Advertisement
Pakistan
OpinionComment
Gulshan Rafiq
Gulshan Rafiq

Opinion | Pakistan is hoping for Biden to reset relations. Will he stop the US policy drift towards India?

  • Pakistan is looking for a positive change under Biden and hopes he will, unlike Trump, address its concerns on regional instability and India’s revisionist policies
  • The Pakistan-US relationship, long dominated by strategic concerns, can be more productive if they work on larger goals such as climate change, health care, education and infrastructure development

Reading Time:3 minutes
Why you can trust SCMP
0
Pakistan’s Prime Minister Imran Khan meets then US president Donald Trump in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington on July 22, 2019. Trump offered to help resolve India and Pakistan's long-running conflict over the territory of Kashmir during the meeting. Photo: Bloomberg
Gulshan Rafiq

Pakistan and the United States have a multifaceted relationship in areas including counterterrorism, energy, trade and investment. Pakistan, the US and its allies have been fighting the war against terrorism in Afghanistan. The US is one of the largest sources of foreign direct investment in Pakistan and a top destination for Pakistani goods.

Even so, relations need more constructive dialogue for future collaboration. Pakistan hopes for a positive change from US President Joe Biden’s administration and believes that, unlike former president Donald Trump, Biden will address Pakistan’s concerns on regional instability and India’s revisionist policies in South Asia.
For Pakistan, four areas remain crucial: the need for a balance between US-Pakistan and US-India relations; peace and stability in Afghanistan and a convergence of interests between Pakistan and the US; Pakistan-China relations, and; Pakistan’s position on the Abraham Accords in the overall context of the Middle East.

The US relationship with India has been a defining factor in Pakistan-US relations. Islamabad has been sensitive to growing India-US ties since the 1990s. The US moved closer to India than ever under Trump and Pakistan believes that America’s South Asia policies favour India.

Trump’s approach to the region largely decoupled India and Pakistan, which generated less concern from Pakistan about the US-India relationship. Pakistan expects the Biden administration to be more concerned about upholding human rights and United Nations resolutions in Indian-occupied Kashmir.

02:31

Biden’s victory instills fresh hope in Kashmir over revocation of special status

Biden’s victory instills fresh hope in Kashmir over revocation of special status
Vice-President Kamala Harris is on record as highlighting Indian oppression of Kashmiris and the treatment meted out to Indian minorities. This stance will give Pakistan an opportunity to highlight India’s human rights and international law violations.
Advertisement