Pakistan: Underlying lessons from the F-16 deal
Kriti M. Shah
The past few weeks have seen simmering tensions between the United States and Pakistan over the sale of eight F- 16 fighter jets. The proposed sale of the fighters to Pakistan has been blocked by the Chairman of the US Senate Foreign Relations Committee Bob Corker, citing Pakistan’s “duplicity” in its war on terror and its close relationship with the Haqqani Network.
While Secretary of State John Kerry testified before the committee on the importance of the sale, stating that it was in the US ‘national interest’, the spat within the US establishment has brought to light two important points of interest. One, the need for Pakistan to delink its anti-terror narrative from the United States and continue its offensive against terror groups irrespective of the type of help and aid it receives from the US. Two, the US needs to seriously reconsider its Pakistan policy and work to draft a new era of engagement with its long standing ‘ally’. Furthermore, the United States policy of incentivising Pakistan, to work with the US has been largely unfruitful and needs an immediate redraft.
Transformative element
The F-16 fighters have been a transformative element of the US-Pakistan relationship since the 1980’s when then US President Ronald Reagan exercised Executive authority and agreed to sell 111 F-16 jets to Pakistan, to incentivise their assistance to the United States in Afghanistan. However, following the end of the Cold War, the US’ close relationship with Pakistan diminished.
In the 1990’s, the relationship reached a new low with the US slapping sanctions on Islamabad as a result of the country’s undeclared nuclear programme, and terminated military aid, including the sale of remaining F-16. Following the 2001 invasion of Afghanistan, the US re-engaged with Pakistan, needing its support for its efforts in its neighbouring country and incentivised Islamabad by agreeing to release the previously blocked F-16s.
The present debate in the US is therefore telling, keeping in mind the historical relevance of the sale of the fighter jets to the US-Pakistan relationship. It highlights the valid and serious concerns on part of many in the United States that Pakistan is acting on only some militant groups and going easy on others, such as the Haqqani Network. While for Pakistan, F-16s are a matter of national pride, symbolising its closeness with the United States, Senator Corker’s claims are not unfounded.
Pakistan must convince the US that they are taking action against all forms and types of militant groups and are not distinguishing between one group and another. They should direct their attacks against the Haqqani Network and other groups that destabilise Afghanistan, thereby demonstrating their determination to root out extremism irrespective of whether the US gives them an incentive to do so or not.
Redrafting policy
The United States should take heed of Senator Corker and other’s reservations and begin a redraft of its Pakistan policy. For far too long, the US’ foreign policy towards Pakistan has been that of steady incentivisation. Although it has claimed that arms sales to Islamabad would help it to be a better partner in the US’ war against terror, the reality is different.
Between 2002 and 2016, the US has given Pakistan over $ 30 billion in security and economic assistance, including significant US weapons and arms systems. With such a significant amount of US foreign aid, Pakistan has very few tangible benefits to show for it. In fact, the Haqqani Network, responsible for sophisticated attacks against US, NATO, Afghan and Indian targets, continues to go largely unpunished in Pakistan till this day.
Significant reason
The continuing war against the Taliban and other groups in Afghanistan has also largely been because of Pakistan’s inaction against militants who plan attacks against Kabul on Pakistani soil. In addition, Zaki-ul-Rehman Lakhvi, the mastermind of the 2008 Mumbai attacks, walks as a free man in Pakistan, without any promise from the Pakistan state to bring him to justice. The discovery of Osama bin-Laden living comfortably in Pakistan has also not been a significant enough reason for the US to reconsider Pakistan as its reliable ally.
The United States also needs to justify why there are heavily subsidising the sale of the F-16 fighter jets, making the American taxpayer pay up to 46 percent of the cost. Senator Corker has remarked that if Pakistan truly needs the military equipment, they should do so directly from the manufacturer, spending their own national funds. Such a statement is valid and compelling, given that Pakistan already has billions of dollars in foreign aid to make such a purchase. Afterall, isn’t it in Pakistan’s national interest to fight terror on its home soil, irrespective of the United States?
While the US has been discussing the elimination of all terrorist safe havens within Pakistan for over two decades, it needs to ask itself why it has consistently failed to secure Pakistan’s acquiscence to its demands. Instead it continues to gift Pakistan, arms, ammunition and economic assistance and ‘tells them’ to simply, do more. In return for this generosity, Pakistan’s deep state seemingly fearless of the United States uses groups such as the Haqqani Network, Lakshar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammad as tools and assets to destabilise Afghanistan and India.
It realises that the longer the US stay in Afghanistan, the more it needs Pakistan’s support, which it will buy with lavish security and economic assistance programs. The United States needs to wake up to Pakistan’s duplicity game and stop the sale of F-16 fighter jets, until Pakistan, this time truly, does more to fight terrorist and militant groups.
(The writer is a Research Assistant at Observer Research Foundation, Delhi).
Bangladesh: Energy cooperation with India, an overview
Joyeeta Bhattacharjee
The year 2016 marks the completion of five years of energy cooperation between Bangladesh and its larger Indian neighbour. Over these years, energy cooperation between the nations has been acknowledged as one of the major achievements in the bilateral relations, which is growing significantly over the past few years.
The energy agreement signed between the two countries during Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s visit to India in 2010 laid the foundation for energy cooperation. The 2010 agreement covered wide areas of cooperation, including cooperation on renewable energy, cross border interlinking of grids, establishment of joint venture for power generation, capacity building and investments.
The agreement also stated that a joint venture steering committee, co-chaired by the respective power secretaries, and a joint working group would be constituted to promote and facilitate the cooperation. Initially, the agreement was for a period of five years and shall be automatically renewed thereafter unless either party gives the other party a written notice three months in advance of its intention to terminate the agreement.
The energy cooperation has been win-win for the two countries. Bangladesh faces an acute energy shortage as indigenous sources of energy are fast dwindling. The country’s current natural gas reserves are inadequate for future demand. While Bangladesh has maintained a six percent growth rate for a decade, the country would need to expand its energy sources to sustain this growth. India could contribute to the economic growth of Bangladesh by providing electricity. Beside, exporting power to Bangladesh there is potential for cooperation in the field of power generation also as Bangladesh plans to produce 39,000 MW by 2030. India companies can cooperate with Bangladeshi companies in this field.
Grid connectivity & power export
In a memorandum of understanding (MOU) signed in 2010, the two countries agreed to set up a power transmission link at Behrampur (in West Bengal) and Bheramara (a remote village in Bangladesh bordering Murshidabad district in West Bengal) to connect their electricity grids. The work of connecting the grids of two countries is complete and India is exporting power to Bangladesh since October 2013.
For the first time in their post-Independence history, India and Bangladesh have established inter-grid connectivity for the flow of bulk power from India to Bangladesh. A 400 kV line constructed by Power Grid Corporation of India Ltd and Power Grid Company of Bangladesh in the Eastern sector – Baharampur in India to Bheramara in Bangladesh with the load capacity of 500 MW has been being established. 250 MW is being transferred to Bangladesh from the unallocated share of Central Sector Power Projects in Eastern Region of India. The remaining 250 MW is being obtained by Bangladesh from the open market in India.
Again, India in March 2014 has promised an additional 100 MW of power from the Palatana power plant in Tripura. India is talking with Bangladesh for a transmission line via Bangladesh to transmit electricity from northeast India and Bangladesh in lieu will get extra power.
Power generation
Besides, the public sector National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) of India signed an MoU with Bangladesh Power development Board (BPDB) on 30 August 2010. The MoU, inter-alia, includes setting up a 1320 MW (2×660 MW) coal based power project using Super critical Technology. The project is being implemented by Bangladesh-India Friendship Power Company (Pvt.) Ltd., a 50:50 Joint Venture of NTPC Ltd. India and Bangladesh Power Development Corporation (BPDP).
This power agreement has brightened the prospects for the formation of a South Asian electricitygrid. The two countries could also work together, and with other neighbouring countries, to exploit the untapped hydro-electric potential in countries like Nepal and Bhutan. Bangladeshi investment and enterprises could be encouraged to tap the hydro-electric potential in the North-eastern states. This would not only address the energy problem in Bangladesh but also resolve disputes over riparian rights.
Renewable energy
Another positive development is the MoU on India-Bangladesh Renewable Energy Cooperation was signed on 6th September 2011.The MoU aims to establish the basis for a cooperative institutional relationship to encourage and promote technical, bilateral cooperation in the areas of solar, wind and bio energy on the basis of mutual benefit, equality and reciprocity. Two Working Group meetings have been held so far to implement the activities under the MoU.
The peaceful resolution of the maritime dispute between India and Bangladesh opened new opportunities for cooperation. Delimitation of the maritime boundary helped Bangladesh to gain a territory in the sea which is bigger than its seize in the land. Newly acquired territory in the Bay of Bengal is rich in hydrocarbon. India’s new expertise in offshore exploration can be utilised by Bangladesh for the exploitation of its natural resources. Also India’s large refining capacity should be exploited by Bangladesh since its refining capacity is limited. Bangladesh is now importing oil from Numaligarh Refinery in Assam.
Hosts of opportunities are waiting for the two countries and it is only the beginning. The two countries together can achieve a lot and for this the two countries should constantly work towards nurturing the relationship.
(The writer is a Fellow at Observer Research Foundation, Delhi).
Country Reports
Afghanistan
Revenue up
According to a report from the United States Institute of Peace (USIP), Afghanistan’s budget revenue was up 22 percent in 2015, a substantial improvement versus the 8 percent revenue decline in 2014. Government revenue stood at nearly 122 billion afghani ($1.7 billion) in 2015. 56 percent of the increased revenue came from better collection procedures, while about 24 percent came from taxes on mobile phone usage and imported gas.
No comments:
Post a Comment