Where are we headed?

Though I am going to pick on selected pieces from the joint press conference, I will attempt to ensure nothing is taken out of context. I trust that all those who attended the press conference noted the absence of any smile and, in fact, the rather grim faces that both participants wore through the proceedings.

Beginning with a word of advice to abjure ‘conspiracy theories involving the US, and not mentioning those being spun against Pakistan, after weeks of US accusations of ‘either complicity or incompetence’ in reference to Osama bin Laden’s presence in Pakistan, Ms Clinton assures us that there is no evidence of complicity at the top echelons of Pakistan’s government. And, she has praised Pakistani intelligence services for their assistance to the US and recognised the sacrifices of its armed forces, as well as their courage and determination in combating terrorism.

However, she also sounded a word of warning that “it is for the Pakistani people to decide what kind of country they want and for its government to honour the people’s wishes”; having clarified that the US could not do that for Pakistan!

Admiral Mike Mullen further said: “I leave here, not unaware of the need to rebuild mutual trust” and further clarified, “This is not America’s war. It is Pakistan’s war. It is Afghanistan’s war”.

But Ms Clinton also expressed the view that Pakistan’s best days lay ahead and reiterated the significance of its role in helping to find a negotiated settlement for Afghanistan. And finally, responding to a question on how matters stood between the two countries on the issue of Haqqani group, she hedged the question.

What, then, can we conclude from the foregoing?

First and foremost is the fact that there is awareness in the US administration that they have gone too far; and that the slightest push by them could end up terminating this tenuous and unhappy relationship. The second conclusion is that the US does not wish to risk this severance of relations -- at least until they can negotiate a satisfactory settlement out of Afghanistan.

While China’s warning to the US regarding Obama’s threat to again undertake ‘Operation Geronimo’-like ventures in Pakistan was not mentioned, its omission was significant.

I must again suggest that, while we have no desire to alienate the US, it is time that WE say, ‘enough’. There is no doubt that we, in Pakistan, face an existentialist threat to the future of our children and grandchildren, whereas the US does not -- at least not from this war. The threat they face is an economic one, one of their own creation.

Our threat stems from our support to the US. It is time for us to fight our own war and let the US fight its own. Mullen says, “It is NOT America’s war”. If he is telling the truth (?), let us ask him to leave and fight new wars in the Middle East! But neither he, nor General David Petraeus will leave. There is too much at stake.

If there is one message we can send to the US regarding Ms Clinton’s assertion that “Pakistan’s best days are ahead of us”, that’s true Ma’am, but only if you pack up and quit the region. If you don’t, the ‘Afghan freedom struggle will continue, the US will end up, willingly, or otherwise, creating instability, and we, Pakistanis, will suffer.

If there is any good will left, Ms Clinton, go home, before you are forced to; and you will, as you always have, lay your failure at another’s door; this time, it will be ours.

We would prefer an amicable divorce to an acrimonious one!





Published in The Express Tribune, May 28^th, 2011.