IN a new strategic development, US President Joe Biden has written a letter to Pakistani Premier Shehbaz Sharif thereby affirming his standing with Pakistan. Undoubtedly US’ this goodwill gesture unfolds new vistas of cooperation between Washington and Islamabad. Though apparently this message — wrapped in extending soft power cooperation between the two states via Green Alliance—ostensibly heralds a new shift in the US policy towards Pakistan. Given the current dynamics of the South Asian region, this shift paves the way towards broadening the scope of relations between the US and Pakistan.
US policy shift via green growth: Traditionally put, US presidents’ don’t normally write letters to other heads of state. Given the history of Pak-US relationship in the Post-Cold war era, one can gauge the impression that this relationship underwent through low and high ebbs. Whereas, the previous US presidents, hailing from the Democratic and Republican Camps, Barack Obama and Donald Trump began their presidencies with a preconceived notion of negativity towards Pakistan.
And yet, in the fledgling phase of the Biden Administration, the US Government remained focused on Afghanistan and the fight against terrorism in the region. In Pakistan’s neighborhood, US characterized its policy of growing competiveness-cum-confrontations with China whilst boosting its strategic partnership with India. Yet, the American approach to these two Pakistani neighbors does seem to, at this point, impose constraints on the bounds of the US-Pakistan relationship. Against this backdrop, President Biden’s affirmation to stand with Pakistan via US-sponsored green strategy is seen with a positive note in both countries’ policy circles. This revisionist pragmatism upholds the twin versions: From the Pakistan point of view, it has been Islamabad’s long standing that ‘’it doesn’t want its relationships with the United States and China to be seen as zero-sum, and the United States has acknowledged that it doesn’t see its relationships with India and Pakistan as zero-sum.’’
US-Pakistan Green Alliance patchwork: The historical dots of US-Pakistan Green Alliance are connected to Pakistan green revolution In the 1960s—a green era when the United States backed Pakistan’s Green Revolution, which boosted crop yields, improved economic opportunities for Pakistanis, increased food security and life expectancy. By now, the US-Pakistan Green Alliance framework—announced in March, 2023 doesn’t just face the climate crisis — addresses the project with innovation, solidarity and partnership and represents the power of collective action. The said letter is an affirmation of the Biden’s Administration to harness US-Pakistan green project: ‘’The enduring partnership between our nations remains critical to ensuring the security of our people—and people around the world—and the United States will continue to stand with Pakistan to tackle the most pressing global and regional challenges of our time’’.
The US-Pakistan Green Alliance framework also aims to promote inclusive, sustainable economic growth by expanding bilateral trade and investment and creating new jobs, industries and opportunities. In July, 2023, highlighting the features of the Green Alliance, US Ambassador to Pakistan Donald Blome said,“ As we look back on more than 75 years of friendship between the United States and Pakistan, we should be proud of our accomplishments,” Blome added, “From the Green Revolution of the 1960s to today’s US-Pakistan Green Alliance, we have forged a partnership that has weathered many challenges and become stronger for them. “ The United States invested in Pakistan’s electrification more than 61 years ago (1963), constructing dams and hydropower plants that continue to provide reliable, efficient and clean energy today.
The dams also help prevent catastrophic water shortages, mitigate the effects of flooding and expand agricultural productivity. One of several priority projects under the Green Alliance framework was the completion of a $150 million project ( in December, 2022) to refurbish and improve the Mangla Dam Hydro Power Station’s power generation capacity .’’ And yet notably, both Pakistan and the US have identified water resilience, water governance, and water productivity as areas of mutual cooperation. More importantly, the future of Women in Energy Scholars Program, launched by the United States in 2022, will provide international educational and professional opportunities to women in Pakistan. The Recharge Pakistan program brings together the United States, the Green Climate Fund, the Coca-Cola Foundation and the World Wildlife Fund to improve water systems and invest in green infrastructure.
Expanding Green alliance scope via SIFCE: In December last year, during the caretaker government, Pakistan has already invited Washington to explore opportunities under a Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC) formed in June, 20233 to attract foreign investment. Notably, the SIFC is a mega national forum aimed to fast-track decision making and promote investment from foreign nations. Pakistan has reportedly approved 20 projects to pitch for multibillion-dollar investments from Gulf and other states under the SIFC umbrella. Noteworthily the SIFC is fertilizing the barren lands of Cholistan desert.
Like the USAID, other US-based-agencies—NMFS, NOAA fisheries, US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), US department of agriculture (USDA), food and nutrition services (FNS)—can further enhance the scope of Green Alliance with the SIFC collaboration. And most importantly, given the imperatives of green energy production endorsed by recently held nuclear summit in Brussels, the Biden administration must expand and galvanize Green Alliance‘s scope via US civil energy collaboration with Pakistan. Moreover, to extend his goodwill posture to the people of Pakistan, President Biden must use his waiver to regulate the Pak-Iran Gas pipeline project.
Still, the US remains a critical stakeholder in the power politics of South Asia. Responding to the Biden’s message to stand with Pakistan, the premier Shehbaz Sharif affirmed the mutual endeavors —undertaken by both nations across various pivotal domains encompassing energy, climate change, agriculture, health, and education—will turbocharge the engine of neo-bilateralism between the US and Pakistan.
—The writer, an independent ‘IR’ researcher-cum-international law analyst based in Pakistan, is member of European Consortium for Political Research Standing Group on IR, Critical Peace & Conflict Studies, also a member of Washington Foreign Law Society and European Society of International Law. He deals with the strategic and nuclear issues.
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