Ground realities: PART-II.

The US has long been Pakistan's largest export market. Washington feels there is great potential to expand bilateral trade with Pakistan further, particularly in energy, agricultural equipment and products, franchising, retail trade, information and communications technology products and services. Since 2019, US corporations have announced investment plans worth $ 1.5 billion, the highest in over a decade. An estimated eighty US companies are directly employing more than 120,000 Pakistanis. If the figures of Pakistan's Embassy in Washington are to be believed, the present level of bilateral trade runs into billions of dollars. In fact, the trade volume has doubled in recent years. If all this is true, why does Islamabad keep asking for 'more investment' and 'more trade' from Washington? Clearly, there is more to it than meets the eye...!!

Apparently, Washington's 'punishment mode' developed following the Taliban takeover in Kabul is gradually dissipating. The unnecessary misunderstandings created during the past two years including the 'regime change' conspiracy, are being removed one-by-one. Seemingly, both countries have found a common ground to reset the tone for a healthy bilateral relationship. Approaches might differ but the objective seems the same. Keep a constant check on rogue elements and eliminate terrorism and extremism from the region. During this exercise, Pakistan must have a reality check. This time, combatting terrorism is more of a need for Pakistan itself than a vicarious 'responsibility'. Terrorism is rearing its head again mostly in KPK and Baluchistan.

The US has repeatedly assured Pakistan of its assistance in addressing the challenge of terrorism including the ever-threatening TTP. However, joint operations or follow-up actions, if any, have not been made public. A couple of delegations from Islamabad were received in Kabul but apparently no solution could be found for any joint Islamabad-Kabul approach to counter terrorist activities. In other words, Pakistan is fighting the menace of terrorism practically on its own, at least for the time-being. Washington believes that the 'terrorist groups that may be active in Afghanistan, are no longer able to threaten regional stability.' If that is their considered opinion, Pakistan might have to keep fighting terrorism, on its own, this time, for its own existence and security.

Do we see any change in Washington's approach to the South Asian region?

Does it really matter...