Needed: Mutual Image-Building

In his book, Pakistan's Drift into Extremism Allah, the Army, and America's War on Terror, Hassan Abbas argues that, "Pakistan not being an Arab county and being far from the scene of conflict in the Israel-Palestinian region, could have been expected not to harbor anti-American feelings of the strain and virulence of those harbored by many Arabs. That indeed was the case in the early days of Pakistan, and the reasons for this were that Pakistan was a very early ally of America, receiving substantial military and economic aid. Religious parties had good working relations with the United States; and last but not least, the Pakistani military regimes supported by the United States were not as harsh and brutal as those in the Middle East. As a result, far from being anti-American, the general sentiment was very much pro-U.S. and this continued to be the case until the mid-1960s." What went wrong in the 1960s culminating in the outbreak of anti-Americanism in Pakistan is not difficult to gauge. The U.S. stoppage of military aid to Pakistan during the 1965 and 1971 Indo-Pak wars; Washington's unabated support to Israel; America's imposition of nuclear and democracy related sanctions against Pakistan; U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan following the Soviet military exit in February 1989; America's tilt towards India and the post-9/11 events which characterized President George Bush's policies. In the last two decades, hostile feelings in the United States against Islamabad also be

The image of Pakistan in the United States reached its lowest ebb for three reasons: First, growing extremism and militancy in Pakistan which targeted the West in general and America in particular; second, the brutal murder of American journalist Daniel Pearl in 2002 which triggered widespread hostile feelings against Pakistan and third, the existence of 'safe heavens' particularly in the tribal areas of Pakistan from where attacks on the U.S and NATO forces in Afghanistan purportedly took place. Pakistan's image also suffered on account of bad governance, corruption, hostility against minorities and hypocrisy of elites who sought benefits from America but pursued an anti-American approach in cahoots with the right-wing clergy.

The image problem is thus reciprocal in Pak-U.S. relations. Unlike the cold war days when anti-Americanism had an ideological basis and the left parties in South Asia, particularly in India and in Pakistan followed anti-U.S. and anti-imperialist drive, in the post-cold war era, things have changed. Now, anti-Americanism has more paranoia, hatred, mistrust and parochial interests rather than position taken on principles. Four important factors in the recent past tend to shape 'enemy images' in Pak-U.S. relations. First, the perceived arrogance in America and its manifestation while dealing with Pakistan and other Muslim countries. It is argued in Pakistan that despite being a close ally in the war on terror with the United States, why Washington pursues a hostile policy with Islamabad? The inclusion of Pakistan on a list of thirteen counties whose nationals must undergo full screening while entering the United States has been termed humiliating and unpardonable in Pakistan to an extent that some Pakistani delegations refused to travel to U.S. in protest. Second, the sustained U.S. 'drone attacks' in the tribal areas of Pakistan under the pretext of targeting Al-Qaeda and Taliban terrorist networks has been counter productive because of collateral damage in such attacks. So far, hundreds of people have been killed in dozens of U.S. 'drone attacks' inside Pakistani territory out of which not all were terrorists or perceived terrorists. The repeated violation of Pakistan's sovereignty by the U.S. augments anti-Americanism in the country.

Third, for the United States, Pakistani mindset is not pragmatic while analyzing some of the critical issues like the existence of militant and violent religious groups having links with foreign groups aiming to target America and the West. The holding of 'soft corner' in some segments of Pakistani society for groups involved in suicide and other terrorist acts is considered to be a major factor in deepening hostile image in the United States against Pakistan. Slogans like 'Jihad' against America and 'death to America' are common in Pakistan which hurts the United States because Islamabad is not only a recipient of billions of dollars of American economic and military assistance but Pakistani origin Americans are a source of sound foreign exchange earning. Some Americans argue that if Pakistanis are so vehemently against the United States then why its nationals want to stay in America? If American society is culturally at the bottom and there are humiliating travel conditions for Pakistanis then why people from that country still want to travel and live in the United States? Finally, 'Kerry-Lugar Bill' and 'Dr. Afia Siddiqi case' seem to have shaped negative image about Pakistan in America. Some Americans asked that if Pakistan was not interested in accepting the terms and conditions of 'Kerry Lugar' bill then it should have refused accepting any American economic and military aid. Likewise, the case of 'Dr. Afia Siddiqi' according to some Americans was blown out of proportion and without proper facts. If an American national like Dr. Afia faced trial in an American court then what was wrong and why some Pakistani groups raised hue and cry when the jury proved here guilty? Hypocrisy and opportunism seem to be hallmark of those Pakistanis who want to criticize the United States but at the same time are not hesitant to seek benefits from America.

There is no way 'enemy images' in Pak-U.S. relations could be sorted out unless both sides act above parochial and vested interests. Pakistani must realize the fact that 'America-bashing' and dependence on aid from Washington cannot go at the same time. Instead of political opportunism and hypocrisy, Pakistani elite must express integrity and fairness while dealing with the United States. Likewise, Washington must realize the fact that it cannot take Pakistan for granted as its arrogance and humiliating approach while dealing with its key ally, Pakistan is contradictory in nature. If Pakistan is a 'failed state' and its people are supportive of terrorism then the United States must not pursue a policy of alignment with Islamabad. A relationship based on mutual trust and respect is essential so as to successfully deal with 'enemy images' which seem to exist on solid grounds both in Pakistan and in the United States. If there is a significant realization under the Obama administration that it has been dealing with Pakistan in an unfair manner one can expect some lowering of anti-American images in Pakistan. Reciprocal or unilateral measures to sort out anti-Americanism will not help. The problem is Washington since the last several decades has invested on the military-bureaucratic establishment of Pakistan and not on its people. When the bulk of American military and economic aid has failed to build basic trust and confidence in Pakistan in support of Washington, it means there is something wrong in Pak-U.S. ties.

In order to reverse the process of anti-Americanism in Pakistan and in the Muslim world, the United States must rely on soft rather than hard power. By pursuing a policy in which cultural diplomacy, trade and technology are used to reach out to the people of Pakistan instead of 'drone attacks' and humiliating practices for dealing with Pakistanis, it is possible that in not too distant future, one can expect positive change in the mindset of the people of Pakistan. The erection of security zones, high walls and the activities of 'black water' only deepen negatives images in Pakistan about the United States.

Moonis Ahmar is a Visiting DAAD Fellow at the Willy Brandt School of Public Policy, University of Erfurt, Germany. He is also Professor of International Relations at the University of Karachi and Director, Program on Peace Studies and Conflict Resolution.

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