented in public that he enjoyed more support from Eisenhower than Kennedy. Musharraf is believed to have taken the sign of relief soon after Republicans won Presidency.
President Carter paid official visit to India but unlike Eisenhower and Nixon declined to stop in Pakistan. Had he been a Republican President, would have made a stop or appealed. Carter soon after stepped into office tried to convince in his weekly addresses and on important forums that the ability to formulation of White House foreign policy should depends on popular support and not the secret diplomacy his predecessors (Nixon and Ford) had adopted in Middle East and China. Despite the fact he realized the situation arising out of the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan and revolution in Iran as the potential threat to South Asia and Pakistan in his memoirs he offered only $400 million aid for help against Soviet aggression. Under Reagan Pakistan was assured a five year plan (1981-86) which amounted $ 3.2 billion of military and economic aid and 40 F-16 planes. Between 1982-90 the CIA closely cooperated and collaborated massively ISI for training facilities with provision of funds.

Democrats are again in power under Barrack Obama, a President who makes history by being the first African American to hold the office with his party controlling the both houses of the Congress. With 62 years record of Pakistan-US relationship under two administrations we have to look for days to come the direction of relationship under the new administration.

Writer is visiting fellow at AIT, Bangkok