EVANGELICALS INFLUENCE ON US FOREIGN POLICY: IMPACT ON PAK-US RELATIONS (SEPTEMBER 2001 – NOVEMBER 2007)

Abstract

Evangelicals in the US have a significant influence on the US foreign policy especially after 9/11 and, hence, Evangelicals have a far reaching impact on the US relations with the outside world and particularly with Pakistan between September 2001 and November 2007 bringing visible changes in Pakistan’s political, economic and social spheres. The main point in understanding Evangelical faith is that all aspects of its influence on the US foreign policy, whether political or religious, are inter-related. Once the nature of influence in all aspects is understood, its impact on relations between Pakistan and the US would become quite clear. The study examines various factors where Evangelicals have profoundly influenced politics and the manner and extent to which political and religious leaders in the US have manipulated religion. It also explores the phenomenon of Islamophobia prevailing in the West and Evangelicals’ stance on the Islamic extremism in the Muslim world, particularly Pakistan. Pakistan, being an ally in the current situation, stands distinct in the US foreign policy. It is the only Muslim nuclear country and, hence, is seen as vulnerable to extremists’ activities and there is a fear that its nuclear weapons might fall into the hands of militants. The researcher, therefore, identifies major issues of concern for Evangelicals with regard to Pak-US relations. It also evaluates the role of Evangelical social and religious based organizations, working in Pakistan after 9/11 for the promotion of interfaith harmony or otherwise. Finally, it determines the truth regarding the US Evangelicals efforts/designs through state and non-state actors to transfer their religious values in Pakistan and analyzes whether Evangelicals have any effect, good or bad, on this relationship.