ISLAMABAD: Interim Prime Minister Anwaarul Haq Kakar has emphasized that it is not possible for a nation to detach itself from the United States if it intends to keep up with the global pace. During an interactive session with a delegation of students from Harvard visiting Pakistan, the interim PM expressed that severing ties with North America is an impractical endeavor.
The students had also interacted with Chief of Army Staff Gen Asim Munir on the previous day. He elaborated that any nation or society cannot simply divorce itself from the United States due to the interconnected nature of the world.
The relationship between Pakistan and the United States reached a low point in March and April of 2022. The then-Prime Minister, Imran Khan, accused the United States of engineering his removal through a no-confidence vote. This vote occurred shortly after Khan’s visit to Moscow just before the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
The interim PM emphasized that Pakistan maintains a pragmatic approach to its relationship with the United States. While the country is open to engagement and values the relationship, it doesn’t mean that Pakistan agrees with everything the US does or thinks. Kakar acknowledged that there are areas of healthy disagreement on various issues.
Exploring Shared Interests and Differing Perspectives
He pointed out that like any other nation, Pakistan and the United States have both shared interests and differing perspectives, especially on regional and global matters. Kakar highlighted Pakistan’s significant role in global dynamics.
He noted that Pakistan played a crucial role during the Cold War era, acting as the frontline state for the capitalist system. The efforts Pakistan put forth in resisting Marxist ideas and ideologies had far-reaching effects on global economics and politics. He stated that Pakistan’s contribution during the period from 1979 to 1989 played a crucial role in sustaining a significant portion of the capitalist economy’s GDP.
Drawing a comparison, Kakar mentioned Israel and Pakistan as two countries that were established based on religious aspirations. Despite the different paths each nation took and their distinct destinies, both nations existed within an environment where security held paramount importance.
