The Russian bit

The Russians have joined the roulette too, as they castigated the Americans for “playing foul in Pakistan’s internal affairs”. Moscow’s spokesperson Maria Zakharova’s detailed submission that Russia is irked to learn that Washington had reservations over Prime Minister Imran Khan’s scheduled visit to Kremlin, and that the United States has allegedly hatched a plot to overthrow his government is an exceptional interlude. Moscow obviously has an axe to grind with its Cold War rival, and what better chance it could be to court Pakistan at this point of time, and especially when the latter has looked the other way round over aggression in Ukraine.

This expression of concern from Russia follows closely on the heels of Chinese apprehensions, wherein Beijing reiterated its resolve to stand with Pakistan as a strategic ally. The ‘letter-gate’ theory is making ripples, and interestingly claiming space both at home and abroad. It is in need of being studied at length. But at the same time, there is an abject ambiguity as one goes on to interpret it in detail. Apparently, a cable-communique interlinked with rubbing shoulders of stakeholders in the diplomatic circles – from both the countries – has led to a discord. This clash of perspective has given birth to a conspiracy theory, wherein it has corresponded with Washington’s erstwhile obsession of regime change.

The point is where are we heading? Are we in the Russian camp, or playing fiddle to the Chinese? Have we abandoned the United States largesse for good? Is this ‘letter-gate’ graduating into a diplomatic rupture? Where does Pakistan stand as a state polity? No doubt, the National Security Committee and the Cabinet have seriously studied in between the lines of ‘letter-gate’, and they are right in taking an exception to the coercive tactics from the Americans. The diatribe should concur a rejoinder in strategic sequence. This washing of linen in public, nonetheless, is disgusting. It is in breach of diplomatic fineness.

 

Published in The Express Tribune, April 7^th, 2022.

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