Nato’s vision

It has been clear for some time that we are likely to see a bigger role for Nato in the future. The organisation has laid out this vision in several papers that see it playing a wider global role. But the manner in which this could impact Pakistan was spelled out for the first time in clear-cut terms by the secretary-general of the Alliance on his first visit to Pakistan. Addressing a joint press conference with the Pakistan foreign minister, Anders Fogh Rasmussen said that Nato saw for itself a role in creating regional peace that went beyond its current mission in Afghanistan. He did not quite define what this role would be, although Pakistan was identified as a key player in it. The issue is a somewhat complicated one. For many Pakistanis – and indeed other people around the world – Nato is linked closely with the US and its agenda. The attacks on convoys carrying supplies for the force in Afghanistan are of course one illustration of this commonly held view. This means that Nato will not be seen as a neutral player in any future bid to sort out the convoluted issues that mar peace across South Asia.

At the same time there is no getting away from the fact that third party assistance may indeed be needed to build the rapport needed among the nations of the region. On their own, over the last many decades, they have had only limited success. Islamabad then needs to put on its thinking hat and work out a plan. It should aim to put itself in a position to suggest strategy to Nato and work out how best its own interests can be served. It is as yet unclear what the organisation has in mind. But Mr Rasmussen’s visit makes it clear Pakistan is being seen as a key player in any plan — and this is in its own way a not insignificant development.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 23^rd, 2010.