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.
