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Prime Minister Imran Khan met with US President Donald Trump for the second time this year, and it seems the bonhomie between the two leaders has ignited. Trump praised Imran calling him ‘a great leader” and “great athlete” saying he has a good relationship with him. But again rhetoric has been the hallmark of public diplomacy, and foreign policy is based not on allies but vested interests.
Just a day ago, Trump was in attendance at Indian premier Modi’s massive rally in Houston heaping praise on him and receiving accolades from thousands of Indians in attendance. However, Trump wasn’t pleased and did not expect “very aggressive statements” against Pakistan from Modi. It seems that Imran Khan has probably succeeded in pouring cold water on any efforts to pit the US against Pakistan.
After all, the US needs Pakistan at this stage. Trump knows that Pakistan is in a tough neighbourhood and faces tremendous challenges. Both need to discuss Pakistan’s three neighbours – India, Iran and Afghanistan at length. Pakistan’s relations with US have dived in recent years, trade volume fell, and there was stiff animosity and mistrust between both countries. Trump believes that Pakistan was treated “badly” and he trusts Pakistan.
The US also needs to revive the stalled Afghan peace process. Pakistan has played a tremendous role to bring the Afghan Taliban to the negotiating table and can bring them back. Trump appreciated Imran for his assistance. He can certainly use it to his advantage if he can end this prolonged conflict and get a good deal, but he needs Pakistan’s support.
The US also needs to deal with another of Pakistan’s neighbour – Iran. The Middle East is in crisis after attacks on Saudi oil facilities and is likely to grow into a full-blown threat. Pakistan has expressed support for Saudi Arabia but has cautioned against escalation in the region. Now Imran Khan probably wants to mediate improving relations between Iran and the US and return the favour to Trump who expressed interest to mediate over Kashmir.
Trump has boasted about his mediating skills and has offered to arbitrate Indo-Pak talks saying there is a solution to every problem. India has balked at the possibility of third-party mediation, knowing that its atrocities in Kashmir would be revealed. Imran needs to convince Trump to bring India to negotiation if it wants a solution, or else it should face action by the international community.
PM Khan has already warned that anything could happen if the nuclear-armed neighbours come face-to-face and the results could be horrific affecting world peace. The international community particularly the UN needs to be reminded that it is unfinished business in resolving the Kashmir dispute. The region has been a flashpoint since a long time and now there needs to a solution.
Now the focus will be on Imran Khan’s address at the UN General Assembly where he has vowed to raise the Kashmir issue. The UN remains rather ineffective and is a mere talking house, so raising a voice might not solve the problems. The global community urgently needs to find ways to end the curfew in the held region. Trump is likely to raise the issue with Modi, but he cannot risk spoiling relations with India nor Pakistan and must thread a fine line with both.
