By Vivek Mishra & Sarral Sharma
Pakistan and the United States are making active efforts to reset their bilateral ties. The new ruling Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) alliance in Islamabad has shown eagerness to improve relations with Washington after three and a half years of strained ties under former prime minister Imran Khan’s rule. The recent push to improve Pak-US relations has come at a time when the Pakistan government is desperately looking for outside support to stabilize its faltering economy and prevent the default risk. Whereas Washington is expecting cooperation from Islamabad on Afghanistan, counterterrorism, and support on the Russia-Ukraine issue.
The recent killing of the al-Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahiri in a US Over-the-Horizon (OTH) operation signals that Pakistan may have struck a bargain with the US to allow its air and ground space to be used in turn for economic relief through an IMF loan and exist from the FATF.
Washington Post map of where Ayman al #Zawahiri was killed in #Kabul, #Afghanistan pic.twitter.com/7JGzLj6L67
— Lucas Webber (@LucasADWebber) August 2, 2022
Although there has been an increased engagement between Pakistan and the United States, Imran Khan’s open anti-US stand, his growing political clout, and possible chances of returning to power, and a weak coalition government in Islamabad may jeopardize attempts to repair bilateral ties. Meanwhile, Pakistan’s…
