Dr. Moonis Ahmar
Moonis Ahmar is Professor of International Relations, University of Karachi and Director, Area Study Centre for Europe. He is also Director, Programme on Peace Studies and Conflict Resolution. His field of specialization is peace and conflict studies with a focus on South and the Central Asian regions. He is presently working on his book entitled Conflict Management and Vision for a Secular Pakistan.
DOI: http://DOI Number
Keywords: US, Obama, Taliban, Pakistan, Afghan, policy, non-official levels, fault lines, counter terrorism, trust deficit, Al-Qaeda, buffer zone
Abstract
The “confidence deficit” between Islamabad and Kabul has been there for quite some time despite the fact that Afghanistan and Pakistan are neighbours and share a common historical and cultural heritage. Since 1947, when Pakistan was founded, suspicion and enmity between the two neighbours have persisted. Given the history and current state of ties between the two countries, there is little hope that these tensions would be resolved. Realizing the importance of Afghanistan and Pakistan in the fight against terrorism, the Obama administration embarked on a programme to engage the two neighbours in pursuing a coordinated approach to dealing with dangers posed to foreign forces in Afghanistan and also to the security forces of Pakistan. Washington made multiple overtures to Islamabad and Kabul in search of cooperative behaviour in dealing with the threat and terrorist assaults by forces backed by Al-Qaeda and Taliban leadership, in an effort to function as a buffer between the two relatively hostile neighbours. There has been a rise in anti-American sentiment in Pakistan and a deterioration in the country’s law and order, both of which this paper will investigate. It will also analyse the effects of the Obama administration’s Af-Pak policy on Pakistan and the country’s relationship with Afghanistan. This article will also discuss India’s significant impact in Afghanistan. Finally, the benefits and drawbacks of the United States’ Af-Pak policy in its fight against terrorism and insurgency will be analysed.
First Published
June 25, 2012
How to Cite
Dr. Moonis Ahmar, “What Went Wrong with Obama’s Af-Pak Policy?,” Regional Studies 30, no.3 (Summer 2012): 47-67, https://regionalstudies.com.pk/wp/article/what-went-wrong-with-obamas-af-pak-policy/
Issue
Volume 30, Issue 3