There is no doubt that Barack Obama’s resounding victory in the US presidential election is a major watershed in the US political evolution.

The election of an Afro-American to the highest office of the land speaks volumes about the political maturity of its people in overcoming the prejudices of race and colour which had once bedeviled the American society. Obama’s victory thus marks a clear break from the past and opens new vistas of freedom and opportunity for the American people. They can take pride justly in this milestone in the forward march of the US history.

Consequently, in contrast with the policies pursued by the Bush administration, the Obama presidency will witness increased emphasis on multilateralism and greater attention to the views of allies and friends in grappling with the great issues of our times, be they terrorism, nuclear proliferation, climate change, or the transition from a unipolar to a multipolar world. The US under President Obama is also likely to place greater reliance on diplomacy in dealing with serious security issues while keeping the use of force as the option of the last resort in a major departure from the “cowboy foreign policy” which has been pursued by Washington under President Bush.

It appears from Obama’s views expressed so far that a major aim of the US foreign policy under him would be to “strengthen our common security by investing in our common humanity”. The United States can, therefore, be expected to allocate increased resources to development assistance and to help build up democratic institutions abroad like strong legislatures and independent judiciaries.

What do these changes portend for Pakistan and its foreign policy?

Terrorism will remain a high priority issue under President Obama.

While Obama may succeed in his promise of withdrawing the US combat forces from Iraq by May 2010, he is likely to pay increased attention to Afghanistan and Pakistan in combatting global terrorism.

It is evident that Pakistan and the US do not have an identical approach on the issue of war on terror that has brought them so close together. The present government in Pakistan is, no doubt, firmly opposed to terrorism and militancy that have ruined everyone’s peace of mind, including the US. But it wants to deal with the evil on its soil on its own, while the US, desperate to wipe it out, is not mindful of Pakistan’s sovereign rights. In addition, Obama’s stridently aggressive tone during the election campaign asserting that his country will not hesitate in making direct raids if Islamabad is “unwilling or unable” to undertake the task has caused deep apprehensions.

It appears that the Obama administration will continue to maintain pressure on Pakistan to do more. But it will also place increased emphasis on strengthening the effectiveness of the Afghan government which is seen by him as being responsible for most of Afghanistan’s problems according to a recent interview given by him to MSNBC. This will leave a great deal of room for skilful diplomacy on the part of Pakistan to work out a joint strategy with the US in combatting terrorism based on targeting Al-Qaeda elements, engaging moderate Taliban to isolate the extremists both in Pakistan’s Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) and Afghanistan, paying increased attention to economic development as an essential element in the counter-terrorism strategy, and realising a new political dispensation in Afghanistan which gives the Pashtuns and the moderate Taliban their due share in the power structure in that country.

There is need for Pakistan’s leadership to waste no time in briefing Obama’s advisors on the implications of the US attacks on Pakistan’s internal harmony. It will only adversely affect initiatives taken so far to combat terrorism and put a damper on the friendly relations maintained by the two countries. (The Nation/ AsiaNews)

(With a report from Javid Husain.)