ISLAMABAD – Pakistan’s Cabinet has given the green light to a new security pact with the United States, marking a significant step towards revitalizing bilateral defense cooperation between the two nations. The move, reported by the news agency PTI on Thursday, indicates a potential shift in ties and may open doors for Islamabad to receive military hardware from Washington.
The agreement, known as the Communication Interoperability and Security Memorandum of Agreement (CIS-MOA), was approved through a circulation summary, as there was no official announcement made by either side regarding the signing of the pact. Federal Minister for Information, Marriyum Aurangzeb, remained silent when approached for comments on the matter.
This development comes shortly after discussions between US Central Command (Centcom) chief General Michael Erik Kurilla and Pakistan’s Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Asim Munir, where both countries expressed their willingness to enhance bilateral relations, particularly in the defense field.
CIS-MOA is a foundational agreement that the US signs with its allies and other countries it seeks to maintain close military and defense ties with. It provides legal coverage to the US Department of Defense for the sale of military equipment and hardware to partner nations.
The agreement was first signed in October 2005 for a 15-year period, and it expired in 2020. However, the renewal of this arrangement indicates the commitment of both countries to maintain the institutional mechanism covering joint exercises, operations, training, basing, and equipment.
While the signing of the CIS-MOA suggests the possibility of the US selling military hardware to Pakistan in the future, a retired senior Army officer who previously dealt with the US downplayed the development, noting that despite the agreement, purchasing military equipment from the US might not be easy for Pakistan.
The officer emphasized the growing strategic ties between the US and India, stating that Washington’s long-term interests are not fully aligned with Islamabad. Nevertheless, he acknowledged that the US still relies on Pakistan in certain critical regions, making this agreement serve both countries’ interests.
In the past, Pakistan was a significant recipient of military and security assistance from the US. However, as global dynamics shifted, with the end of the Cold War and China’s rise challenging US supremacy, Washington sought closer cooperation with India to counterbalance China’s influence. Consequently, Pakistan lost some of its significance in the eyes of the US.
Over the years, Pakistan-US relations faced challenges due to differences over the issue of Afghanistan, the operation to kill Osama bin Laden in Abbottabad in 2011, and the accidental bombing of a Pakistani military outpost on the Afghan border that resulted in casualties. Despite these setbacks, relations have shown improvement since the current Pakistani government took office in April of the previous year. The endorsement of the new security pact signifies a potential fresh beginning in bilateral cooperation, according to the report.
August 3 2023
Source: Express Tribune and other media