Political Crisis In Pakistan May Impact Ties With India: U.S. Congressional Report

WASHINGTON: The current political unrest in Pakistan could impact its relations with India as the Pakistan army is having more control over the country's foreign policy than ever, a latest U.S. Congressional report has said.

"The Pakistan Army's more openly direct control of the country's foreign and security policies may, over time, shift Pakistan's approach toward Afghanistan further into a policy framework that seeks to counter Indian influence there," the independent Congressional Research Service (CRS) said in its latest report 'Pakistan Political Unrest' this month.

"It could also present new challenges to the goal of improving India-Pakistan relations, and put a damper on hopes for effective regional cooperation and commerce in South Asia," said the Congressional report authored by Alan Kronstadt, CRS Specialist in South Asian Affairs.

Even though the protest led by cricketer-turned-politician Imran Khan has subsided this would definitely have an adverse impact on India-Pakistan relationship, with the Pakistan Army having more control over it than ever, it said.

The current political unrest has weakened Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and any overt military ouster of the democratically-elected government could trigger sanctions on Pakistan.

"Whether Prime Minister Sharif sought out or merely acceded to the Army's late August intervention as a facilitator between the government and the protesters, most analysts contend that, because he has not demonstrated civilian control over domestic security, he will be left in a weakened state," the report said.

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