The meeting between Pakistan's PM Shehbaz Sharif and US President Trump is based on showmanship and self-interest. Pakistan is taking this step out of compulsion for dollars and support, while the real decisions are made by the military and strategic bodies.
World Update: If one word were to be chosen to understand the relationship between Pakistan and America, it would be 'self-interest'. The ties between the two nations are not based on friendship or trust, but on economic and political gain. As soon as Pakistan needs dollars, it bows before America, and for America, Pakistan becomes a temporary strategic ally.
Recently, news surfaced about a meeting between Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and US President Donald Trump. This meeting is also significant because it marks the first time since July 2019 that a US President and a Pakistani Prime Minister will hold face-to-face talks at the White House.
Pakistan's Compulsion Behind the Meeting
The initiative for this meeting did not come from the US side, but due to Pakistan's compulsion. Pakistan is struggling with IMF installments, a dollar shortage, and international pressure. At such a time, Pakistan needs the support of a major country.
Politics of Friendship or Self-Interest
Pakistan's foreign policy has often been based on pretense and self-interest. By meeting Trump, Shehbaz Sharif wants to convey the message that Pakistan is an old and important partner of America. However, the reality is that the relationship between the two countries is not based on genuine friendship but on their respective benefits.
The US has criticized Pakistan from time to time. Former US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton famously described Pakistan as a country where "if you keep snakes in your backyard, you can't expect them to only bite your neighbors." America has called Pakistan a hub for terrorists, and Pakistan has accused America of Islamophobia. However, when there is a need for dollars, weapons, or political pressure, both countries embrace each other again.
The Real Influence of the Army
In Pakistan, the real decisions are made by the military. Previously, Pakistan's Army Chief General Asim Munir also met with Trump. This raises the question: if foreign policy decisions are made by the military, then who is this Prime Minister's meeting for? The answer is that this meeting is for public consumption in Pakistan.
Pakistan in America's Eyes
In America's view, Pakistan is merely a strategic tool. The US needs Pakistan in matters related to Afghanistan, India, or China. Whether it's Trump or Biden, Pakistan is not a permanent friend but a temporary assistant for them.
Pakistan's posturing for dollars and appeasing its public is not part of America's strategy. For Pakistan, America is an ATM machine, while for America, Pakistan is merely a rented house.
