Broadening American-Pakistani Ties

Feb 2005, Vol. 150, No. 1
By Ahmad Faruqui

As the Bush administration begins its second term, it should seek to broaden American-Pakistani ties. In the first term, the relationship focused on a single dimension, which was fighting the war against the Taliban and Al Qa'ida. Given the pivotal nature of the Pakistani army in waging this war, the relationship centred heavily on the army chief who also serves as the president, General Pervez Musharraf. There are two problems with this approach. Firstly, such a policy reflects a unilateral focus on US priorities and clearly does not serve the long-term interests of Pakistan, which involve the development of democratic civilian institutions. Secondly, it is unclear whether it serves the long-term interests of the United States. The US cannot win the war on terror simply by disabling, arresting or killing terrorists. The US, working in concert with the government and people of Pakistan, has to address the process through which otherwise normal people become terrorists. It cannot hope to win the global war on terror simply by supporting the Pakistani military government. During its second term, the Bush administration should ensure that genuine democracy is restored in Pakistan in the year 2005. It should put pressure on Musharraf to hold elections to the national and provincial assemblies and begin the task of strengthening the country's civilian institutions.

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