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With US President Donald Trump in the White House and the US government reportedly considering cutting military aid to Pakistan, the Pakistani government’s reaction to the situation has been less than reassuring. President Arif Alvi, who addressed the country’s parliament, called for an emergency committee to discuss the situation. And while the country is clearly deeply disappointed about the Trump administration’s decision, in Pakistan, they have been more than happy with the support from the US government.
Over the past two years, Pakistan used her close ties to the US government to try and persuade the United States to remove Pakistan from its list of “terrorism” havens, which includes countries like Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan. Pakistan also used the opportunity of hosting the US-sponsored terror attacks in Mumbai and the 9/11 attacks to take advantage of the United States’ lack of transparency and willingness to play ball with Pakistan. In the case of Pakistan, playing ball has often meant paying a heavy price in the form of financial aid and development assistance to the country. And with the ongoing US-Pakistan relationship looking increasingly rocky, Pakistani officials feel that the only way to ensure continued aid is to maintain the US-Pakistan relationship. But while Pakistan appears to be content with the US support, it’s worth noting that as Pakistan looks for a way out of its current situation, many Pakistani officials are looking overseas to find a way out. The United Arab Emirates has been in talks with Pakistan for many months, and is reported to have offered Pakistan $6 billion in infrastructure development aid. And while Pakistan would likely not be impressed by the amount of money offered, as it is unlikely to match the scale offered by the UAE, it’s clear that Pakistan is seeking a diplomatic solution.
Earlier this week, a US Senate report on Pakistan’s relationship with the US found that the United States and Pakistan have “historically enjoyed close bilateral ties, but the United States has been unable to find a common view of the problems they share, especially as it relates to terrorism”. The report goes on to state that Pakistan “has an important stake” in improving US-Pakistan relations while the US “would have benefited from strengthening our relations” and their relationship “contin