The United States is the classic example of market and corporate economy which has survived shocks and aftershocks in every contour of the bumpy road of capitalism. On the other hand, the communist economy collapsed just in 70 years after its establishment and the countries under its influence have either been disengaged or have adopted capitalism as the only panacea for their economic woes. The US economy is the business and if Pakistan wants to make progress, it has to shift its focus from defense and political relations to business relations and that is the only way to restore trust between the two countries. The United States is often dubbed as the subtle enemy of Pakistan and there is no good opinion of Washington about Islamabad either. Both the countries are destined to go together one way or the other and it is difficult for the two to remain aloof from each other.
The recent media reports suggest the relations between the two countries have been at their lowest ebb for the last few months despite close liaison at the highest level. The half a century old relations have seen many ups and down in the past on political grounds, but the actual thrust of Pakistan should have been on economic and trade relations. Looking at the data of the emerging economies, most of the countries managed to get their share of trade and investment in business with the United States. Vietnam is the emerging economy and once a nightmare for the US army has developed strong trade relations with Washington. The US firms are now investing in Vietnam and Vietnamese products are available in various retail outlets in US at competitive prices. Now the countries concentrate on business and not on politics and that is decision Pakistan has to do if it wants a long term friendship with the United States.
The United States should also now make basic changes in its relations with Pakistan and avoid to hyphenate it with Afghanistan, India or China in any circumstances. If Pakistan is an independent sovereign state, it deserves to be treated with dignity and respect where most of its people dream US as their future. A country where the sentiments run high for the United States should not be ignored as a pariah state and try not to give it aid, but trade. The policymakers in Washington have to accept Pakistan either as a friend or foe and should not treat it as frenemy. The dual policy must end once for all. If the United States can make peace with Germany and Japan, why not with Pakistan.
