amina.jilani@tribune.com.pk
So much for ‘forcefulness’ over an issue that has inflamed — and now even more so — the Islamic Republic’s public opinion, stirring up the not unfamiliar anti-American political and other ‘honour’ upholders of Pakistan’s wobbly sovereignty which in truth is somewhat non-existent, as is admitted by the more realistic minority. But then, how could Mr Sharif possibly have been forceful, knowing what he presumably knows about the various ‘arrangements’ arrived at between Pakistan and the US on the matter of drone strikes?
Hence, the prime ministerial sensible reluctance to have anything to do with the hysteria exhibited by his interior minister, playing to the gallery and becoming all hot and bothered under his perennial Beatle-styled headwear, Imran Khan, and the rest of the ‘honourable’ demagogue politicians and media folk who urge the government, and the nation at large, to call upon its mythical prowess, stand up to the US, look it in the eye and play tit for tat. They all quite forget that to look another in the eye one must be, approximately, of the same height.
The trend towards anti-Americanism is nothing new. It has been simmering for decades and on occasions has over-boiled. Our policymakers so often forget that it was in 1947, soon after Pakistan appeared on the map of the world, that the US was first approached for aid and succour — both cash and military hardware. They forget what the relationship was, as the new country built up its army and itself. The American embrace is old hat and over the years, quite naturally, has been subject to the loosening and tightening of strictures in accordance with US national interest.
And what is that interest? Well, from the time of its founding, it has been made quite clear to the world that permanence in relationships is not an option — in matters of foreign affairs, there are no permanent friends and no permanent enemies. National interest prevails. In its national interest, the US has, over the decades, poured billions into the country. Likewise, when in its national interest, we have been shed in the blink of an eyelid. And, when one is indebted to another, and demands are made by the other, resentment builds up, as does the feeling of being used. Hence, a massive chip on the shoulder.
Pakistan, over 66 years, has consistently fluffed up on what should be its national interest, particularly with reference to 1971 and onwards, and right now, confusion prevails following 9/11. Forever, its leaderships have been unable to either figure out or accept the global power equation. Someone at some time needs to sit down and fathom out why it is that Pakistan is considered a threat to the world, and then to at least attempt to do something about it.
In actual fact, it could be said, though it sounds callous as it discounts the unacceptable ‘collateral damage’ (that neat euphemism for killing those who should not be killed), that the drone strikes, etc. are helping and aiding Pakistan in its battle against the pervasive terrorism by eliminating state enemies, who for varied reasons the state itself shies away from.
To come to terms with the perfidy, duplicity and downright mendacity of both sides of the coin (though possibly Pakistan has the upper hand on this score), plus all the ties that bind and do not bind, all it takes is some reading. Recommended: No Exit from Pakistan, by Dan Markey; The Way of the Knife, by Pulitzer Prize winner Mark Mazzetti; and last but by no ways the least, Magnificent Delusions, by Husain Haqqani (controversial by all means, but an avid researcher and a balanced and most informative writer).
Published in The Express Tribune, November 23rd, 2013.
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COMMENTS (12)
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@wonderer: RC's advice to abandon exporting of terrorism is extremely sound as this scud missile launched by the late Zia to liberate Kashmir, veered off its course has hit Pakistan itself which is bleeding it into a slow death instead of India.
@Shahid Pakistan is a threat to everyone, including itself. It is now in the exclusive company of North Korea as the most delusional, crazed country on earth and the only thing that is saving it from international isolation and sanction is the few liberals who present a reasonable face to the world. Once they leave, it is curtains. You can stew in your own jihadi juice.
@JSM: Or is it the muslim way to force minorities to flee from amongst them as they have done in Pakistan.
@Np: I fail to understand why no person from Pakistan comments on Pandits being driven out of Kashmir Valley duirng the last 25 years in discussions in these columns. Do they not matter as human beings? Or is it inconvenient? Or screws were intended to be tightened on Indian Government by forcing them to leave?
Yawn...
@RC:
Good suggestions Sir, but are you not forgetting we have yet to capture Kashmir? You must be an agent of someone. Tell us who?
".....that the drone strikes, etc. are helping and aiding Pakistan in its battle against the pervasive terrorism by eliminating state enemies, who for varied reasons the state itself shies away from." Says it all. Thanks Author. You said it, politicians will not say it (most do not understand anything), military will not admit it and Imran Khan will not ever understand it. To shoot down a drone is not hard even Uganda can do it. PAF can do it in ten minutes. But Pak top brass know the usefulness of drones and provide support to US.
@shahid: Umm. I think that over hundred thousand Kashmiri Pandits who have been driven out of their homes by jihadis funded, armed and trained by Pakistan during the 90s perhaps may not agree? Nor the people who were going back o their families after a hard day's work at VT station on 26/11 when some 10 peaceful people snuffed their lives out.
@shahid: Pakistan is not a threat to any one; Tell that to the family of those massacred at the Taj Hotel in Mumbai while having dinner. There are several hour long videos of Pakistanis being "peaceful" on that fateful 3 days.
There is a simple solution to MOST of Pakistan's problems: Stop being a heaven of extremists. And not just drones will end but also ties with India and the US will improve too. The economy too will be saved. Simple solution but of course it's easier to blame others for your failures.
Can you tell me of a country(besides Albania/Israel/Fiji), which does not have presence of anti-Americanism-even the Canadians have an acute sense of this feeling.
The standard excuse to justify a master and slave relationship by our self styled liberal analysts. Pakistan is not a threat to any one; however it makes perfect sense to present it as one in order to cover up various imperial designs.