A major document cache leak has revealed the Pakistan government’s internal conundrum on managing relations with the United States while trying to keep healthy ties with China.
The documents include a memo written by Minister of State Affairs Hina Rabbani Khar titled “Pakistan’s Difficult Choices” and mentions that if Pakistan showed an attitude of ‘appeasement’ towards the West, particularly the US, it would get in the way of full realising the potential of relations with China.
Khar’s memo also says that Pakistan can “no longer try to maintain a middle ground between China and the United States.” It also uses the words ‘real strategic’ to describe Pakistan’s relations with China
Dubbed the ‘Discord Leaks’ after the messaging platform where they were released, the documents were accessed and published by Washington Post. The documents whose extracts have been published so far are based around how many countries are aligning themselves as the US continues to lose its status as the world’s sole superpower.
Another document that the Post gained access to describes PM Shehbaz Sharif’s consultation with a ‘subordinate’ presumably a member of the foreign service or a cabinet member, on whether Pakistan should support the US in the United Nations over the Ukraine war in February this year.
Shehbaz was advised that supporting the US resolution condemning the Russian invasion of Ukraine would amount to a ‘shift in position’ for Pakistan. The aide also told Shehbaz that supporting the US could mean Pakistan could lose the chance of trade and energy deals with Russia, the Post said.
Pakistan chose to abstain from voting on the resolution, soon after the reported consultation.
The country has placed its first orders for Russian oil to meet its energy needs and is already expecting its first shipment on May 24.
The leaks come soon after a visit to China by Pakistan’s Army Chief Asim Munir, where he discussed strengthening ties.
The government of Pakistan has not released a statement about the leaked documents.
