Beyond the Honeymoon: Translating Pakistan's U.S. Rapprochement into Sustainable Strategic Advantage

Abstract

The article focuses on the issue of Pakistan being able to turn these short term tactical victories into long term strategic advantages without losing its old time allies in China and Saudi Arabia. Based on recent trends in Pakistani foreign policy and precedents in the strategic behavior of middle power nations, this discussion maintains that the best way ahead of Pakistan is to practice calibrated opportunism, that is, maximizing the quality of the relations at the moment with the U.S. whilst gradually developing alternative relationships. The article reveals that the successes of Pakistan are pegged on shaky principles of personality-based diplomacy, internal political resistance, and structural uncertainty concerning the mission of the Board. Such measures as institutionalization of U.S. gains outside the realms of personal relations, managing Board membership with red lines, expediting implementation of CPEC 2.0 and balancing transparency with both Beijing and Washington and diversified partnerships in Europe, Central Asia and the Gulf need to be considered to create sustainable strategic advantage.