Activation of Pak-US ties

Dr. Jassim Taqui

DG Al-Bab Institute for Strategic Studies

Islamabad, July 3, 2021:  Unheard of. In a landmark attempts to activate the Pak-US ties, the US Secretary of State Antony Blinkin called Shah Mahmood Qureshi and talked about the Afghan latest developments.

 

According to the Foreign Office, the two sides discussed bilateral ties and Afghanistan. Both emphasized the urgency of resolving the Afghan civil war through political means.

 

More importantly, Qureshi and Blinkin stressed the need for the two sides to continue close coordination and cooperation to ensure meaningful progress in the peace process. The two sides also exchanged views on regional connectivity.

 

During the a telephone call, initiated by Blinkin, Qureshi highlighted the steps Pakistan had taken in support of the Afghan peace process, stressing that there was a fundamental convergence between Pakistan and the United States on the need for a peaceful settlement in Afghanistan.

 

By far this is the best news for Pakistan in a gloomy week that witnessed the disturbing rise of Taliban that could sabotage Pak-US relations and Pak relations of the neighbors of Afghanistan. For, serious reports are suggesting that the Deep State continues to support the Haqqani Network, which is classified as a terrorist organization.

 

Hopefully, the breakthrough in the bilateral ties might lead to the resumption of US assistance to Pakistan in line with the Kerry-Lugar Bill. The US Congress approved the Bill in 2009. It was authored by the sitting President Joe Biden. More good news would follow regarding restoring the mutual trust between the two countries, which is so essential to rebuilding the ties.

 

Reviving Kerry-Lugar Bill could help reduce the devastating impact of the foreign debts by writing off a substantial portion of these debts. This is a must-do so that Pakistan should implement its development projects especially in the fields of education, health services, building dams for generating cheap hydroelectricity, agricultural development, and food security. If the Bill is enforced, it could lessen the burden of high prices and poverty that affect most people of the country.

 

Given, the gravity of the problems, many lost hope of any way out. However, things are rapidly changing under the good work by US Embassy envoys David Hale, Paul Jones, Angela Aggeler, and the incumbent Lesslie Viguerie.