Dinesh Kamath's Editorial 'US should cut off aid to Pakistan' that was published in Newsband

US should cut off aid to Pakistan

LeT as the terror group in Pakistan continues to “operate, train, rally, propagandise and fundraise” in the country and India remains one of the most persistent terror target. India deepened counter-terrorism cooperation with the US as highlighted by the September 30 summit between US President Barack Obama and Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Unfortunately, the US treats both Pakistan and India on the basis of parity.

US should use its economic clout to force Pakistan to mend ways. From the time when Washington ignored Islamabad’s clandestine nuclear programme so that it could enlist Pakistan’s help in the fight against communism, there has been threats to regional and even global peace. Only the US has the financial leverage to compel Pakistan to change its Machiavellian stance. But, the Americans appear reluctant to annoy its old, cold war ally.

In the wake of Osama bin Laden's death in a U.S. special forces raid in Abbottabad, Pakistan, on May 1, U.S. lawmakers have raised pointed questions over the legitimacy of Pakistani counterterrorism efforts and the viability of tenuous U.S.-Pakistan relations. A major component of this relationship is billions of dollars in U.S. foreign aid to Pakistan, much of it for security-related programs.

For US, Pakistan's support for a peaceful and viable settlement in Afghanistan is a must. Suspending aid would be counterproductive to U.S. interests, an abrupt reduction that would "jeopardize U.S. military forces." US cannot fight in Afghanistan without the 80 percent of fuel and dry goods shipped through Pakistan. A responsible withdrawal of U.S. forces depends on an Afghan political solution that Pakistan will influence.

America has cut off aid before, with disastrous results. They funneled millions through Pakistan to oust the Soviets from Kabul, but they later cut all assistance for twelve years under nuclear-related sanctions. After 9/11, they came back with primarily military aid and demands they fight the Taliban. Today, the Pakistani people distrust US as a fair-weather friend that supports military dictators.

The Osama raid was a wake-up call that it is now Pakistan's turn to demonstrate its reliability as an ally. Questions about how Osama bin Laden could have hidden for years next door to the Pakistani military in Abbottabad has put the conflicting interests of the United States and Pakistan on full display. As tensions escalate between the two countries, demands across the United States are growing for Washington to cut off aid to Pakistan. On the security front, the United States must admit that Pakistan will never give up the Taliban and will continue to divert U.S. military aid to its eastern border with India rather than its western border to fight the Taliban.

Unless the U.S. military presence in Afghanistan is meant to be permanent (which is highly unlikely), Pakistan's support for a peaceful and viable settlement in Afghanistan is a must for US.

Many Pakistanis believe U.S. military aid to Pakistan has been detrimental for the country's democratic potential. Some circles in the United States also argue that despite U.S. investment in Pakistan over the years, its military establishment is tilted toward China. Hence the question, "Why is US stuck with Pakistan?"