U.S., Pakistan Relationship Discussed
Published: September 3, 2009
Originally appeared in the Daily Vidette (student newspaper at Illinois State University)
by Amanda Curry, Daily Vidette reporter
On Wednesday afternoon, Matthew Rosenstein, associate director of the Program in Arms Control, Disarmament and International Security at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, spoke to Illinois State University (ISU) students about U.S. policy in Pakistan.
His presentation was the first in the International Seminar Series hosted each week by Illinois State.
Pakistan became an independent nation in 1947 and has spent nearly half its existence under military rule, according to Rosenstein.
In the 1950s the United States and Pakistan first joined forces; then, during the 1970s, Pakistan played a critical role while Richard Nixon and Henry Kissinger were pursuing China.
"It seemed as though U.S. requests were falling on deaf ears until Pakistan interceded and facilitated communication with Chinese leadership," Rosenstein said.
In the 1980s Pakistan was faithful to the United States again when Soviets invaded Afghanistan. "Pakistan served as a key ally in the front line to underline Soviets," he said.
"The United States, in return, could be said to have been a bit fickle."
The U.S. has supplied and withheld economic defense aid depending on how beneficial it is to them.
They are not concerned with the economic development or security of Pakistan, he explained. But there was a major increase in aid after 9/11.
"We can see when U.S. interests override our concerns for Pakistan, the U.S. is happy to give to Pakistan," he said.
Rosenstein feels this history factors in to the current public opinion of the United States in Pakistan, which is not favorable.
According to a poll conducted by Gallup Pakistan this August, Pakistanis feel more threatened by the United States than by the Taliban or India.
Eleven percent said Taliban was the biggest threat and 18 percent said India, while 59 percent said the U.S. was the biggest threat to them. The last 12 percent said they did not know which was more threatening.
Rosenstein explained there have been other surveys with consistent data.
Other data indicates the death toll for 2009 will reach over 3,000 deaths for security force personnel and civilians in Pakistan.
"They feel the U.S. has brought the violence to their country," he said. "They chased the Taliban regime out of Afghanistan and pushed Pakistan to fight a war that is ‘not their own.'"
The Obama administration has tried to clarify the current policy in Pakistan by focusing their goal on getting Al Qaeda out of Pakistan, taking a more regional approach, and beginning reconstruction efforts.
Rosenstein feels as though it still may not be clear.
"I am least skeptical about the goal to increase coordination and cooperation of other NATO countries," he said.
"In principle, these are good steps but Pakistan may be worsening, not improving. The death rate has been higher in the past month than at any other time during the war."
Lt. Col. James Keith attended the event and explained he has been interested in the international studies program since he was an undergraduate student at ISU.
He felt the presentation did not really present much new information, but reinforced different perspectives.
Keith commented in regards to the Pakistani civilians view of the United States.
"I think what they are unhappy with is that the violence has spilled over. I would be upset about this if I was Pakistani too," he said.
"The issue isn't whether we are in Afghanistan or Pakistan, but how do we ensure Pakistan and Afghanistan civilians are safe," Keith continued. "This is for policy makers to decide."
ISS will coninue every Wednesday from noon to 1 p.m. in the Bone Student Center.