The recent visit of Pakistan Army Chief General Asim Munir to the United States involved significant meetings with high-ranking officials such as US Secretary of Defense Lloyd J Austin and Secretary of State Anthony Blinken. The discussions during these meetings encompassed topics like India’s Supreme Court verdict on the amendment of Article 370 and the ongoing situation in Afghanistan.
General Munir’s visit came shortly after a devastating attack by Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) on a security forces checkpoint in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, resulting in the tragic loss of 23 Pakistani soldiers. Notably, Secretary Blinken condemned the attack and expressed solidarity with Pakistan through a social media platform.
Earlier this year, Pakistan achieved financial milestones, securing a substantial $3 billion loan from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and successfully exiting the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) grey list. These accomplishments were made possible, at least in part, due to the tacit support from the United States.
As Pakistan prepares for upcoming elections, concerns arise regarding the potential influence of the military, especially with the return of former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and the removal of legal obstacles for his participation in elections. General Munir’s meetings with US officials may signal support for the Pakistan Army’s influence on the political landscape in Islamabad.
Meanwhile, in Bangladesh, the United States appears to be pursuing a campaign against Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. Despite her track record of delivering strong economic growth and maintaining stability, the US is pressuring her to concede space to the opposition party, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), led by Khaleda Zia. The US’s interference, echoing historical mistakes, could inadvertently contribute to a change in the region’s security dynamics and push Bangladesh closer to China.
Despite warnings from Indian officials about the potential pitfalls of exerting undue pressure on Bangladesh, it seems that the US is undeterred. The consequences of these actions may extend beyond issues of human rights and impact the broader geopolitical landscape, highlighting a possible disconnect in Washington’s strategic approach.
These developments occur just two years after the tumultuous withdrawal of US-led forces from Afghanistan, overseen by President Joe Biden. The lack of apparent lessons learned from past mistakes raises concerns about the consistency and effectiveness of US foreign policy decisions.
