The most anticipated visit of Imran Khan to the US has concluded last month. His tour came during the days when the Pak-US links are at low, and the Afghan peace process is going on at full pace. Visiting the US for any prime minister of Pakistan has always remained significant since it incorporates diverse dynamics. The visit of Imran Khan dominated the media across the globe because it experienced some unprecedented situations, and involves both emphatic and invalidating shades. Imran Khan after reaching Pakistan, has termed his visit tantamount to winning the world cup.
Let’s start the debate from the airport, where the P.M Imran Khan landed. Regrettably, no official from the US foreign office came to welcome our P.M, except P.M’s team. A few elements in the opposition took the matter as the contempt of the P.M Khan. However, there is nothing as such of dishonor and humility.
Afterward, P.M Khan addressed to Pakistani community at Washington’s Capital One Arena, which was swelled by a large number of crowd. Imran Khan’s vogue of address was no different from which he adopts in Pakistan. Khan heaped blatant criticism on the opposition, which people have been listening for years. He even said to seize the facilities of air conditioner and TV imparted to ex-P.M Nawaz Sharif in jail. His rational not to facilitate the NRO remained the same. Mr. Khan, you have recalled this (not to proffer NRO) on several occasions, and the nation has got this thoroughly. Therefore, seizing facilities and not offering the NRO were not the courses to discuss at Washington’s Capital One Arena. Criticizing the opposition far and wide implies your obsession with the opposition. Addressing the Pakistani community at a foreign land, P.M Khan should have talked as statesmanship since he was representing Pakistan. Talking common interests and the country’s developments would be better options.
The US Senator Lindsey Graham met with Imran Khan where they discussed bilateral relations and the regional situation.
Above all, the meeting of P.M Khan with Mr. Donald Trump was something unusual that no one was expecting. The agenda of the Kashmir dispute that has always been endorsed by Pakistani authorities, but this time sponsored by the US president himself with an offer to mediate on the Kashmir issue. This offer by Trump delighted much of Kashmiri’s and Pakistani’s and infuriated the Indian media. But, despite, Trump’s offer of mediation, the matters in IoK has worsened, as the Indian government abrogated article 370. Trump also heaped praise on people of Pakistan and its products and termed Pakistan an important country for the solution of Afghan’s conflict. The sum and substance of the meeting were that the tone of Trump was far different from which he has been adopting against Pakistan since he assumed the oval office.
Therefore, the question emanates by keeping the attitude of Donald Trump in view.
Why he showered his plethora of kindness to Pakistan?
The reasons are obvious; Trump’s presidential term is expiring next year and the triumphant conclusion of the Afghan peace process will help him winning for the second time. Pakistan, in this aspect, is very valuable, as it is the only country which can help the US in facilitating talks. Thus, Trump remained cordial towards P.M Khan and offered mediation on Kashmir. Despite that Pakistan shares a 900 km long border with Iran, the US at the time being is at the brink of war with Iran. The US has failed in subduing Iran despite heralding sanctions on Iran. Donald Trump being astute enough took the Imran Khan into confidence because Pakistan at a pinch can assist the US regarding Iran.
The P.M Khan’s visit to the US has concluded, and people have begun to term it victorious. The success of any visit cannot be gauged at the time of its completion because one meeting cannot determine the fate of the two countries. One must admit that P.M Khan’s visit is positive development or proved to be a good omen, and the time will decide the outcomes. The better ties between the two states are the result of their continuous complementary harmony, multiple shared interest, and durable terms. Hence, the consequences of Imran-Trump meeting whether genuine or nasty will appear in a while. Because it is a matter of not so long ago when Trump in his tweets bashed Pakistan repeatedly and forced Pakistan to do more. Moreover, Trump, last year in September froze the Coalition Support Fund (CSF). Following these situations, only one meeting can’t produce favorable links. Furthermore, the US has a better idea that Pakistan has forged the best relationship with China and now has come closer to Russia. Both Russia and China are the anti-camps of the US. On the other hand, India is the strategic ally of India, and in Trump’s policy of South-Asia aimed at securing peace in Afghanistan by increasing the role of India. Therefore, with multiple interests, diverse aspirations, and with few common interests, it would be folly to rear the notion that the US and Pakistan are now allied.
It is also noteworthy to mention that Pakistan should not only confine its role to bolster ties with the US. Pakistan must perceive that it is the stalwart Islamic country in the world. In the future, Pakistan ought to play the role of the mediator between the US-Iran stalemate and the KSA-Iran conflict. Besides, the US is a stronger ally of Israel, and according to the various analyst, the former’s role is striking behind entanglement of the Israel-Palestine conflict. Soon, Pakistan has to raise the plight of Palestinians before Trump. P.M Khan should harness the offer of mediation on the Kashmir issue by Donald Trump. The US has much influence on the United Nations, so mediation on the Kashmir issue can be convenient for the Kashmiris, but, still, no such move has been taken by Trump so far.
In conclusion, unprecedentedly, P.M Khan’s visit to the US proved to be good. However, the time will decide the direction of Khan’s visit whether it yields positive outcomes or negative.
