Sajid Tarar, a Pakistani-American close to the Trump White House, believes that the July 22 meeting between President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Imran Khan would be a breakthrough moment toward mutually beneficial US-Pakistan relations.
Tarar, a Maryland-based businessman and longtime Conservative, who regularly interacts with White House and Pakistani policymakers, cites a series of factors for his optimism.
“The way Pakistan has recently helped U.S. achieve its targets in Afghanistan, I think this is a wonderful breakthrough and the relations will further go on,” he told Views and News on the eve of PM Khan’s visit.
Tarar, who shot to prominence with a prayer at the 2016 Republican National Convention, was referring to Pakistan’s support for U.S. effort to conclude the Afghan war through a reconciliation process.
In response to President Trump’s formal request to Imran Khan, Islamabad has pushed the Afghan Taliban to enter into negotiations with U.S. special envoy Zalmay Khalilzad and also called for end to militant violence.
Tarar says Pakistan’s political and military leaders both deserve credit for supporting the U.S. quest for Afghan peace.
The U.S. and the Afghan Taliban leaders are reported to have reached an understanding on the way out of the conflict and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has said the Trump Administration would like to have some agreement by September this year.
The progress on the Afghan front has raised hopes for revival of US-Pakistan relations, which nosedived during the first year of Trump presidency with suspension of economic and military aid.
If the U.S. were to secure a peace agreement involving Afghan groups, it will give President Trump with a huge foreign policy achievement to showcase during his 2020 reelection campaign. The costly Afghan war is the longest military conflict in the U.S. history with negative implications for US-Pakistan relations, especially under Trump’s predecessor Barack Obama, who escalated the conflict through drones and heavy deployment troops. A recent Pew survey revealed that the Afghan and Iraq wars are unpopular among American people.
Tarar also noted in the interview that the Pentagon has made it clear that going forward it is extremely important that the U.S. maintain close military ties with Pakistan.
Thirdly, Pakistan has an opportunity to expand its exports to the massive US market.
The opportunity stems from trade tensions between the United States and India, with President Trump calling out Indian protectionism. New Delhi is also trying to go around US sanctions against Iran to import oil. India’s preference for Russian and French defense equipment over American weapons is also a cause of concern in Washington.
“Pakistan can increase its exports to the United States because U.S. relations with India and Pakistan as they used to be during the Obama period,” Tarar said.
Tarar also says that President Trump and PM Khan share a lot in terms of their personalities and strong views about issues. Additionally, he says Imran Khan and Army Chief Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa, who will also accompany the Pakistani leader during the visit, are respected in the West.
“I think this is a wonderful opportunity and breakthrough which I foresee moving toward a positive (phase). It’s a win-win situation for both countries.”
Officials from both sides have not spoken about what announcements may be made after the meeting but it is expected that the U.S. may restore some assistance programs for Pakistan.
