US - Pakistan Relations: Magnificent Delusions

Commentary

By Ibn e Khaldun

Pakistan’s disgraced diplomat, Hussain Haqqani, must be credited for coining a very apt phrase, ‘Magnificent Delusions’, which so accurately summarises the Pak-US relationship since Pak was carved out. The two letters capture it succinctly.

Within the days of the 9/11 terror strikes on the World Trade Centre in Manhattan, the ‘magnificent delusions’ were shattered like a toy made of China clay. Pakistan was given an explicit choice between either being with the USA in its then planned pursuit of Islamist-criminals or be prepared to get ‘bombed to the Stone Age’!

The self-proclaimed ‘second to none’ army of the world, led by Muhajir General Pervez Musharraf, ate the proverbial crow, did a classic U-turn and washed its hands off the rogues and thugs it had patronised and raised all along.  I am old enough to remember the sombre and long sullen faces of Pakistani generals and commanders on my TV screen that night while they decided to be with ‘the evil empire’ of America over their biraadars controlling caves and hills of Afghanistan. The lowest point was yet to come, though. It came on the night American marines stealthily flew in their Black Hawks and killed ‘Shaikh’ Osama Bin Laden and went away with his dead body, from a house stone’s throw away from the boundary wall of Pakistan’s elite army Academy in Abbottabad.

For the next 10 years, every single American of any consequence only berated and condemned Pakistan for its perfidy, treachery and sabotage of American interests while overtly being a partner with the US. ‘Magnificent Delusions’ lay indeed miserably shattered.

Till recently, what looked like an over and off relationship between two sparing nations suddenly witnessed signs of revival. American interests in the Russo-Ukraine war mark a new phase of complications in global relationships, and the environment is starting to deteriorate by each passing day. Indian ambivalence left America once again to hire the rogue of the region, which can allow Americans park their assets aimed against Russia and Iran (presuming that Pakistan cannot betray China.)

Pakistani Army, which has been the darling of the American establishment, was co-opted to dethrone the man who was standing beside Putin on the day Russian forces annexed Ukraine. Pakistan army carried out the Task and they removed Imran Khan, a duly democratically elected PM of Pakistan. Pakistan Army delivered to Bangladesh, and today, an American proxy is sitting in Dhaka.  Now that the die is cast with Israel-West’s decision to crush and rob Iran of any nuclear possession, who else but ISI and the Pakistan army comes to the American mind to protect Western interests? Hafiz e Quran, who recently styled himself as ‘Field Marshal’, General Munir was lavished with kind words by otherwise foul-mouthed Trump and of course a lunch, which conventional wisdom holds can’t be free.

History records the similar ‘magnificent delusions’ when previous Field Marshal Ayyub of Pakistan had (in)famously offered to American Secretary of State Henry Byroade as early as in 1953 on an uninvited visit to the US; ‘my Army can be your Army’ if Americans give him few more dollars and best battles toys!

The bravado engendered by fond hopes of American resources and weapons made Pakistan attempt a misadventure in Bangladesh. The hangover left Pakistanis only when they received a shattering blow in 1971. The American threats of moving warships to India didn’t matter much, and Pakistanis ended up complaining that what was given in return was much below what they had expected and wished. Magnificent Delusions lay shattered.

The Americans needed Pakistan once again when the Soviets moved into Afghanistan. Though Pakistan was already into Afghanistan, seeking ‘strategic depth’ and of course its desire to have a vassal state; they made it look like, ‘OK, we will do it for you’ and in ‘return’ of this dirty work, America was made to pay huge amount of Dollars, arms and ammunition. Every sensible commentator and expert in the region records that Pakistan diverted much of its resources towards India to ignite fire in Kashmir. Pakistan harboured ill will against the US all along was clear when the ‘patriotic liar’ Zia Ul Haq looked the other way while the American embassy was ransacked in November 1979. The trigger was the seizure of the holy Mosque in Mecca by a self-proclaimed Mehadi, which was seen as a conspiracy of America to defile a holy place. Protests ensued throughout the Islamic world, and American Embassy staff in Islamabad barely escaped death. Already dwindling phase of ‘Magnificent delusions’ evaporated finally when exasperated Russians left Afghanistan, and not much later the Soviet Union crumbled. The Americans’ interest in the region and proclivity to play in Pakistani hands waned. Pakistan, like a paramour getting less attention again, started complaining of have been not been adequately compensated, cheated by America. Though Pakistanis do unwittingly admit in their inner discussions ( viz here from 8:00 minutes onwards  https://youtu.be/9_lz9kLMOA8?si=XL5HPoPY7RDISrQM ) that they were already getting involved in Afghanistan but that is something for internal consumption; to the US and rest of the world it was presented as if Pakistan was tricked into doing US’ dirty work by getting involved in Afghanistan. Leaving it as that Magnificent Delusions stand shattered again by the dawn of the 1990s.

The fortune again knocked at the Pakistani door when ‘Sheikh’ Osama Bin Laden, declared in several ‘Pew Surveys’ as the most celebrated hero of the Pakistani society, struck planes into the American twin towers. Pakistan Army, despite much frustration, had to give in to American demand to cooperate in the invasion of the Taliban in Afghanistan and hunt for OBL. Pakistan, nevertheless, played the usual double game and did the maximum possible damage while explicitly having committed all cooperation on its part in the War on Terror, of course, in exchange for a huge amount of American dollars. This phase of Magnificent Delusions fizzled out with the discovery of OBL from a safe house provided by the Pak Army, subsequently America exited from Afghanistan, allowing Taliban hitherto hiding in Pakistan to reorganise and take control. Pakistanis celebrated this feat of treachery and perfidy. As already mentioned, Americans did call out Pakistani treachery, and Pakistanis complained, as recorded by old CIA hand Bruce Riedel, for Americans used them like ‘condoms’ and threw them away.

Looks like we are in for a treat once again. The Russian invasion of Ukraine and rising Chinese belligerence in the region have led the US to send for much-maligned, sulking Pakistan. Pakistan once again has responded to the call and seems a deal has already been struck. Only time will tell what exactly transpired, but one cannot discount the cries of Imran Khan that he has been fixed by America, and the Pakistan army has done this job. Despite securing a majority in heavily rigged elections against him, Imran Khan has been thrown behind bars, and the rest of the political class has been jointly thrust in Islamabad. The Pakistan army again did what it had been asked to do in Bangladesh. These are not mean feats, and hence ‘Magnificent Delusions’ are being pronounced outwardly in open once again. Uncouth and ignominious Trump has declared his meeting with Asim Munir as an honour. Lunch has been fed to Munir, and it seems that America will extract the cost. Pakistan might be used to gather intelligence, mount actions from Pakistani airspace and even land, and Pakistan has to secure American interests against Iran on the Pak-Iran border. It’s everybody’s guess that Pakistan will play its double game and may selectively sound Iran too to keep it happy while doing its part. Selling out of soul is certainly with the sole objective of getting even with India.

Let’s see when this round of Magnificent Delusions between a ‘pious’ Hafiz-i-Quran and most foul natured whimsical Rump… err Trump in the White House implodes.

Disclaimer: This paper is the author's individual scholastic contribution and does not necessarily reflect the organization's viewpoint.