Expectations for the New Secretary of State

Obama has nominated John Kerry as Secretary of State. Hillary has already excused herself from a nomination. Experts say Kerry’s appointment will prove beneficial for Pakistan because he has a soft spot for our country. The reality is that no American diplomat thinks outside his own interests. He sees his own country’s interests first and foremost. Senator Kerry is one of the champions of the Kerry-Lugar bill in the U.S. Congress. As a senator, he did harbor a soft spot for Pakistan. It remains to be seen whether his sympathy will continue after his appointment as head of the State Department. Pakistan acts as a constraint on American policy makers, because only by keeping Pakistan appeased can they proceed in Afghanistan. We should maintain our hopes that Kerry will stay as close as possible to issues relating to Pakistan, and that he will shape his policy in new directions so that the paths of peace are widened and tension is reduced in this region. Pakistan, even as a non-participant in the Afghan war, has already lost much of its assets.