Article: U.S. Relations with Pakistan Revived
 

Summary

Pakistani President Gen. Pervez Musharraf has pledged his nation's full support to the UnitedStates in fighting terrorism. Islamabad and Washington were once close allies, but the relationship has waned due to Pakistan's relations with the Taliban, its nuclear tests and a military coup. Pakistani-U.S. ties are in for a sudden boost as both Washington and Islamabad find mutual benefits from re-establishing a close partnership.

Analysis

Pakistani President Gen. Pervez Musharraf has pledged to Washington his nation's "fullest cooperation in the fight against terrorism." In an official statement Sept. 13, Musharraf condemned the terrorist attacks in the United States, saying the "carnage in New York and Washington has raised this struggle to a new level." Later, Musharraf reiterated Pakistan's support and cooperation to the new U.S. ambassador in Islamabad, Wendy Chamberlin.

Relations between Washington and Islamabad, once close, have been severely strained in recent years. By offering support to Washington, Musharraf seeks to more quickly heal a rift that has left his nation economically and politically isolated. Cooperation will not come without a price, however, for his regime: Musharraf must balance relations with Washington against the domestic fundamentalist Islamic movements that threaten his position.

Washington needs Pakistan's cooperation for any action it intends to take against suspected terrorist mastermind Osama bin Laden, who is sheltering in neighboring Afghanistan. Not only does Pakistan still wield considerable political influence in Afghanistan -- although that may be waning -- but its geographical location makes Islamabad's cooperation vital for any military moves Washington may take against bin Laden or Afghanistan's ruling Taliban regime.

Islamabad, too, needs Washington's assistance. Since his rise to power in a 1999 military coup, Musharraf has struggled to balance growing Islamic fundamentalism with rebuilding the ailing economy and working to ease traditional animosities with India. Yet despite his promises of restoring democracy, Musharraf has been shunned by Washington, which was busy courting India.

The current crisis in the United States creates a unique opportunity for these former allies to rebuild ties. Both sides already have pledged cooperation. In addition to his 45-minute meeting with Chamberlin, Musharraf spoke by phone to U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell, according to a Pakistani foreign ministry spokesman. Also, Lt. Gen. Mahmood Ahmed -- Pakistan's ambassador to Washington and chief of Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence -- just met with U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage.

More important, the Pakistani daily Frontier Post reported that the commander in chief of U.S. Central Command arrived in Pakistan late Sept. 12 for a three-day visit. Gen. Tommy Franks will likely discuss intelligence cooperation and possible U.S. military action in the region, a topic undoubtedly also discussed by Mahmood in Washington.

Though Pakistan will cooperate with Washington, Musharraf will ask for substantial financial and political support in return. If Musharraf allows U.S. forces to be stationed in Pakistan -- or some similar extreme action -- he faces a serious backlash from opposition forces within his own country. Those forces remain ideologically and financially tied to the Taliban, to bin Laden or to other fundamentalist groups.

Musharraf is seen as too secular by some elements in his own military and among the more fundamentalist organizations in Pakistan. Close ties between Pakistan's intelligence service and military and the Taliban further limit his options as to the amount of cooperation he can offer Washington.

Presidential Press Secretary Maj. Gen. Rashid Qureshi emphasized that Pakistan's fundamental position is that the Taliban must be dealt with through dialogue, rather than force, Pakistani daily The News reported Sept. 13. Already, the Washington Post is reporting that Islamabad has, at least for now, denied the United States the right to station special forces in Pakistan.

Nonetheless, Musharraf will share intelligence with Washington and join the United States in pressuring the Taliban. With much of the growing popularity of fundamentalism tied to Pakistan's weak economy, Islamabad may offer greater assistance -- possibly including allowing overflight of its territory or, eventually, temporary basing of U.S. troops if the financial benefits are great enough.

However far Musharraf is willing to go at this time, relations between Washington and Islamabad are in for a substantial boost in the wake of the attacks in the United States.

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