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Pakistan’s Place in U.S. Foreign Policy

The military has held a prominent political role in Pakistan since the country's independence in 1947. As the smaller of the two sovereign states that emerged from British India's partition, Pakistan inherited only 18 percent of the former territory's revenue. It laid claim, however, to 33 percent of the British Indian military, giving its armed forces — which were already well-organized — a distinct advantage over Pakistan's nascent civilian administration. Military leaders exploited their position to great effect, aided in part by their civilian counterparts and in part by the structure of the Pakistani government itself. The country's founder and first governor-general, Mohammed Ali Jinnah, favored the viceregal system of the British Raj, which concentrated power in institutions filled by unelected leaders. Though Jinnah initially preferred a more democratic arrangement, the Indian threat looming on Pakistan's eastern border persuaded him to forgo popular rule in favor of a more centralized state that could better protect the country's national security interests. Unsurprisingly, the military did everything it could to encourage its civilian partners' focus on national security, at times to the detriment of political and economic progress. Of course, the military had help in solidifying its pre-eminence during the Pakistani state's formative years. The United States, in pursuit of its own foreign policy objectives in South Asia, was eager to partner with Pakistan on matters of regional security. In 1954, President Dwight D. Eisenhower's administration formed an alliance with Pakistan as it sought to block the spread of communism throughout Asia. When the United States entered a proxy war in Afghanistan with the Soviets two decades later, Pakistan again became an important partner. Washington quieted its criticisms of Pakistani human rights abuses and channeled more than $3 billion to Islamabad over the following decade. In exchange, the mujahideen backed by...

Pakistan's Place in U.S. Foreign Policy

The military has held a prominent political role in Pakistan since the country's independence in 1947. As the smaller of the two sovereign states that emerged from British India's partition, Pakistan inherited only 18 percent of the former territory's revenue. It laid claim, however, to 33 percent of the British Indian military, giving its armed forces — which were already well-organized — a distinct advantage over Pakistan's nascent civilian administration. Military leaders exploited their position to great effect, aided in part by their civilian counterparts and in part by the structure of the Pakistani government itself. The country's founder and first governor-general, Mohammed Ali Jinnah, favored the viceregal system of the British Raj, which concentrated power in institutions filled by unelected leaders. Though Jinnah initially preferred a more democratic arrangement, the Indian threat looming on Pakistan's eastern border persuaded him to forgo popular rule in favor of a more centralized state that could better protect the country's national security interests. Unsurprisingly, the military did everything it could to encourage its civilian partners' focus on national security, at times to the detriment of political and economic progress. Of course, the military had help in solidifying its pre-eminence during the Pakistani state's formative years. The United States, in pursuit of its own foreign policy objectives in South Asia, was eager to partner with Pakistan on matters of regional security. In 1954, President Dwight D. Eisenhower's administration formed an alliance with Pakistan as it sought to block the spread of communism throughout Asia. When the United States entered a proxy war in Afghanistan with the Soviets two decades later, Pakistan again became an important partner. Washington quieted its criticisms of Pakistani human rights abuses and channeled more than $3 billion to Islamabad over the following decade. In exchange, the mujahideen backed by...

India – Pakistan CBMs since 1947 A Critical Analysis

India and Pakistan have been locked into adversarial relations since 1947. The major conflict between the two countries is the territorial status of Kashmir including several sidelining issues that further deteriorated the bilateral relations. The two countries have been part of several pacts, peace initiatives to manage and resolve their conflict, however, none of the peace efforts could bring them nearer to final settlement. Regional and international developments also impacted relations between India and Pakistan and both were part of various international alliances in cold war era. In post cold war times, the two countries acquired nuclear weapons in May 1998 and since then Kashmir was declared as nuclear flash point. It is therefore needed to encourage India and Pakistan to seek common grounds for better peace prospects in the region. The paper caters a historical survey as well as analysis on India – Pakistan confidence building measures (CBMs) and also suggests future prospects for peaceful co-existence. It also outlines why few agreements could not save the two countries for preceding acrimony and did not serve the purpose ofresolving Kashmir conflict once for all. Introduction South Asia has a history of interstate and intrastate conflicts, troubled neighbourhood, internecine struggle and movements within the countries, peace deals, confrontational and cooperative environment and, in very recent past, the end of 30 years of guerilla war in Sri Lanka. At inter-state level, the region bears historic animosity between India and Pakistan. The central issue of their bilateral conflicts is Kashmir over which they fought three major wars (1948, 1965, and 1971) and several low intensity military confrontations (most importantly Siachen 1987 and Kargil in 1999) since 1947. Their overt nuclearization in 1998 had declared Kashmir as a nuclear flash point, which is termed by international community as a threat to regional and world peace. Several measures were taken...

CPEC Becoming Like East India Co. Is ‘Baseless, Unfair’ Fear, Says Pakistan Government

The China Pakistan Economic Corridor's (CPEC) western part is expected to be completed by 2018 and fears of some Pakistani lawmakers, that the project could become like another rapacious East India Company, are "baseless and unfair," said a Pakistan planning ministry spokesman, reported The Nation. The spokesman made these remarks Friday and said that the points raised by members in a meeting of a Senate Committee on CPEC are inappropriate based on lack of information. Last month, members of the CPEC committee said they are worried that local financing is being used for CPEC-related projects, instead of monies from the Chinese or from other foreign investments. "It will be very harmful for us if we have to bear the entire burden; will this [project] be a national development or a national calamity? Whatever loans taken from China will have to be paid by the poor people of Pakistan," senator Saeedul Hassan Mandokhail reportedly said, at a committee meeting. Mandokhail compared the project to The East India Co., which was, of course, Britain's trading mission to India and the precursor to British imperial rule over the subcontinent. "Another East India Company is in the offing; national interests are not being protected. We are proud of the friendship between Pakistan and China, but the interests of the state should come first," said senator Tahir Mashhadi, chairman of the Senate Standing Committee on Planning and Development. On Friday, the planning ministry spokesman however said that CPEC involves multi-sectoral cooperation between Pakistan and "our all weather friend China" and that all decisions regarding CPEC projects and its execution are made "keeping in view the interests and well-being of the people of Pakistan." The spokesman also said that the 650 km long Gwadar-Quetta section of the western route has already been completed which is as per the given time line. "This shows the work pace is not only smooth rather we are moving on fast track and ahead of...

CPEC Becoming Like East India Co. Is 'Baseless, Unfair' Fear, Says Pakistan Government

The China Pakistan Economic Corridor's (CPEC) western part is expected to be completed by 2018 and fears of some Pakistani lawmakers, that the project could become like another rapacious East India Company, are "baseless and unfair," said a Pakistan planning ministry spokesman, reported The Nation. The spokesman made these remarks Friday and said that the points raised by members in a meeting of a Senate Committee on CPEC are inappropriate based on lack of information. Last month, members of the CPEC committee said they are worried that local financing is being used for CPEC-related projects, instead of monies from the Chinese or from other foreign investments. "It will be very harmful for us if we have to bear the entire burden; will this [project] be a national development or a national calamity? Whatever loans taken from China will have to be paid by the poor people of Pakistan," senator Saeedul Hassan Mandokhail reportedly said, at a committee meeting. Mandokhail compared the project to The East India Co., which was, of course, Britain's trading mission to India and the precursor to British imperial rule over the subcontinent. "Another East India Company is in the offing; national interests are not being protected. We are proud of the friendship between Pakistan and China, but the interests of the state should come first," said senator Tahir Mashhadi, chairman of the Senate Standing Committee on Planning and Development. On Friday, the planning ministry spokesman however said that CPEC involves multi-sectoral cooperation between Pakistan and "our all weather friend China" and that all decisions regarding CPEC projects and its execution are made "keeping in view the interests and well-being of the people of Pakistan." The spokesman also said that the 650 km long Gwadar-Quetta section of the western route has already been completed which is as per the given time line. "This shows the work pace is not only smooth rather we are moving on fast track and ahead of...

Chinese Group Eyes $3b Deals in Pakistan Roads, Energy Sector

A consortium of Chinese companies is planning to bring a $3 billion investment fund to Pakistan, representatives of these companies told Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif during their meeting here on Friday. Highlighting the huge potential for Chinese investment, the prime minister said that Chinese firms could invest in Pakistan’s infrastructure development, energy and communication sectors. Appreciating the prime minister’s vision of economic revival, members of the Chinese delegation said they were planning to invest in infrastructure development and energy sectors. They also expressed their intent to explore the possibility of launching a new airline after securing requisite government permissions. Currently, the Chinese consortium “is actively pursuing investments in infrastructure, power, aviation and tourism sectors in Pakistan”. Pakistan, he said, was now among this year’s global top 10 improvers in Doing Business in 2017. He said that Pakistan’s investment policy was designed to provide a comprehensive framework for creating a conducive business environment for attracting foreign direct investment (FDI). The law of Special Economic Zones (SEZ) was made to meet global challenges of competitiveness and help attract FDI. Expressing satisfaction, the prime minister said that Standard & Poor’s (S&P) had also upgraded Pakistan’s ranking from B- to B. He said that Pakistan’s foreign reserves had now increased to over $24 billion. “We fully appreciate the vision of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif which enunciates that economic prosperity is an offshoot of infrastructure connectivity and self-sufficiency in the energy sector,” members of the delegation stated. The Chinese delegates said that the government had done immense work in infrastructure development and attaining energy self-sufficiency. The government has a liberal investment regime that offers an ideal and investor-friendly environment for which the leadership role of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif is highly...

Chinese Consortium to Launch New Airline in Pakistan

Praising the country’s economy as capable of absorbing and capitalising the direct foreign investment, the Chinese investors have expressed their interest in launching a new airline in Pakistan for which they would be discussing modalities with the Government of Pakistan. The representatives of a consortium of Chinese investment companies comprising China Huarong International Holdings Limited, China Innovative Finance Group Limited, Hong Kong Tian Group, Chandong Hi-Speed Group and China Road & Bridge Group yesterday met Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif at the PM House. Warmly welcoming the delegation, the Prime Minister appreciated the Chinese delegation’s fruitful interaction with Ministries of Finance, Petroleum & Natural Resources, Water & Power and Capital Development Authority. The Prime Minister expressed hope that members of the Chinese delegation will have a productive visit in the backdrop of briefing by various ministries about immense potential for investment in Pakistan’s infrastructure development, energy and communication sectors. Appreciating the prudent and practical measures taken by the government for the revival of the national economy, the members of the delegation said that Pakistan is fully ready as well as capable of absorbing and capitalising the Foreign Direct Investment. The delegation apprised the Prime Minister that they are bringing $3 billion Investment Fund to Pakistan because of the vision of the Prime Minister that focus on infrastructure development and energy sectors. The Chinese delegation also expressed its intent to explore possibility of starting a new airline in Pakistan after the permission from the Government of Pakistan. The Chinese side said that it is actively pursuing its investments in infrastructure, power, aviation and tourism sectors of Pakistan. “We fully appreciate the vision of Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif which enunciates that economic prosperity is an offshoot of infrastructure...

Afghanistan’s First Privately Financed Power Plant Generates Promise

Countries with a recent history of war and violence are used to making headlines, but it’s rarely for reasons that citizens and their leaders would hope for. That might be finally starting to change in Afghanistan, a country that has experienced three decades of continuous conflict. The Mazar Independent Power Plant (IPP), supported by IFC and private sector participants, makes news for all the right reasons. The 50-megawatt plant is expected to supply electricity to around 1 million Afghans and boost the country’s domestic power generation by 20 to 30 percent. The project will also result in the creation of almost 200 direct and many more indirect jobs. In addition, the Mazar IPP will be the first private power project to use domestically produced natural gas—a clean-burning and affordable fuel source with less than half the carbon emissions of coal. The plant is expected to pave the way for greater collaboration between the Afghan government and the private sector to develop key infrastructure. Start of operations in 2019 will mark the first time a power plant in Afghanistan is fully financed, designed, built, and operated by the private sector. POWER COMES TO A FRAGILE COUNTRY Increasing access to basic public services—electricity foremost among them—will be a major achievement for Afghanistan, which imported an estimated 80 percent of its electricity last year. The recently signed agreement, brokered by IFC, sets out the main terms under which the Ghazanfar Group, the leading private Afghan conglomerate developing the plant, will be contracted to build, own, and operate the gas-fired power plant near the city of Mazar-e-Sharif. It will sell electricity over the next 20 years to Da Afghanistan Breshna Sherkat, the country’s national utility company. Private investment in Afghanistan’s power generation sector will change the situation many Afghans face today. Less than half of the country’s population have access to electricity, and up to 90 percent of Afghan...

Afghan Weekly (Oct 29 – Nov 5, 2016)

The Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction (SIGAR), in its 33rd quarterly report to Congress, revealed that "Of Afghanistan's 407 districts, 258 districts were under government control (88 districts) or influence (170), 33 districts were under insurgent control (8) or influence (25), and 116 districts were 'contested.'"[1] Last week on October 23, the Afghan Ministry of Counter Narcotics and the UNODC released its Afghanistan Opium Survey which reported a rise of 43 per cent in the illicit production of opium in Afghanistan in 2016, compared with the 2015 levels. The area under opium poppy cultivation had also increased to 201,000 hectares (ha) in 2016, a rise of 10 per cent compared with 183,000 ha in 2015.[2] As Taliban have advanced their control across Afghanistan, the Afghan government’s challenges have doubled. This week’s update on Afghanistan’s security, economy, governance, international engagements, socio-economic development and other issues follows below. A Security Overview: Daesh, Taliban and Afghan Security Forces & Security Operations Rising Daesh Activity in Nangarhar Province of Afghanistan The deputy speaker of the Wolesi Jirga, Zahir Qadir, on October 29, stated that "They [Daesh] have taken control of a very sensitive and strategic area. They have decided to enter Tora Bora and if they enter Tora Bora, they will build a Khorasan caliphate."‎ Washington also warned that Daesh after being suppressed in Iraq and Syria is trying to find its footprint in other areas where there is little government control. "As it is chocked off in places like Iraq and Syria, that it is trying to as I said create affiliates or to establish itself in other ungoverned spaces and as much as we see that, (we) will take action to take out senior leadership of these groups," said U.S State Department spokesman Mark Toner. Meanwhile, Defense Ministry spokesman Dawlat Waziri said: "The air and ground operations and commando operations are ongoing...

Afghanistan Itself Is Now Taking In the Most Afghan Migrants

"By the end of the year, officials expect some 1.5 million migrants to return to Afghanistan — many of them forcibly, and including some registered as refugees." There is one country in the world that is now taking in more Afghan migrants than all the countries in Europe and South Asia put together this year. That would be Afghanistan itself. By the end of the year, aid officials here expect some 1.5 million migrants to return to Afghanistan — many of them forcibly, and including some officially registered as refugees. Some will come from Europe, which has recently signed a deal with Afghanistan to return tens of thousands of migrants who were not granted asylum. A far larger number are being forced back by Iran and, particularly, Pakistan, where the United Nations says there are 1.3 million registered Afghan refugees and an additional 700,000 undocumented Afghans. Many Afghans report that concerted harassment and discrimination by the Pakistani authorities have become too much to bear. And Pakistan has flatly given Afghans a Nov. 15 deadline to obtain legal documents like passports and visas — a near impossibility for most — or they will face arrest and deportation, which could lead to even greater numbers leaving Pakistan in the coming weeks. The last straw for Ghulamullah, a father of 10 who had sons in Pakistani schools and one married to a Pakistani woman, was when a soldier entered his house with a dog. “I came to Pakistan to save my honor and my religion,” he said, “but I see there is no more honor in Pakistan. The Pakistani Army gave me 15 days to leave.” He has now settled in a camp near Jalalabad, in eastern Afghanistan. Official or unofficial, many of the Afghans had lived abroad for decades, and they are returning to a country where the war is at its most traumatic since 2001. And as they come back, they are redrawing the demographic map of a region that has long been defined by its displaced population and where cities are already straining to deal...