Messieurs President, PM & COAS: put nation before the US
By Dr Shireen M Mazari • Feb 6th, 2009 • Category: Politics, Worth A Second Look • 13 CommentsSo now President Zardari wants US money to fight terrorism! Clearly he still has not understood the hard realities beyond the money factor! There is a persistent inability within our ruling elite – both civilian and military – to accept the most obvious messages coming out of Washington, if they do not fit into our baseless euphoric expectations of our so-called ally the US. Look at our political leadership harping on how Obama’s inauguration as president would halt the drone attacks and generally put the Pakistan-US relationship on a more sound footing. On what was this optimism based? Certainly no rhetoric coming from the Obama camp. Or was this simply a ploy by our political and military rulers to fool the hapless public when in reality they were hand in glove with the US in consenting to US attacks against Pakistani civilians?
Anyhow, the drone attacks that followed the Obama inaugural certainly left no room for doubt as to the aggressive US intent towards the Pakistani people. And with the statements made by Biden and Gates, we should be left in no doubt that the US will not only increase the drone attacks, it will send its forces into Pakistan also in the near future. And if the resuscitated chorus regarding our nuclear programme is anything to go by, then the US eventually targeting our nuclear assets should also be a given. Finally, our great financial expectations from the US have also been slammed since the Biden Lugar bill is effectively dead and a new bill will have to now be introduced – the Haqqani spin on this notwithstanding. So why are our rulers hell-bent on lying to and deceiving their people?
But worse than the lying, is the seeming inability of the Pakistani leadership to counter the US killing of Pakistani citizens in the tribal belt. If the Pakistani military, even after its huge budget, is unable to protect its borders, territory and citizens, then we may as well divert that budget elsewhere. President Zardari may think he can sweet-talk the nation and the military leadership – the latter through joint walks in the closed environment of the presidency where even the sewers have now been protected against “terrorist” access – but how can the military simply allow the sort of violations of our territory and the killings of the our people by the US?
The point simply put is this: We need to devise our own national strategy to deal with our multiple problems of terrorism and extremism, but the beginning has to be made by distancing ourselves from the US unless the latter changes policy direction. The military needs to be withdrawn from Swat and FATA, but there cannot be a void so a political framework is required alongside the use of paramilitary forces under civilian command (many suggestions have been floated in this regard also). The present military-centric approach is not only ineffective, it is simply resulting in death, destruction and a permanent civil-military cleavage within our society which will be extremely costly in the long run.
Our rulers are only succeeding in the confusion they are causing – but even if that is by design, it certainly undermines the state’s credibility. We issue statements that we then withdraw on and backtrack as rapidly as we issued them! The whole post-Mumbai behaviour of the government reflected that syndrome and it continues to date as the real issues get swept under. So while the media focuses on our ageing rep in London’s declarations and clarifications regarding where Mumbai was planned, the troubling issue of consular access to Kasab to discover what he is all about, the follow-up to the arrested Indian spies from Lahore and whether India had accepted at least one of them as a RAW agent, the bizarre allegations of Indian security personnel having killed two Pakistanis around New Delhi – all these issues which require answers from the government have been swept under. The question is “why”? Are we also now moving into such a compromising stance with the Indians that we are not prepared to be assertive when needed? After all, there are those within our elite who are actually declaring that Indian spies are harmless – clearly they have not seen what RAW did in Sri Lanka or Nepal or is doing in Bangladesh! But back to the issue, how can Pakistan even begin to respond properly to the Indian dossier without consular access to Kasab and DNA tests on him? Or will the present leadership simply accept US dikat on this issue also?
Coming to US diktat, anyone who has met the Iranians recently will know how upset they are over the presence of Jundullah in Balochistan and the protection the US is offering them on our soil as it uses them to create instability in Iran’s Sistan province. Are we willing to destroy our relationship with a neighbour with whom we not only have no conflict but also have close cultural and historic linkages? And for what end? Simply one more dangerous compromise with the US? From what one has learned, it is not the issue of pricing that is actually delaying the IPI project but the Jundullah issue. So the US has succeeded in sabotaging the IPI through this and Pakistan will again be the great loser since Obama will begin talks with Iran and we will be left isolated on that front also!
As for our dialogue with the Obama administration – well we have already accepted the US framework that is being sent us through that great Zionist supporter Holbrooke. It is a success of the Indians that they have removed Kashmir from his brief. Now if only our leaders could tell him that without Kashmir, there was no possibility of talking substantive peace in the region – but will our president or prime minister suddenly show that backbone that they have not found so far to confront the US where our vital interests are concerned.
Instead, we have watched with anger and frustration as the leaders have continued to whine and plead helplessly to the US and its allies to stop the drone attacks – as if we cant do it ourselves if the political will is there – while secretly having consented to these attacks in the first place. It is sad to see the political elite least concerned about the country’s future which they have compromised to the US, and more concerned about pointless and expensive trips abroad which achieve nothing. Davos was in the same vein where the prime minister’s sizeable entourage stayed in a most expensive hotel and demeaned the office of the head of government by sitting on panels comprising the defence minister of Afghanistan and the foreign minister of another country. Is the desperation for foreign exposure so great that official dignity can simply be compromised?
But where is the dignity in focusing on government perks and privileges and political intrigues against rivals while the country begs for effective governance? With the Senate elections coming up, deal making and unholy compromises are at their peak just as those in opposition are being politically threatened to compromise on principles. That is all that seems to be concerning the rulers presently – which is why none of them have felt the need to go to Swat or FATA to see the fate of their people they have left unsecured against attacks by the US. And then they wonder why the space for extremists is increasing? Where is the military’s advice against a military centric approach functioning in a political void; or has the military made its unholy compromises with the US and with the ruling elite? How costly will the civil-military walks in the presidency be for the hapless citizens of this country?
And, finally, where is the dialogue that is needed amongst all the Pakistani stakeholders? What a cruel joke on the nation for the political leadership to declare that they will not dialogue with those carrying arms! It is precisely with these people that the dialogue is needed. Ask the British government in the Irish context. Messieurs Zardari, Gilani and Kayani should realise that it is not US money or US drones that will solve our problem of terrorism and extremism, national consensus, dialogue with all stakeholders backed by state force, and effective governance based on rule of law and an independent judiciary where people feel they can get redress for their grievances peacefully.
A tall order, but at the very least, surely, before meeting with Holbrooke, our leadership should commence the dialogue (instead of seeking surreptitious compromises with individuals like Sufi Mohammad only) and also get a policy consensus from parliament – after all, if nothing else, it may provide the much needed backbone to the present set of decision makers.
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Shireen Mazari (doctor of sorts!) this is another piece of nonsense, confirming size of your brain and subzero IQ. No, wonder you accepted that mentally retarded politicians, as your leader, who has problems with any basic notion of ’science’ and empirical truth.
Poor you, lost your job; lost your ‘column’ and now you are on to polluting this decent ‘public space’ with your ‘personal advertising’ and ‘party propaganda’. Shame on you!
This internet site of Pak Spectator is run by the Hindu ***and*** who allow the anti Pakistan messages to appear, but never allow the Anti Hindu messages.
The owner / moderator of Pak Spectator is a***. We call him, Gandhi ***.
If that is a woman, she is a ***********.
Dr. Parvez Khan
Switzerland &
Germany
Aftab Alam is a Hindu and subsequently, a ***Gandhi. He is not a Pakistani. The moderator of this site, who allows the nonsensical messages of this Dirty Gandhi to appear on this site, is also a Hindu.
All Hindus are called, *** Gandhis.
Hindus also drink cow’s urine, which is called, Gandhi cola.
http://www.CowUrine.com
http://www.youtube.com/CowUrineTherapy
Dr. Parvez Khan
Germany
Drirty_Gandhi@yahoo.com
I wonder if this is the ‘CIVILIZED LOT’ I keep hearing about?
Is there anything wrong with freedom of speech? Its a free country afterall! Besides, Dr. Pervez I am loathe to say this but you really crossed your boundaries over here! Just because you don’t agree with the woman doesn’t mean you have the right to call her ‘ A Gandhi Prostitute.’
I also wonder what changed during my absence at TPS. Why is it suddenly cramming with ‘anti-stuff’? Indians are swamming the place fighting against the Pakistanis and Pakistanis are doing the same! Where has the decorum, the prestige of this blog gone?
As for you Aftab, I am shocked. True, you don’t agree with the writer but why the hell would you hurl sarcastic remarks and insults at her? I can’t believe you of all people said this!
Look this woman lost her job, this government ‘fired’ her for her incompetence (I like to believe!). Now, she used to work as Direcor General Institute of Strategic Studies Govt. of Pakistan (during the last government), my question what is the difference between our defense policy now and then when she was serving?
Seeking a job is right of all the jobless people and this woman has just as much a right, but why to manipulate and abuse this Forum? why must she use this ‘public space’ for her personal advertising or is it her way of ‘blackmailing’ the powers that be?
Sorry, if I shocked you Maham. Shock was intended, though, to provoke this awareness here, we must not let such self-serving ‘intellectuals’ with fancy ‘titles’ defraud us.
As for this other ‘fancy titled’ primitive ape…… let’s not try to rescue him from the ‘gutter’ that he is operating from; let’s just let him rot where he is.
I still think, its a matter of respect. And you, Aftab seemed to be capable of more than hurling such vicious words at a woman and an elderly woman at that!
She has neither manipulated nor abused this forcum! She just voiced her thoughts! Look closely, and you will see the REAL PEOPLE who manipulate this forum!
When i first came to TPS late last year……..i was immediately IMPRESSED by two people.
1> Aftab S. Alam
2> Saleem Khan
These two HONOURABLE individuals are not only LIBERALS but also they are HONEST AND TRUE PATRIOTS.
Curiously, Saleem Khan no longer comes in TPS…….why?? has he stopped net surfing ??? i dont think so.
Simply because, TPS has been hijacked by HAWKS…….
Mindless posts, grand conspiracy theories, huge anti-india articles has become the norm.
Intelligent posts are few and far between.
Also no constructive discussion.
Coming back to the above post:
AFTAB S.ALAM’S COMMENT 1 IS UNDERSTANDABLE.
look what Author says::
“”"”"”"”"”"‘The military needs to be withdrawn from Swat and FATA, but there cannot be a void so a political framework is required alongside the use of paramilitary forces under civilian command”"”"”"”"”
That will be the WORST MISTAKE pakistan can ever do……..it will automatically allow TALIBAN TO REGROUP and come back EVEN MORE STRONGLY………..!!!!!
it is laughable to suggest “”"use of paramilitary forces under civilian command”"” when army CANNOT DO THE JOB.
It will also act as an invitation for an ALL OUT AMERICAN INVASION.
Author says::
“”"”"”"”‘What a cruel joke on the nation for the political leadership to declare that they will not dialogue with those carrying arms! It is precisely with these people that the dialogue is needed.”"”"”"”"‘
dialogue with taliban!!!!! no amount of dialogue can remove their HATEFUL ideology. Their only aim is establishing TALIBAN rule over the entire pakistan. Dialogue will only give them TIME TO REGROUP
Dear Friends.
Dr Shireen M Mazari has given a real insight of the issues that Pakistani people and Pakistan Government is facing at the moment. This is a painstaking effort of her to furnish us a true picture. I am thankful to her for all this.
There is no doubt that a phoney war against terrorism that rightly or wrongly Pakistan once befriended United States to assist her in it has engulfed Pakistan in it completely and our house is set on fire. [1]
May it be United States and her western allies, India or even Russia; every one is all out to exploit the present precarious situation that Pakistan is in.
But this area is about to prove another Vietnam for United States and United States may not even find that last helicopter which she found in Vietnam to escape. But this only depends that the rapacious greed for money of our brethren along Pak- Afghan border does not start bubbling up and United States offers them a better bid to purchase their loyalties and they scum…..
Mohabtoun main sadda say laga hey ek Dharka sa
Na janay koun kahaan koi rasta badal jaey
At the same times all members are requested to please hold their horses and refrain from indulging in personality bashings. Only positive contributions please…!
[1] Tum tou sahib bahut mahir they aisi Nao chalanay main?
Aftab S. Alam
Not being on the side of Doctor Sahiba that she lost her job due to incompetence, please answer my question Mr Alam: Please name a single person in elected government’s cabinet who is competent in his field (from Minister of Tourism to the PM, including defense minister, foreign, interior advisor, finance, )? please come up with facts and figures?
waiting for your honest reply.
A.S.A
When an idea is presented before public, it is less important to lash out on the writer but much important to object the idea / concept.
regards
please answer my question Mr Alam: Please name a single person in elected government’s cabinet who is competent in his field (from Minister of Tourism to the PM, including defense minister, foreign, interior advisor, finance, )? please come up with facts and figures?
IS THIS U FARID MASOOD?
SHAME ON YOU!
HOW QUICKLY YOU FORGOT EVERYTHING YOU USED TO WRITE (JUST FEW MONTHS BACK) IN FAVOUR OF THES CULPRITS AND AGAINST PERVEZ MUSHARRAF BUT NOW YOU ARE AMONG THOSE WHO HAS REALISED THEIR MISTAKES.
Try to be little courageos in saying that, DICTATOR WAS MUCH BETTER THAN THESE CROOKS (NAWAZ SHARIF AND ZARDARI) WHO HAD ALREADY LOST 11 PRECIUOS YEARS (1988-199) OF THE NATION AND AGAIN READY TO DESTROY ANOTHER 11 YEARS BY THIER SELFISH ATTITUDE IN POLITICS AND SPENDING THEIR ENERGIES/COUNTRY’S RESOURCES IN DOWNGRADING EACH OTHER.
I HOPE YOU WILL SOON START WRITING ABOUT THE GOLDEN REA OF PERVEZ MUSHARRAF AND SHAUKAT AZIZ AND THEIR SOCIO-ECONOMIC ACHIEVEMENTS
THEY ARE SIMPLY INSINCERE, INCOMPETENT AND HOPELESS PEOPLE TO RULE THE COUNTRY.
In Comment 7 i said:
“”"”"”"”"”"‘dialogue with taliban!!!!! no amount of dialogue can remove their HATEFUL ideology. Their only aim is establishing TALIBAN rule over the entire pakistan. Dialogue will only give them TIME TO REGROUP”"”"”"”"”"”"”‘
“”Moral dilemma of our times”" written By Irfan Husain in the DAWN says the EXACT SAME THING.
kindly read this article.
as always a brilliant post from Dr. Shireen. Keep going!!!