THE Pentagon has expressed the desire for healthy military to military ties with Pakistan.
In a press briefing, the Pentagon Press Secretary John F Kirby stated on Tuesday that the US recognizes it has shared interests with Pakistan with respect to security and stability, adding Pakistan has a key role in the region.
For long Pakistan has looked towards the United States for military equipment and training of its security personnel.
However, it is also fact that the Americans over the years have proved to be terrible when it comes to honouring their commitments vis-à-vis provision of military equipment to Pakistan.
This is the reason that the US weapons exports to Pakistan have consistently witnessed a decline and we had to look towards other sources to meet defence requirements.
In this backdrop, the very statement on the part of Pentagon is very significant and indicates that the US does not want to totally disengage with Pakistan for its own strategic interests in the region.
As far as Pakistan is concerned, it has always tried to maintain a balance in its relations.
Whilst speaking most recently at Islamabad Security Dialogue, Chief of Army Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa very categorically stated that we want to expand our relations both with the United States and China.
Indeed this is the right way to go and we should not put all our eggs in one basket.
However, on the other side, Washington also needs to bring more clarity in its policy.
The joint statement issued by the US and Indian Ministers, calling upon Pakistan to take immediate, sustained and irreversible action against terrorism, is something that is really disturbing.
In fact it is not the first time that such a reference of Pakistan has been made by both India and the US in a bilateral cooperation mechanism.
Because of this posture, the people of Pakistan do not consider the US as a reliable and trustworthy ally.
Pakistan is the country which has suffered the most casualties as well as material losses in the US war on terrorism.
It is however lamentable that those sacrifices have never been appreciated in the right way rather we are dictated every now and then to do more.
For a strong relationship on the basis of mutual trust and respect, it is advisable for the US authorities to revisit its policy towards Pakistan and do not see it from the prism of other countries.
