In the aftermath of the Salala incident, most political parties found it convenient to get political mileage through making tall claims against the US. America was presented as a country whose defence capabilities in Afghanistan were solely dependent on Pakistan and it was argued that it would taste defeat if Pakistan did not restore the Nato supplies route. The government was caught between the options of infuriating the US and enraging its own public. However, it played it smart by handing the task of deciding how Pakistan should pursue its relations with the US to parliament. Yes, the same parliament that has not been able to conduct a single fruitful debate on national security in the last four years and which saw great sloganeering on national sovereignty after the Abbottabad raid but no policy framework that could act as a guideline for the future.
After the Salala incident, there had been reports that the US was ready to offer an apology in a meeting between Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar and the US Foreign Secretary Hillary Clinton, but the latter was told to hold the apology until parliament submitted its recommendations.
However, the parliamentary recommendations turned out to be completely unrealistic. They could not even address the basic question of whether the US and Pakistan have similar or conflicting objectives in the region. There was no mention of the limits of the cooperation that Pakistan could extend to the US so that it would result in positive outcomes for Pakistan while, at the same time, not putting it at odds with the rest of the world. A joint session of parliament was summoned for the sake of giving a new direction to foreign policy, but most of its sittings were taken up by domestic issues. It seemed that either parliament was not interested in dealing with national security and foreign policy issues or that these were beyond its comprehension.
We saw Pakistan boycotting the Bonn Conference and delaying the decision on the Nato supplies resumption. As US President Barack Obama signed a strategic agreement with Afghan president Hamid Karzai, Pakistan became the centre of criticism in the US Congress, with Ms Clinton also criticising it on the Hafiz Saeed issue and that too in India. So, what started as the US being upset with Pakistan, ended with much of the Western world being upset with Pakistan. We were gradually being pushed to a corner of isolation. The government that had made tall claims while boycotting the Bonn Conference was suddenly desperate for an invitation to the Chicago Summit.
Today, the US is not willing to apologise for the Salala incident, nor is it willing to pay the $5,000 per container for the Nato supplies that we are asking, should the route be restored. As reported, the US was willing to apologise a few months back, but now Pakistan is not only going to re-open the Nato supplies without receiving an apology, it is also going to look apologetic itself. As long as national security and foreign policy issues continue to be politicised, we will keep on witnessing embarrassing situations like this one. Maybe we need to learn to think before we speak.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 3rd, 2012.
COMMENTS (14)
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I think, the end objective for blocking NATO supplies is achieved.... its not $ 5000 or an apology, but the matter is its involvement in Pakistan, by supporting insurgent groups like BLA, TTP etc...and obviously drone attacks.
Stopping this Bulls was only by means of cutting its supplies. the dagger it was using to stab Pakistan is now in its own BACK.....and this is why US is making Hue and Cry....
I hope that it will remain same.....if US want to stay in Afghanistan than it should be on its own expense and should not involve in internal matters of Pakistan rest Afghans will take care.
You have hit the bull's eye..i agree with you cent percent SK..
it was a great read..way to go!!
Think Before We Speak +++++++++++++++++++ CNN to PM: Over one thirds of Pakistanis want to leave Pakistan... PM: So whats stopping them?
That's a unique viewpoint -- most would say that was a colossal mistake. Your military painted you into a corner and handed the problem to your executive branch which turned it over to your Parliament --- that portrays lack of leadership more than "playing it smart".
It is not only required to think before someone speak's but also there should be one condition more, we should also see the one who is speaking because in our country we really need to think and see the background and the credibility of the person speaking on such important national issues.
@Polpot: And that's why silence is golden
Those who think before speaking, seldom speak::) +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Sadly no school teaches how to think (before speaking)! ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ It requires long term education covering arts, literature, philosophy.....
"Maybe we need to learn to think before we speak." +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
But Ms Khar said that the Chicago was a "very very successful" enterprise.
the main reason of several problems is that we never THINK BEFORE SPEAK.... and there is no option to change the spoken words...
Pakistan is not able to provide safety, security or guarantee of life to any citizen. Being a Security state an individual can be eliminated not just by the State, but also by proxies often called non state actors. The Judiciary because of its past compromises with Dictatorship lacks credibility and is ideologically contaminated. In such an environment of intimidation and coercion to expect Parliament to show courage and leadership would be foolhardy. The examples made of Salman Taseer, Shahbaz Bhatti, Saleem Shahzad and numerous others can be very intimidating. People must face the truth head on. Parliament has not taken on the World, it has merely reinforced its role of being a rubber stamp for the establishment. The country cannot be run in this manner any longer. For a resurrection the old has to demolished and a new country has to be built. For starters an egalitarian Constitution would be a great starting point and for heavens sake no - Islamic republic, Christian Republic or Hindu Republic please.
when the parliament is full of people who dont know what they are talking about, who have fake degrees, what else can you expect?
Ghairat demands that you speak before you think. If you think before you speak then you are bay-ghairat.
We sold it pakistan in so cheap price that now no care about us they can spent trillions in the foolished wars but cant afford to give little to poors in the world they can solved kashmir and palestine and other small problems instead creating bigger one.....