Pakistan’s new government is certainly testing America’s patience. Let’s hope that their government’s recent threats to fire on U.S. soldiers in the wake of a Sept. 3 raid is solely for domestic consumption. Relations have certainly gone through their ups and downs since the end of the Cold War, mostly downs.
The fact is Pakistan is an ally of a kind. Islamabad is helpful to some degree in prosecuting the war on terror, and this is recognized by Washington. Recently, the Pentagon announced that Pakistani F-16 pilots would train with U.S. pilots in night attack missions to aid Pakistan’s counterinsurgency ability. The Chairman of the Joint Chiefs, Adm. Mullen, is making his fifth visit to Pakistan since he assumed office in October. The number visits is a mark of Pakistan’s importance. At the same time, we know that Pakistan only reluctantly helps the U.S. in the tribal areas in northwest Pakistan, where Usama bin Laden (& Co.) probably is.
U.S. relations with Pakistan are seriously mixed. As a nuclear country it compels U.S. attention and certain resources. Of course, the fact that Pakistan undermined U.S. security and counterproliferation efforts by sponsoring the A.Q. Khan nuclear network means that there are certain limits beyond which the relationship cannot go. The future of the relationship will be much worse. The Cold War is over, and with it went the high point in relations with Pakistan. Washington will work hard to keep Pakistan together but ever greater cleavages will separate the countries.
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