It was a bit disconcerting to learn that our foreign ministry was averse to hiring lobbyists in Washington to help our case. Last year, during a dinner interaction with visiting US lawmakers, I had inquired why was there an incredible amount of denial about each country’s support to the other. Besides China, no country has done as much for us than the US. And barring Israel, no country other than Pakistan has withstood this much suffering for the common good of the two countries. If Israeli sacrifices are valued, even treasured, why are our contributions often forgotten? One lawmaker lifted his gaze from his bowl of soup and replied “yeah but you do not put that much effort into reminding us of that as Israelis do.”
And that’s about it. Perhaps, we Pakistanis will always be the misunderstood ally. For one, we are Muslims. Add to it the fact that we are nuclear. And that we live in one of the roughest neighbourhoods in the world. But above everything else, we put no thought or effort into winning hearts and minds of our allies. When your demeanour is stoic, the relationship you have is bound to be transactional.
Want to know what we have done for them? Forget about over 50,000 Pakistani souls lost in the war on terror. Just rewind to the make or break moments of the Cold War. A bipolar world where victory could go either way. Enter Pakistan and Afghanistan. The red tide is reversed. And to realise that we have spent the past 13 years fighting the demons we had to make that victory possible. We have had to pay an arm and a leg.
And want to know what the US did for us? Before the Mutual Defense Agreement between the two countries in 1954, the Pakistan Army’s strength was 250,000 by its own admission and an 80,000 as per the US estimate. Need I remind you that it was before Pakistan even thought of befriending China? Since then, it has grown to a 550,000-strong army. And that’s not it. Like it or despise it, the modernisation of our forces started in those early days. Of course, there were rough patches but countries have strengthened each other in more ways than seems plausible.
And the question of denial, I have raised, whenever I had a new interaction. I did so when I interviewed US Secretary of State John Kerry for television and former Special Representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan, James Dobbins. I have shared these questions with coordinator for non-military assistance to Pakistan Robin Raphel (what an incredibly smart and inspiring woman) and countless other representatives of the State department and US think tanks. What amazes me is not the courteous nod but the genuine agreement. The problem then is with our inability to market ourselves as anything more than a piddling little country teetering on the precipice. And the fatal generalisations we have developed about the United States. It appears to me that in such a state we can do with a few lobbyists to help us project our image.
Then, there is the issue of self-defeating pessimism that one has to encounter in Islamabad. The growing US-India warmth must mean Pakistan has no chance to woo Uncle Sam. Not true. India is a miracle in reverse. From almost an open society, it is taking giant leaps backwards. Plus, what is its enormous capital namely its huge population, is also the biggest bottleneck in terms of its efficiency. The day China decides to open up its society and learn to use English more liberally to communicate with the west, the Indian magic will disappear. Whereas, we are just about the right size, quickly democratising, ignorant and inefficient, I grant you, but still with unlimited potential. If we manage to educate our people and build a truly democratic society, it will be a shining example and a moderating effect in the entire Muslim world. As for our anti-Americanism, I tell you, mine disappeared when I saw Barack Obama being elected as president. He is a great metaphor for the American democratic values. A gentle application of American charm and you will not see much anti-Americanism. As for us, let that small girl, that incredibly tall woman, Malala, be the metaphor for our resilience.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 25th, 2014.
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COMMENTS (27)
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I tried to bring a little droll humour into the situation by mentioning US lack of interest in cricket, but to no avail. To make matters worse so many people (should I say Idiots) are writing in about even more irrelevant matters such as OBL and Mumbai, and implying that the Pakistan Government was involved.. So far the Americans have not produced any real evidence that OBL transgressed, then they say, they found him in Abbottabad, which was their big chance to take him to a court-of-law. Obviously the Americans did not have enough evidence, so they supposedly whisked him away in the middle of the night, all the way across Pakistan, and eventually dropped his body into the Arabian Sea. Once again, no evidence, no forensics, no post-mortem. Also, it would appear that the US only use CCTV type cameras when it suits them. This was quite evident during 9/11. Similarly, people are blaming the Pakistan Government over the Mumbai incident and once again there is absolutely no evidence. It is outrageous to suggest that the Pakistan Government was involved in either incident,, and those who do are obviously big on conspiracy theories. Pakistan does have real problems, like most other countries, but let us assign responsibility correctly. Incidentally, Pakistan cricket team's success against Australia was outstanding, was real, and was on camera.
Excellent piece Farrukh. Let's hope someone in Islamabad is reading this and hiring the right people to tell Pakistan's side of the story.
"The day China decides to open up its society and learn to use English more liberally to communicate with the west, the Indian magic will disappear."
The day India starts manufacturing in a proper way, China's rise will fade away like a pack of cards. And India has started doing it with the mission of Make in India.
For all of Mr. Pitafi's window dressing suggestions, another story in this news print informs us that the co-accused in Daniel Pearl murder case has been acquitted. The world and more importantly the US has not got any answers as to how Osama bin laden was living a comfortable life in Abbottabad, not for a day or two, but for years. The world needs answers as to what happened to the masterminds of Mumbai massacre, a macabre dance of death of innocents that was witnessed by the entire world on live television. There are plenty such questions that needs answers before any window dressing would improve Pakistan's image.
First, a dillusional assumption that india is going bacwards. More satisfy bruised ego than anything to do with reality. Your all weather friend who skipped a visit to islamabd and landed in india agreed to invest 20 billion dollars , china month prior to that agreed with 35 billion dollar. Only a dumb person or a pakistani can predict india's downfall. Second, If china opens up ...yeah right Third, Pakistan is perfect size, if there will be democaracy, if there will be this, if there will be that... Then we will be best LOL Dream on.
Same old churlish Pakistani story of victimhood, denial and Conpiracy. Same old same old zero-sum game of : "Crush India = Great Pakistan". Pathetic writing. Sad editorial standard.
Regarding China, the most thought provoking article I have come across is by Carrie Gracie, the lively China hand of the BBC. You can read it on the following link so as to understand its future better.
http://epaperbeta.timesofindia.com/Article.aspx?eid=31804&articlexml=A-Confucian-Dilemma-24102014018008
@Feroz: Entirely and strongly agree . I am of the view that India's model of democratic growth is much more stable than the dictatorship lead growth model of China . The moment China opens up politically it may face an implosion similar to what the erstwhile USSR faced when it permitted a modicum of democracy .
* in 1954, the Pakistan Army’s strength was 250,000 by its own admission and an 80,000 as per the US estimate. Need I remind you that it was before Pakistan even thought of befriending China? Since then, it has grown to a 550,000-strong army. *
Pak Army's strength has more than doubled but territory was halved by the separation of Bangladesh. Net effect is increase of strength by 4 times.
You are making a strong effort with a very weak case and product. You are talking of Marketing a country which has done whatever it wanted to whenever it wanted to, not only refusing the best advice rendered it by friends but also campaigned against such friends who generously provided Aid. You are talking about a country where every Jihadi from around the world has gone to for shelter and training, but claiming to be a victim of terrorism. When OBL was discovered instead of celebrating like the world was, Pakistan went after the hero who discovered and revealed his location. Can you read any message in the incongruence between hollow claims and actions or is it beyond you ?
If you think you can do a better Marketing and lobbying job, the government of Pakistan will be ready and willing to give you the mandate. Bringing India and China into the picture when you want to promote Pakistan, will hurt rather than help. What China offers is a model of economic progress devoid of liberties and freedom, a cost which modern Man of the 21st century is unwilling to compromise on. When economic growth there stalls, that Political system may not be able to cope because they know nothing about managing contradictions, other than the use of force. A democratic India has been willing to pay the price for a slower growth rate as it had to guarantee all the rights and expectations of a very diverse people and manage those contradictions smoothly. We are talking of the longevity and merits of two different systems here, democracy and dictatorship, time will tell which of them was on the right path. Many may have doubts, but Indians have no doubts about democracy and its ability to deliver durable results over the long term.
Farrukh Khan Pitaf's article just goes to show how deep rooted is the all encompassing inferiority complex that he like every Pakistani suffers from vis a vis India. Even after 67 years of existence he is trying to justify that Pakistan's so called hidden potential of immense growth is much better off than the so called " imaginary" Indian growth. A nation's progress is based on its self driven desire for progress and not a pathetic sage of comparison against another nation. It confirms the fact that he like all other Pakistani's always live under a fear of India's perpetual economic domination and worldwide respectability which sadly a pariah Nation like Pakistan can only dream and sigh of aspiring.
BTW Mr Pitaf - Your country does not even have a semblance of something called a middle class in Pakistan and you talk of this unlimited potential. First at least try to provide a bare minimum educational standards to your citizens.
rgds vk
You have identified the problem. " Pakistan is actually anything more than a piddling little country teetering on the precipice". You also have a solution. "If we manage to educate our people and build a truly democratic society, it will be a shining example and a moderating effect in the entire Muslim world."............ It is easy to set a goal and very tough to achieve. Nobody is preventing you other than your own short sighted Generals, political and religious leaders and the misguided masses in achieving this goal. Indians will be happy to have a neighbouring country of educated people and a true democracy.
So that's it! Pakistan hasn't marketed itself well. It has been a rentier state for the United States, you'd think the Americans would be a little grateful. I can just about hear the lawmaker's aside as he put down his spoon on the soup plate - "we paid you well, buddy". 50,000 lives lost, sure some in fighting terror but most to sectarian violence by groups the Pakistani state has tolerated over the years. A little more English and the "India magic" would disappear! Yeah! Notch up one more victory for Pakistan. So there is an Indian magic? And that's what is upseeting this young man? I had found some of his earlier writings readable but recently the guy seems to have taken "giant leaps backwards".
Best wishes to Pakistan! India does not need any.
The mantra Pakistan must learn is that one must first of all learn to walk without crutches (made in the US or China) before one hopes to go galloping.
@sexton Blake Refuse all American aid money.
Truly, a journey from depths of despair to flights of fancy.The writer seems to be advocating aggressive marketing of an unmarketable product.The battle is won or lost in Pakistan itself, not in the corridors of power in Washington. The nation must try to come out of the quagmire of religious and sectarian bigotry before competing with other nations on the rise. .
Dear Farrukh, Everybody from the old British Empire are willing to teach cricket to the Americans, but they just do not cooperate. If the Americans cannot appreciate the finer points of cricket what hope is there for them? This is just one example of Pakistan doing its best. Incidentally, the Israeli's do not play cricket either. This is a great example of the problems facing Pakistan. Also, it is unrelated, but Pakistan beat the Aussies yesterday in the first Test match.
Mr. Pitafi is excited about his discovery that if only Pakistan did a better job of educating the world of its marvelous contributions & potential, world will see Pakistan as a gift to mankind. Of course, Jinnah shared the same view with Americans, as Margaret Bourke-White described.
Mr. Pitafi may be sympathetic to the 50K Pakistanis killed in War on Terror, but these are victims of terror groups fostered by Pakistani establishment. The world doesn't owe you anything for this - its Pakistan's internal problem. Diplomats like Kerry, Dobbins, etc agree with everyone to their face - doesn't mean US state backs Mr. Pitafi's views.
Rose-tinted view of China is popular in Pakistan. China's "magic" is felt sorely by its neighbors around South China Sea. The much vaunted "opening" of China drove Nixon to the detente. Its been 42 years, and CCP has tigthened its grip on Chinese society.
It's easy to delude yourself with how India is failing, and Pakistan is the best positioned to be US's bosom buddy. But there are 120+ other countries who don't promote extremism.
if, if, if....
Despite laying claims to superiority and victimhood of one kind or the other, Pakistan still can't define itself and let go of India.ET, this childish stuff (just one example) passes as journalism in your review standards? Is this guy like ISPR or something?
delusional article...just answer one question that everybody is asking: what was osama doing in Abottabad for so many years?
I will not go too deeply into American charm or the lack of it. However, I am trying to understand how anybody could construe drones killing innocent people as charm. Farrukh Khan wrote several other items which have me perplexed, but I will leave them alone. I would suggest that although Pakistan may not be an American flunky like Australia, Canada, and the UK, it has bent over backwards to cooperate with the US over the last 20 years or so. In regard to the Israeli issue it should be obvious to a blind man that Jewish personnel and interests dominate Washington thinking. Pakistan, like all other countries will always take a back seat to Israel. For example, Israel, a tiny country, gets about 3 times the US financial aid that Pakistan gets without the strings attached. It should also be realized that Pakistan assistance has helped to vastly reduce US costs in the Afghan conflict. The above article appears to just another, lets us denigrate Pakistan.
No amount of white wash can hide the truth that source of most misery in the world was traced to Pakistan.
Are you saying you can correct the image created by hosting Osama bin laden, blasphemy executions, pending blasphemy death penalties, prevalent Jihadi culture in Pakistan, discrimination of ahmedis and other minorities ...all through just hiring some lobbyists?
The writer is so fixated with India & he is completely wrong. China and US are potential enemy. They both can never converge. Indian magic has more to do with its capability in its institutions & areas of science,technology that is 15times stronger than Pakistan.
Indian economy have improved in last 4 months, projects worth 100 billion$ have been pushed at rapid pace.
A vacuous article that does nothing to address the concerns of the US or the world community and instead suggesting that what Pakistan needs is better marketing when the fact is that it has no product to sell.
For starters, one aspect that has to be very clear when it comes to US-Pakistan relations is that since the 50s, the Pentagon has had direct military-to-military relations with Pakistan. It must be noted that the US only has such relations in countries with tinpot dictatorships or an affinity towards one. This curious situation in the case of Pakistan has led to military agreements such as the one for drones to be kept disparate from whatever may be the policies of the civilian government. As a result, we see a cacophony of voices with no result.
Secondly, no one in the western world is going to forget the fact that OBL was found in Abbotabad.
As far as China is concerned, democracy, liberty, freedom, secularism are values that take time for society as a whole to imbibe. Just renaming a country as Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea does not make it democratic the same way as having a powerless PM does not make Pakistan democratic.
...India going forward or reverse...China learning English or not..how does all that impact Pakistan's future and growth?....or would you consider that zero sum exponents like you are the real reason why Pakistan could never grow?....