SEEING PAKISTAN, Through the Periscope of Obama’s Foreign Policy Prospects in the Second Term

Now when Obama’s second term has just begun and he is back to the White House, we shall naturally look at his past as president and anticipate thereupon that in the guise of his ‘compassionate and democratic’ foreign policy, he would go to any length for the fulfilment of what he could not do during his previous term. Since, he would not be considerate at getting his vote bank drowned, he would tend to finish the undone. Grossly means, the ratio of drone attacks and the number of innocent killings in the drone attacks will increase.

Traditionally, the great powers of the globe have been trying to subjugate the weaker countries. They do so in order to strengthen the state of their economy, to consolidate their rule and influence the others’ territories so that the ‘interests’ of their own country could be safeguarded and served for as long as possible. The US is not an exception.

American foreign policy always had an important impact on this region of the globe even before the division of the subcontinent. And now, when Pakistan, as a nation, has virtually assumed the role of the leader of the Ummah, it is quite obvious that the American policies, if found conflicting with their interests, would get more rigid. Pakistanis have always been keenly interested in the state of affairs of the US; be it the presidential elections, or the matter of some president’s scandal. It is important here to take into account the main reasons as to why America would intervene in our country, what kind of benefits it may achieve and how will it try to do so.

A few critical questions may arise such as will the new Obama administration re-examine some controversial aspects of its foreign policy, like the perpetually dropping drone missiles in Pakistan; and will the new mandate strengthen its belief in the righteousness of its previous strategies and let it continue?

It should be kept in mind that the relationship between US-Pakistan, since Obama’s first-time ascension to presidency, has gone through a great turmoil which is unprecedented. The US-Pakistan relation has been at the worst low down the time lane.

Though it is believed by a very small group of intellectuals, and it has been discussed on various fora as well that America has always been a friend of Pakistan, because it helped Pakistan whenever it was needed. But this position does not seem to have a cushion in the current scenario.

A few crucial incidents such as the US Navy SEALs’ Abbotabad operation in which Osama bin Laden was killed; Raymond Davis case; increase in the number of drone attacks which is also unprecedented and the death of 24 Pakistani soldiers at Salala in a US-led NATO attack (although Pakistan showed its annoyance by boycotting the Bonn conference and suspended Nato supply line and insisted on the apology) made the situation worse.

 ‘We believe in a generous America, in a compassionate America, in a tolerant America’ Obama said in his victory speech after the Presidential Elections of 2012. This sentence seems to be an utterance that a person utters when he/she is overwhelmed with happiness. Such sentences do express the feelings of the person who utters them, but it must be kept in mind that on such occasions people make decisions and promises which are usually emotional and do not prove to be true. As Obama said, ‘we believe in’ compassionate America.’ This statement is undoubtedly superfluous. It is we, Pakistanis, who have the victims of American deadly drone attacks and during Obama’s previous rule, the number of drone attacks increased’

This question comes into mind as a corollary if this is meant by a ‘compassionate America’???

According to American constitution, a president can be elected for two terms only. This is president Obama’s second term.  During his first term, he did all what he thought to be fruitful his next term and may increase the number of his voters.

Now when Obama’s second term has just begun and he is back to the White House, we shall naturally look at his past as president and anticipate thereupon that in the guise of his ‘compassionate and democratic’ foreign policy, he would go to any length for the fulfilment of what he could not do during his previous term. Since, he would not be considerate at getting his vote bank drowned, he would tend to finish the undone. Grossly means, the ratio of drone attacks and the number of innocent killings in the drone attacks will increase.