As a result of intensely hard fought and deeply divisive election campaign in recent US history, US President Barack Obama has won four more years to lead the mightiest nation and military on earth. During his well calibrated victory speech at his campaign office soon after the confirmation of his victory, he thanked everybody  from young campaign organisers and political aides to rival Mitt Romney. ¿Our long campaign is now over and whether I earned your vote or not, I have listened to you, I learned from you,– Obama said to the cheering enthusiastic supporters after handing him a thumping victory. He also promised ¿reaching out and working with leaders of both parties to work together to move this country forward and fix issues–.
It was Barack Obama at his best: speaking as a re-energised president of ¿a nation that is defended by the strongest military on earth and the best troops this world has ever known–. Despite the fact of some of the rhetoric on the strength of the American military and the riches of the nation notwithstanding, Obama entire speech was remarkably nation-focused.
He talked about the issues that interest the common American such as employment, schooling and better governmental and fiscal governance. Conspicuous by its absence from the victory speech was the foreign policy, and more so Afghanistan and the war against terrorism ´ that so far has gobbled up close to a trillion dollars in over a decade or so.
This also reinforced the commonly-held perception that, primarily, domestic politics determine the US presidential electoral process, while foreign policy takes the centre stage only after the president assumes or resumes charge. And this happens through an elaborate consultative process involving the administration as well as the security establishment i.e. the guardians of America geo-political interests.
Strangely, American image abroad, particularly in the Middle Eastern Muslim countries as well as in Pakistan and Afghanistan reels from this very reason i.e. foreign policies that flow from the geo-political and geo-commercial interests of the globe sole superpower. It is safe to presume that Washington view on Pakistan or its longest ever military engagement in Afghanistan, for which it already has set the December 2014 deadline, is not likely to change.
Pakistan will continue to be sought after as the unwanted but necessary partner in the run-up to Afghanistan presidential elections in spring 2014, as well as for helping out in the reconciliation process ahead of the bulk withdrawal of foreign troops from the country. Recent overtures by US special envoy for Afghan and Pakistan Marc Grossman and others clearly signaled greater US empathy for Pakistan reluctance in going after the terrorists nestled in North Waziristan under the Haqqani Network umbrella.
This could also translate in a little more lenience, quicker disbursement of economic infrastructure assistance and the release of the coalition support funds (CSF). Disbursements under the October 2009 Kerry-Lugar-Berman Act have so far averaged around one billion dollars a year, unlike the promised $1.5 billion per year. The renewed Pak-US engagement following Grossman visit in October, 2102, as well as Obama re-election augur well to the extent of continuity in the process.
Against this backdrop, Pakistan needs to come clear and clean on his policy towards Afghanistan. Re-election of Obama means that Pakistan can no longer hold its cards closer to the chest and wait for smoother weather; because as promised US will withdraw bulk of its troops from Afghanistan by the end of 2014. Meanwhile, it would also like to open up to Taliban in a bid to make them the part of mainstream of Afghanistan through political reconciliation. And Pakistan has important role to play in these reconciliation talks. Pakistan has already taken an important step towards this direction by releasing 13 senior Afghan Taliban leaders on November 15, 2012 held in Pakistani prisons. But there is need to be part of this process as well, for Pakistan can only secure its interests by being in the room rather staying away the dialogue process.
Undoubtedly Pakistan held sway over Afghan Taliban and can influence them to make compromises for the sake of regional stability and security.
Thus, as Obama eloquently underlined that ¿It time to act—, tonight you voted for action, not politics as usual.– And herein lies a lesson for Pakistan as well. Act before it is too late and grab the pie rather keep waiting the generosity of the distributor to give it (Pakistan) its share.