Pakistan Mission in the United States published the Letter From President Joseph R. Biden To Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on March 29. The Letter highlighted the, “enduring partnership between our nations remains critical to ensuring the security of our people—and people around the world—and the United States will continue to stand with Pakistan to tackle the most pressing global and regional challenges of our time”.
“That includes advancing our shared vision for a future of greater health security, economic growth, and access to education for all. Through our U.S.-Pakistan “Green Alliance” framework, we will also continue to strengthen our climate resilience, support sustainable agriculture and water management, and assist with Pakistan’s recovery from the devastating floods in 2022. And, the United States remains committed to working with Pakistan to protect human rights and promote progress,” Mr Biden added.
The letter of welcome by the US President Joe Biden to Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif should be a relief to Pakistan in more ways than one.
The Biden administration appears to have chosen to ignore evidence of election rigging in Pakistan which was expressly pointed out to the President by a group of influential lawmakers, of the ruling Democratic Party that too in an election year in the US. The lawmakers had urged US President Joe Biden to withhold recognition of a new government in Islamabad until a transparent and credible investigation is conducted.
In fact in the same tone, US Assistant Secretary of State Donald Lu had told a Congressional panel that if the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) failed to investigate allegations of irregularities in the Feb 8 elections, it will “retard” America’s relationship with Pakistan. “We have never used the term ‘free and fair’ in characterising these elections,” Lu had said in response to a question from Congressman August Pfluger, a Texas Republican.
The welcome letter has set a slightly different tone though at the official level it is anticipated that the US will continue to harp on investigations of rigging during the polls.
The President’s letter in turn has significance in two ways firstly the Biden administration may have appreciated that despite allegations of rigging there was reasonably fair competition in the polls and the new government has credibility in terms of establishment of the national and the provincial assemblies.
The United States had an uncomfortable relationship with the previous Pakistan Prime Minister Mr Imran Khan and would be happy to see his back.
Secondly the United States has possibly recognized the role Pakistan can play in the current geopolitical crisis as well as during the spurt of terrorist incidents including growth of the Islamic state of Khorasan.
For Pakistan it is good news as it will gain the support of the International Monetary Fund with the finance minister sent to visit to the same in New York on April 8.