The only way this can be done is if we first work towards uplifting the economic and social condition of our people.
LONDON: Salman Shoaib’s article of May 19 titled “Might is right” is well written and I agree with almost all of it except the part in the last paragraph where it is said: “Pakistan needs to re-evaluate its cooperation with America… reassert sovereignty over its own soil.” How is this possible in the post-OBL scenario?
Clearly, if one is to believe that we did not see the American helicopters coming then for starters we are unable to reassert sovereignty over our soil. Secondly, as I am sure many would agree, there are hardly any major international players who would support Pakistan in this and a statement from the Chinese is only to be expected. The EU, Russia and even other Muslim countries look upon Pakistan with skepticism when it comes to terrorism.
And finally, we are not in a viable enough economic position to reassert our sovereignty or to re-evaluate cooperation with America. The only way this can be done is if we first work towards uplifting the economic and social condition of our people. In the meantime, we can expect a lot more drone attacks — before America talks to the Taliban on the negotiating table it will thoroughly weaken them, including the Haqqani network and we have no leverage to change this.
Ayesha Ijaz Khan
Published in The Express Tribune, May 20th, 2011.
