[Current Affairs] March 24, 2021 Top Pakistan Current Affairs for PPSC Test Preparation

2. Strengthening the Pak-US partnership

What’s going on? US Democratic President, Joe Biden, wrote a letter to Pakistan’s President, Arif Alvi. In the letter, President Biden said, “Pakistan has long been a close partner of the US, and it’s my great honor to congratulate you and the Pakistani people on your National Day this March 23…we look forward to strengthening our partnership in the year ahead.”

The details: The US is doubling down on its shared goals with Pakistan, like regional stability, addressing climate change, and tackling COVID-19. President Biden also mentioned Afghanistan. He emphasized that both Pakistan and the US want to see an end to the Afghan conflict.

Tell me more: This month, the US Special Envoy for Afghanistan, Zalmay Khalilzad, and Commander of the NATO-led Resolute Support mission and US Forces in Afghanistan, General Scott Miller, met Pakistan’s Army Chief, General Qamar Javed Bajwa. They talked about the Afghan peace process.

How’s the peace process going? Even though the Afghan Taliban and Afghan govt kicked off direct talks in Doha last year in September, the peace process is currently stalled. There’s a resurgence of violence in Afghanistan, and disagreements over the negotiation agenda.

The context: In February 2020, the US and Taliban struck a deal. According to the deal, the US and its NATO allies will withdraw all troops from Afghanistan in 14 months, in exchange for security and counter-terrorism guarantees from the Taliban. The US also urged the Taliban to start negotiating for a peace deal with the Afghan govt, so the country doesn’t erupt into chaos once the US and NATO head out.

Concerns: Afghan officials are worried that a rushed US-Taliban deal could result in lingering security challenges. Women’s rights activists are also concerned about the hardline Islamist insurgent group making a power grab once international troops leave.

A little history: US forces have been present in Afghanistan since 2001, when US-led troops removed the Taliban regime from power. Then US President, George W. Bush, told the Taliban to deliver Osama bin Laden to US authorities, since he masterminded the September 11 terrorist attacks. When the Taliban said ‘nope,’ the US said, ‘we’re coming for you.’ There has been an ongoing conflict between the Taliban and Afghan govt for years. Initially, the Taliban refused to sit down with Afghan govt officials, calling them “American puppets.”

The bottom line: Pakistan is seen as a key player in the Afghan peace process. The US acknowledged Pakistan’s help in bringing the Taliban to the negotiating table. Recently, Khalilzad highlighted Pakistan’s continued role in the peace process.