Pakistan’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Hina Rabbani Khar, reportedly warned her government against negatively impacting the country’s relationship with China to improve ties with the US.
Overview
Citing classified documents from the Pentagon, which leaked on popular gaming platform Discord, The Washington Post revealed that Khar argued in March that Islamabad can “no longer try to maintain a middle ground” between Beijing and Washington.
In an un-dated internal memo circulated by Khar, titled “Pakistan’s Difficult Choices,” the minister cautioned the government against appearing to appease the West, stating that the instinct to preserve and promote relations with the US would cost Pakistan the full benefits of the country’s “real strategic” partnership with China.
It is not clear how the Pentagon gained access to Khar’s confidential memo.
Just IN:— Hina Khar's memo is part of thousands of secret documents that were leaked on a discord server by a US Airforce officer.
— South Asia Index (@SouthAsiaIndex) April 29, 2023
Pakistan on the Ukraine War
The same leak also brought to light another confidential document, dated 17 February, which describes Pakistani PM Shehbaz Sharif’s discussions with an aide about an upcoming UN vote on the Ukraine conflict, which the government anticipated would renew Western pressure to condemn Russian aggression.
According to the document, the subordinate advised Sharif that supporting the resolution would signal a shift in Pakistan’s position, as the country had previously abstained on a similar resolution.
The aide further advised Sharif that Pakistan needed to have the ability to negotiate trade and energy deals with Russia, and warned that backing the Western-led resolution could jeopardize that position.
Just IN:— "Pakistan can no longer try to maintain "middle ground" between China and the United States" - Hina wrote in an internal memo in March.
— South Asia Index (@SouthAsiaIndex) April 29, 2023
Pakistan and the US
Pakistan has received billions of dollars in US economic and security aid following 9/11. However, it is now heavily dependent on loans and investments from China.
In January 2018, the US suspended $900 million in aid to Pakistan after Islamabad failed to take action against the Afghan Taliban and the Haqqani network militant groups. The country was, in fact, accused of enabling these groups.
In September 2018, the Trump administration once again strengthened measures against the country due to its inaction by suspending a total of $1.66 billion in security assistance.