U.S.-Pakistan Relations

Introduction

The U.S. and Pakistan have been strategic partners for a long time. While the U.S. has benefited from the active utilization of Pakistani infrastructure in its war against terrorism in the region, Pakistani has been a beneficiary of both economic and military aid from the U.S. However, in recent times, the U.S.-Pakistani relationship appears to have wavered. This is particularly the case since the current U.S. President won the elections and started advancing the America first agenda. In an article titled Problem Solving in National Security CENTCOM Elective (NSP820A), Group 1 points out that there are quite a number of factors that have contributed to the wavering relationship between the U.S. and Pakistan two former great allies since the late 40s. The authors are categorical that the soured relationship between the two countries affects the interests of both countries. Towards this end, the authors paint a vivid picture of the desired end-state of U.S.-Pakistani strategic partnership and highlight a raft of measures that ought to be embraced in seeking to actualize the said desired end-state.

Discussion

According to the authors of the present auricle, the worsening of the relationship between the U.S. and Pakistan ends up hurting the interests of both countries. An assessment of the prevailing operational environment is of great relevance in seeking to find a practical and mutually beneficial way forward. Towards this end, the authors come up with a PMESII-PT assessment and clearly state the desired end-state. In so doing, the authors observe that there is need to foster an enduring partnership between the two nations that is largely founded upon a stable political system where Pakistans military influence is supplanted by societal influence, and where Pakistans reliance upon U.S. aid is minimal. The desired end state would also comprise of a stable Pakistan that is able to resist Chinese/Iran influence and responsibly captain its nuclear program while actively participating in the war against terrorism. Further, it is important to note that according to the authors, as Pakistan experiences modernization, the U.S. should direct its efforts towards the promotion of information flow to the educated middle class in the country. This would in turn further increase this particular social categorys geopolitical awareness a move that, in the assessment of the authors, would help in the creation of systems and structures that are not dependent upon military oversight.

It is important to note that the authors appreciate the fact that Pakistani has suffered adverse consequences as a result...…Studies 39, No. 4 (2019): 140. National Security Strategy of the United States of America, The White House, last modified December, 2017, https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/NSS-Final-12-18-2017-0905.pdfRashid, Muhammad, Umbreen Javaid, and Muhamad Shamshad, Pakistan-US Relations after 9/11: Points of Divergence, South Asian Studies 33, No. 2 (2018): 544. The National Military Strategy of the United States of America 2015, Chiefs of Staff, last modified June, 2015, https://www.jcs.mil/Portals/36/Documents/Publications/2015_National_Military_Strategy.pdfSummary of the 2018 national Defense Strategy of the United States of America, Department of Defense, last modified 2018, https://dod.defense.gov/Portals/1/Documents/pubs/2018-National-Defense-Strategy-Summary.pdf]

Conclusion

In the final analysis, it is important to note that the authors of the present article have, to a large extent, made an accurate representation of the issue at hand. The recommendations that the authors in the present write-up make are valid and founded on in-depth analysis of a wide range of factors including, but not limited to, the present operational environment (political, military, economic, social, information, and infrastructure). The assessment of the geo-political and socio-economic factors at play is also balanced. This is more so the case in relation to the role that the two countries have to play in the entire set-up and what both countries stand to lose as a consequence of the current impasse. The sources relied upon are also current and reliable, thus…