War on Terror Partnership: Problems and Prospects for Pakistan

Abstract

The events of 9/11 led to substantial shifts in international relations (IR) especially regarding justifications for intervening militarily in the territory of another sovereign state. It also raised certain critical questions in the realm of international law as interestingly no laws existed or framed to govern the conduct of military intervention by one powerful country against non state actors on the territory of another sovereign state, even when that victim state is not directly sponsoring those actors. This war on terror has affected sociopolitical, security and economic conditions in Pakistan. The controversial issues like US drone strikes in tribal areas of Pakistan have led to breeding of more terrorists, thus creating a vicious cycle of suicide and terror attacks everywhere in Pakistan with multiple effects for the society and state. Furthermore, in the context of Pakistan US relations, the post 9/11 era introduced a major shift. This study attempts to explore and examine the underlying global and regional currents and ground realities of Pakistan US relations during this current phase as well as effects, problems and prospects of war on terror on Pakistan and the combined efforts of the stakeholders in finding a durable solution to Afghanistan problem, while also focusing on the key issues as well as prospective avenues of cooperation between the partners in future