US Withdrawal from Afghanistan: Implications for US-Pakistan Relations

Abstract

The United States (US) and Pakistan have witnessed many ebbs and flows in their relations; while both countries enjoyed fruitful partnership during the Cold War era, post-9/11 developments came to re-define their relations. Indeed, Afghanistan has been the main source of strategic mistrust between the two countries, especially as India has also acted to increase its influence in Afghanistan against its rival, Pakistan. More recently, China-Pakistan strategic partnership has further widened the gap between the US and Pakistan. Despite a recent divergence of interests, the two countries have continued their cooperation. However, the US withdrawal from Afghanistan has further increased the need for close cooperation given the former’s implications for Pakistan and the US. In this regard, increasing political stability, economic recession, and rising terrorist attacks are expected to test the relations between the US and Pakistan. This paper aims to investigate the implications of US withdrawal from Afghanistan for US-Pakistan relations and the resultant need for Pakistan to review its approach towards the US. The paper employs an interpretative method of investigation which attempts to discover the intentionality of the actors involved, focusing on their values, beliefs, and perceptions. We apply the theories of realism and neo-classical realism that emphasize power politics and the states’ interests.