Download this report (pdf)
Download the executive summary (pdf)
View the video “Pakistan: Experts in the Field”
WASHINGTON, DC —Today the Center for American Progress released “Meeting the Challenges in Pakistan: Trip Report and Recommendations for U.S. Policy.”
The report’s authors, Lawrence J. Korb, Brian Katulis, and Colin Cookman, went to Pakistan in April 2009 as a delegation from the Center for American Progress to examine the dynamic situation in the country and to gain a better understanding of the challenges facing the United States as it adjusts its bilateral policy toward Pakistan. The Center’s analysts met with more than 100 individuals in Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Karachi, and Lahore, including representatives of the Pakistani civilian government, civil society, and nongovernmental actors; serving and retired members of the Pakistani security services and diplomatic corps; scholars and local and international press observers; and U.S. embassy staff.
The observations and recommendations in their report build on CAP’s body of work on the situation in the broader region—including Afghanistan. Our previous strategy report, the November 2008 “Partnership for Progress: Advancing a New Strategy for Prosperity and Stability in Pakistan,” discussed Pakistan’s multiple and interrelated challenges of internal and regional insecurity, political instability, and economic underdevelopment in greater detail. That report concluded that the U.S.-Pakistan relationship needs to shift away from the short-term, transactional pattern that has characterized much of the two nations’ relations for decades.
Observations
The delegation assessed the situation in Pakistan and developed recommendations for advancing U.S. policy in Pakistan. The team found that:
- The U.S.-Pakistan bilateral relationship remains plagued by a mutual trust deficit.
- Weak governance remains an endemic challenge throughout Pakistan.
- Pakistan’s willingness and capacity to conduct comprehensive counterinsurgency and counterterrorist operations remains limited.
Key recommendations
As the Obama administration moves to implement key policy initiatives on Pakistan in the coming years, it should work to advance a comprehensive and integrated diplomatic, security, economic, and governance agenda aimed at building a long-term partnership with Pakistan. Based on their trip, the team’s 10 key recommendations for U.S. policy are:
- Build on recent regional and international diplomatic initiatives such as the trilateral U.S.-Pakistan-Afghanistan talks and the Friends of Pakistan forum.
- Initiate a comprehensive diplomatic engagement with a broad range of Pakistani institutions and actors.
- Formulate and sign a bilateral strategic framework agreement with Pakistan.
- Strengthen the police and judicial component of counterterrorism assistance.
- Increase assistance for internally displaced persons.
- Enhance efforts to keep Pakistan’s nuclear arsenal safe and secure.
- Launch a comprehensive effort to advance Pakistani civilian government capacity and expertise in coordination with proposed bilateral development assistance increases.
- Include careful oversight and accounting mechanisms in assistance legislation.
- Reform the leading institutions of U.S. diplomacy and foreign development assistance.
- Engage with Congress and the American people on the importance of Pakistan policy.
Download this report (pdf)
Download the executive summary (pdf)
View the video “Pakistan: Experts in the Field”
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