2019 was a year of certain very important decisions internally for Pakistan but for Pak US relations it’s a year of great news. With his two visits to USA Prime Minister Imran Khan has reshaped PAK US relations and conveyed his message with great statesmanship.
He changed everyone’s perception about Pakistan. He was talking Pakistan, fighting a case for Pakistan as the Prime minister and as a great statesman of his era in front of a President of United States of America who is famous for his policies against Muslims and previously asking do more from Pakistan.
There is always an element of surprise in relations between Pakistan and United States of America’s. A surprise which some times leads to misunderstandings. Pakistan and the United States have been on the same side of history for over fifty years as friends and allies. Both have worked together in shaping our world. Since the visit of the first Prime Minister Liaqat Ali Khan to USA Pakistan is standing firm on principles of great relations with all countries
The national interests and strategic interest of the two converged during the Cold War era. Subsequently, Pakistan contributed greatly. Pakistan is the only country which suffered great losses in war on terror. However, Pakistan- U.S. relations have drifted during the past few years. The first and foremost cause is lack of diplomatic communication where Pakistan and US are on the same page globally but not internally.
Pakistan is a gateway to Central Asia and an Indian Ocean state. Its geostrategic importance cannot be ignored the differences between Pakistan and the United States arise primarily from a lack of a shared assessment of the situation.
But things changed when Prime Minister Imran Khan reaches Washington in July 2019. He was greeted in America by thousands of Pakistanis standing on both sides of the road never seen before in the history of USA. He was welcomed as the saviour of Pakistan. Every Pakistani in United States looks at him as their last hope for Pakistan.
When he met with President Trump his confidence was unshaken he was not reading notes his voice was clear and his heart was beating for Pakistan only. The greatest success was the mediation offer by Donald Trump on Kashmir issue. His welcome back home clearly indicates his success. In his address at Islamabad airport he clearly said ‘Never have I bowed before anyone, and neither will I ever let my nation bow before anyone,’ he said. ‘We must become a self-reliant nation.
In the words of Michael Kugelman, deputy director of the Wilson Center — Washington, DC For Pakistan, the hope was to get the recognition that it feels it often doesn’t get for the assistance it has rendered to the US. And that recognition was certainly there, as evidenced by all the effusive praise and kind words from many top US officials the ‘do more’ rhetoric has gone away, it has just gone a bit softer.
Whereas in the past this message would be delivered forcefully and threateningly, this time around it was likely conveyed gently, with Trump and other US officials inviting Islamabad to take its assistance in Afghanistan to another level. Pakistan appears to be genuinely invested in helping see through a successful peace process in Afghanistan – mainly because it wants to help shape an endgame that serves its interests.
This echoed badly for India as they tried their best to counter the impacts of Khan visit but the base was set for the next level of relations between Pakistan and USA, also the failed Indian operation at Balakot and Imran Khan great initiative of returning Indian pilot paved the way for a global welcome.
India with an extremist Hindu mind set under BJP tried best and in September their prime minister Modi followed the footsteps of Imran Khan hold a rally In Houston but whatever Modi said in his speech was an address to just thousands of Indians but on 27 th of September Imran khan address to UN General Assembly was global as the nations if the world listen silently to words of Khan who unraveled the Dark side of Indian extremism in Kashmir and warned the world of a bloodbath when India will lift the curfew in occupied Kashmir.
He said Is it arrogance that has blinded him from what is going to happen when the curfew is lifted? Does he think the people of Kashmir will quietly accept the status quo? What is going to happen when the curfew is lifted will be a blood bath. He also warned that India’s actions in Kashmir could provoke nuclear war between the two countries and called on the UN to intervene. Prime Minister said in his speech that Indian forces are carrying out a genocide in Kashmir.
His speech receives a grand welcome from the audience especially from the Muslim world; Pakistan is now once again the global Muslim leader under the leadership of Prime minister Imran Khan. Never ever in the recent history a Pakistani Prime Minister have showed such qualities during his address at the UN. His speech was elegantly articulated which highlighted many points including environmental issues world peace and stability, he voiced for Rohingya Muslims also. He demanded the world to adopt fair and impartial policies for a better future.
The uniqueness of Pakistan-U.S. collaboration on behalf of the free world led to the collapse of the Soviet Empire. This cooperation after 9/11 decimated al Qaeda and now looking forward for a very peaceful and stable Afghanistan which in words of Imran Khan means a stable Pakistan and the whole region. Imran khan has once again conveyed US that we need friends not masters.
2019 is now coming to an end this is the year the whole world saw Pakistan with new commitments with great and energetic leadership and working for new ties with USA and the rest of the world. Relations on the basis of equality not surrendering the national interest. In USA Imran Khan is the new identity for Pakistan. With brave leadership of Imran Khan we can see a new Pakistan in the new decade with new hopes.
