Till yesterday Washington had no intention to vacate Afghanistan. Today it is hell-bent to pull out its forces from Kabul as early as possible. Such are the vagaries of politics and time. America’s relationship with Pakistan has vacillated between friendship and hatred. It has never been static. Whenever it suited Washington that Pakistan should be on its right side in any matter, it tried to keep the leadership of this country in good humour.
Today the Yankees require the goodwill of this country in their efforts to leave Afghanistan without losing face. They know that Pakistan can help assist them in the realisation of their objective. That is the precise reason why Trump has modified to some extent his attitude towards Pakistan, a glimpse of which was visible during the recent sojourn of Imran Khan to the US.
Washington in its heart of hearts doesn’t like China gaining ground in this part of the world. The grown and growing ties between Islamabad and Beijing are also a sore in the eyes of American leadership. After dismembering the mighty Soviet empire the American leadership wants to cut down Beijing to size and minimise its area of influence everywhere. CPEC is its bete noire. It simply cannot tolerate Pakistan cuddling up to China.
The Americans have, over the years, build a very strong lobby in their favour in the corridors of power in this country in every Department worth its salt. This lobby has been always working for the cause of their paymaster. The prime minister should observe abundant caution while dealing with it and whatever they say about the merits of following pro-American policy should be taken with a pinch of salt.
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