Look at the so-called ‘apology’ that made us crow with delight as we opened the land routes into Afghanistan for Nato/Isaf trucks carrying supplies and equipment: Verbatim as reported in our press: “We are sorry for the losses suffered by the Pakistani military,” US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said, recounting a telephone conversation she had with Pakistani Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar. “I offered our sincere condolences to the families of the Pakistani soldiers who lost their lives. Foreign Minister Khar and I acknowledged the mistakes that resulted in the loss of Pakistani military lives.”
Now let’s go back seven months, to December 4, 2011, a week after the Salala attack. This is what this newspaper of record reported then: “President Barack Obama called President Zardari on Sunday to personally condole the death of 24 Pakistani soldiers in a Nato airstrike last week. In a press release issued by the White House, President Obama “made clear that this regrettable incident was not a deliberate attack on Pakistan and reiterated the United States’ strong commitment to a full investigation”.
The press release further stated that the two leaders “reaffirmed their commitment to the US-Pakistan bilateral relationship, which is critical to the security of both nations, and they agreed to stay in close touch”. Note also that commanders at every level in Nato, US Central Command and Isaf not only apologised but also condoled the death of our officers and jawans.
But let’s specifically note the word the US President himself used in the telephone call to our president. Obama termed the incident “regrettable”. The word regrettable also means ‘lamentable’ which in turn means ‘woeful’, ‘inexcusable’, ‘appalling’ and ‘dreadful’ and ‘deplorable’. The word ‘deplorable’ also means ‘unpardonable’ which in turn means ‘indefensible’, ‘inexcusable’, ‘awful’ and ‘shameful’.
So, there was the president of the United States, let me immediately add, the country that is the source of our most sophisticated weapons systems that are used on land, sea and in the air, actually calling his country’s action on Salala post inexcusable and shameful and yet we continued to stand on our tails and growl at the world? Well, meow at any rate.
And what do we get at the end of it all: the so-called ‘sorry’ from Secretary Clinton! Really! We Pakistanis do make complete monkeys of ourselves sometimes. And then we cut off our nose to spite our face by refusing to go to the Bonn conference effectively cutting ourselves off from any deliberations to do with the ‘endgame’ in Afghanistan. (Which will be a long time coming, just watch, with us getting the drubbing of our lives).
And now for a short riposte to the mini-article penned by one SRH Hashmi of Karachi in the ‘Letters to the editor’ column of this newspaper. He says that “in matters of politics, he [I] sees everything in ‘a Pakistan versus the rest of the world’ prism”. But is it not the case? Unless Mr Hashmi missed the latest BBC poll on the most disliked countries in the world? Surely we are all old enough to know that we have steadily become a headache for the rest of the world, our ‘friends’ and ‘brothers’ included.
Witness the quiet demarches made by our ‘deep as the ocean’ and ‘sweeter than honey’ friend China about controlling our mad jihadis from influencing affairs in their western province of Xinjiang. Does Mr Hashmi not know that many years ago (during Musharraf’s rule, if memory serves) news surfaced of Chinese dissidents being trained in Khyber Agency? Surely he knows of the most recent deportation of Abu Jindal who was in Saudi Arabia as Riyasat Ali on a Pakistani passport and carrying two identity cards, one an NIC (National Identity Card) and the other a NICOP (National Identity Card for Overseas Pakistanis).
He says: “The Pakistan military gets a special battering from him, along with the new-found ‘security analysts’, who are increasingly from the Air Force”. True, only the ‘military’ doesn’t get a ‘battering’ from me, hopefully the brass-hats do; those who cause the running of bakeries and pastry shops and shaadi ghars in military messes, of which Mr Hashmi says nothing.
Again: “To eliminate terrorism, you also have to reduce the causes that give rise to it. However, he [I] never touches these aspects, which makes his approach seem inadequate and superficial”. Mr Hashmi obviously reads me superficially. How many times have I said that the day our Rommels and Guderians stop spawning and molly-coddling murderous terrorists for future use as their ‘assets’ terrorism will come to an end!
And finally, in regard to my saying that the Isaf commander’s offer to use the hammer and anvil method on the Af/Pak Taliban is sterling: “Also, Mr Shafi is assuming that General Allen’s offer is a sincere one and has not considered the possibility that his ploy could be to get Pakistan extensively involved in the fighting and thus deflect the full fury of the forces fighting foreign occupiers towards Pakistan.” At long last, an admission from a defender of the Deep State that the Afghan and Pakistan Taliban are one and the same entity, joined not only at the hip but also in the head.
The rest of Mr Hashmi’s mini-article answers the questions it poses, for example on Mumbai and on East Pakistan, so no discussion necessary. One hopes one will continue to read Mr Hashmi in the future …
Let me just end on the note that there can never be any ghairat on borrowed F-16s; their spares; and the required permission from the American managers. Let Mr Hashmi investigate this …
P.S. And what, pray, did Secretary Clinton mean by, “Foreign Minister Khar and I acknowledged the mistakes that resulted in the loss of Pakistani military lives”? If they both acknowledged ‘mistakes’, did we also make some? One?
Published in The Express Tribune, July 6th, 2012.
COMMENTS (64)
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@ Sara "because of Middle Class" U have hit bull's eye dear Ms Sara. This newly emerged class in fact is the real source of problem at the moment. For centuries rather melliniums we were doing with two tier arrangements: a very small but overriding elite and large trodden masses who would be totally indifferent to political and economic issues and supplying surpluses for the luxury of elite. We never had Ghairat issue and showed compromises far greater than NATO supplies. But this middle class now challenges everything on the pretext of equality & justice. The Ghairat in national affairs is also a problem created by them. Otherwise our traditional masses would never mind NATO supplies and all other such issues as sovereignity, etc. But unfortunately this era of tolerence & progressiveness seems to be coming to its end. The west also enjoyed this era uptil a couple of centuries back. But isn't it amazing that they term it as medieval period?
@Sara: "because of Middle Class" U r spot on dear Sara. This newly emerged class in fact is the real source of problem at the moment. For centuries rather melliniums we were doing with two tiered arrangements: a very small but over riding elite and large trodden masses who would totally indifferent to political and economic conditions and supplying surpluses for the luxury of elite. We never had Ghairat issue and showed compromises far greater than NATO supplies. But this middle class now challenges everything on the pretext of equality & justice. The Ghairat in national affairs is also a problem created by them. Otherwise our traditional masses would never mind such thing as NATO supplies and all other such matters. But unfortunately the era of tolerence & progressiveness seems to be coming to its end. The west also enjoyed this era uptil a couple of centuries back. But it's astonishing that they term it as medieval period
"...yet we continued to stand on our tails and growl at the world?" Thats a very difficult posture but amazingly indeed we did it!
With JF 17s galore who needs poor F 16s.
Please note it is JF against just F.
And it is 17 , one more than 16.
@Lala Gee: Prices of later model F-16s have changed due to huge upgrade in capabilities and inflation.
The point what kamran shafi is trying to elaborate in his writings is very serious and that is,what happens if a watch man instead of doing his job to protect your house from thieves and burglers take controle of your house by a gun prvided by you and becomes your master and starts interfering in your private life.Ofcourse,no body would like this to happens because it will destroy the home life for sure.the same is true for our homeland where our watchmen have taken controle of our dear land and become our masters,and no wonders for all this destruction in our society.
Authors who belong to the government bench can hardly figure out the calamity that is about to be brought upon innocent in the form of crack pot TTP with much help of the Afghans.
@Ashiq Hussain: the delusion of grandeur have evaporated…Reality sucks.
If only the people of this Nation learn to acknowledge to that fact, can they really move forward. Otherwise the future is bleak and very bleak just like Balkens of 21st century ! Nothing more! This is the reason that Elite and vested interests have kept the scenario going, however its going to come to end, perhap not tomorrow but certainly in very near future or one day for sure ! Its not long short either.
@realitycheck: And what if Turkey, being a NATO partner, is stopped by NATO/US?
the delusion of grandeur have evaporated...Reality sucks.
@Hafeez Sheikh:
"$1.5 billion was for the package which included aircraft, training, weapons, add-ons, etc."
So during 1990s we just bought the air-frames (US$ 11 million VS US$ 83.33 million a piece)?
Going through the state department press release, the substance of Clinton's statement on the Salala incident sums up to she feeling sorry for the death of Pakistani soldiers on account of mistakes by "both sides". It is not what the GoA is feeling towards Pakistan or GoP. It is Clintons personal sorrow.
Now, What Pakistan has gained. It has lost 33 million upfront for every year of Afridi's sentence. Not a single Paise hike for the transport fees.
@Lala Gee: $1.5 billion was for the package which included aircraft, training, weapons, add-ons, etc.
@Kamran Shafi
I believe some of our spares and MLU upgrades are done by TAI in Turkey. Thus, your argument is flawed and wrong.
@Mirza: "You got me there"
Actually I admire your wisdom and your level headed posts which are the voice of reason, sanilty and humanity. Certainly had no intention to 'get you'. Was building upon what you said. There are many Pakistanis like you (and some whom I count amongst my dear friends). Unfortunately not enough and not in positions of power in the establishment where the foreign and security policy of Pakistan are made. The manufactured enmity towards India has kept human development indices in both countries far lower than they could have otherwise been.
@Hafeez Sheikh:
"18 New F-16 Block 50/52s – $1.5 billion"
Isn't it too high a price for F16 (83.33 million a piece) especially for a 30 years old jet technology that is already near the end of its life cycle and its R&D costs have been recovered many a times. Please also mention how much were the kickbacks and commissions in the deal. I remember Pakistan bought 60 F16 for only US$ 650 million during 1990s which were never delivered though.
Very rare commodity in Pakistan! Pakistan has stopped producing outstanding writers like Dr. Pervez Hoodbhey, Kamran Shafi, Hasan Nisar, Najam Sethi, Khalid Ahmed & few others otherwise rest of them are basically run of the mill writers.
KS You are real warrior and write with conviction and courage.
The entire article seems to take its strength from the dubious interpretation of the word "regrettable". Remove this, and much of the argument falls flat on its face.
Also, I have often wondered what is wrong with military-managed commercial and social ventures? If they earn revenue, pay taxes, and provide services to citizens of this country, they can't be all that bad. And let's be honest: all these ventures seem to be doing a bang-up job, giving their competitors a run for their money, whether in real estate, financial services, healthcare, education, or "bakeries"! Come now, how many of us (or how many of the people we know) have not ever: lived in or owned a plot in DHA; transacted with Askari Bank; gotten medical care at CMH, MH, AFIC, Naval Hospital, or Fauji Foundation Hospital; shopped at CSD; worn an Askari Shoes shoe, studied in a Garrison or Army Public school, talked to relatives in AJK?
Agreed however that commercial business should not be the prime objective and motivation of the military.
Though Mr Shafi's articles are interesting reading, they sometimes betray a strong bias against the military. Again, nothing wrong with this: Mr Shafi is entitled to his opinion as we are to ours.
Its sad to see the people criticizing KS instead of understanding what he is saying which can save this country from destruction but it seems we have a death wish to destroy ourself.
@numbersnumbers:
"I await YOUR detailed answer(s) to the points the author continues to make in his columns that appear regularly in this news outlet! Otherwise we may all just conclude that you have nothing positive to add to the discussion so you just throw rocks like a LOSER"
I tried to do that a few months back in one of his articles. Only after 6th try I was able to get it published. Perhaps it would be relevant to mention that in every try, I have to put it more euphemistically and take out some content along with a note to the moderator telling him that I won't stop until it gets published. And I wasn't surprised when the finally published comment went through quite some action of moderation scissors. Not everybody has that much patience.
@Hafeez Sheikh: EXACTLY my point: at their mercy having spent these colossal funds with NO advantage to this poor country. What if they cut-off Spares? Understand the term 'borrowed' in this context...We need F-16s like we need two shots to the head!
@ Kamran Shafi: Please read this: ("Pakistan paid..." http://tribune.com.pk/story/224077/us-defense-department-awards-42-3m-contract-for-pakistan-f-16-upgrades/
@Kamran Shafi: Where does it say in that link that the Pakistani F-16s are "borrowed"? These are contractual terms which means that Pakistan cannot transfer technology of these F-16s to other countries (like China) and use them for attacking neighbours, etc. However, ownership of the F-16s remain with Pakistan and Pakistan can use these for self-defence. The same conditions were attached to the C-130s sold by the US to India and on arms sold by US to almost all non-NATO countries. Pakistan paid the following for these F-16s: 18 New F-16 Block 50/52s – $1.5 billion Weapons for the New F-16s – $650 Million F-16A/B Mid-Life Update Modification Kits – $1.3 billion F-16A/B Engine Modifications & UP/STAR – $151 Million
The root cause of most problems in Pakistan is the ignorance of the masses who have been reading 'manufactured' history and anti India propaganda for the last 60 odd years. The ignoranace has created a false sense of so called 'invincibility' of Pakistan. The ruling class (the Deep State) is simply enjoying and enriching itself due to the ignorance thus generated. The truth is now dawning itself on people both friends and 'friends' who have begun to distance themselves from Pakistan. That is the rude shock which Pakistanis are finding hard to swallow.
@KamranShafi Yes we get it Cornell Uni's journals and foreign think tank reports are divine indisputable word, while the Pak establishment are perpectual lying stooges. Hence anything that needs to be proved or disproved must be done so using western media op-eds, articles, uni journals or foreign think tank reports. We are incapable of presenting our own conclusions.
@Hafeez Sheikh: Read this and learn: http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/22/2785
Rommel and Guderian were decorated and respected soldiers. Don't compare them to our enterprising Army.
This NATO route re-opening was the prerogative of the civilian govt.....let us stop blaming the establishment as in the past..& the writer has time & again proved his obsession for the army to whom he had once belonged."...as if all was well when he was with the bunch.....
@Yes: What do you expect from someone who has an axe to grind against his former employer, the Pakistan Army, from which he was asked to leave due to reasons which the author is unlikely to disclose in public.
Just for the record, none of PAF's F-16s or their spares are "borrowed" as the author wrongly suggests. They have been purchased by Pakistan.
Loved your article! You are one of the bravest journalist who can tell the truth on their faces. God bless & protect you.
@asad
Y wouldn't, in fact y shouldn't we take wheat instead of F 16's? when millions in our country are malnourished, why would the 'toys for the boys' be more important? and what exactly has the '7th' biggest army in the world achieved in the past 64 years (except fertilizer plants, shadi halls and bakeries of course). Y cannot the saviours of the nation save us from the people blowing up in our backyard if they are such thorough professionals and know it all?
if the army is going to 'outsource' our defence to 'strategic assets' and concentrate on shadi halls, what purpose does it really serve?
Well now that the supply route have opened all the American apologists are crawling out of the woodworks with their analysis' and op-eds
After such a big U turn on their stance in relationship with the US, it really shows how inept the Pakistani leadership really is !!! But sadly they won't change or learn from them. What surprises me most is the fact, that majority of Pakistanis actually believe in, what they are told rather than being able to view the bigger picture in regards to their standing and reputation on Global Stage and what actually is happening within their own country ! Their relationship with US has changed forever after all the charade and attitude of Pakistan in dealing with them. In long term its bad news for a Nation, which is so dependant on Loans & Aid.
Reading the article and the comments one realises that there is so much more to this mess we call Pakistan and playing the blame game will get us nowhere.
Great analysis by a sensible Pakistani. If Pak army doesnt see the writing on the wall and the date being 2012, The country is doomed. This is a global world of 21st century, not one that is dated and frozen in 1947. Generals are known to be selected for valour, not for intellect. That is why They usually report to civilians. Unfortunately Pak is living in another world!
This man only need opportunity to blame establishment.
The truth is after the fiasco of 5th. May 2011, the establishment tries very hard to regain. In the process, whether it is the Memogate or the Shalala incident, it is coming out bad. Sad.
its not the Pakistanis.. its the so-called leaders who r responsible for all this!
@Asad: Yes, I noticed the arrogance with which the crooked Aslam Beg treated the elected government; I noticed the ISI's perfidious behaviour when Hamid Gul went ahead with Jalalabad despite BB's instructions to the contrary, got a thrashing, and put it all on the PM through innuendo and rumour; and the fact that when she and Rajiv Gandhi came that close to an agreement on Siachen ugly rumours were spread through an English language rag in Lahore's Main Market that there was something inappropriate in their relationship. Want to know more? And now that you ask about US wheat yes, why not; and when we became self-sufficient, schools, books; hospitals; and infra-structure. Er, I hope the Ghairat Brigades have not forgotten that all of Kharian and parts of Multan Cantonments were built by the bad Americans. The sooner we get off our high horse of 'strategic location' the better. It is now more an albatross around our poor necks. As are our bums.
Dear sir, agree with you totally. This is no apology. Just some sugar candy.
You could simply have said that the Pakistani Military is the source of all problems inside and out of Pakistan and it would have earned you all the applause you have been seeking. Did you not notice anything in the inner circles during your entire time as a Press Secretary? True there are a lot of things military is responsible or partly responsible for but laying the onus of all evil on it alone... That is ridiculous. As for the F-16's, you would have us take the wheat all along, wouldn't you?
@Cautious: In fact it is the victory for US because it has made Pakistan to accept its mistakes in Salala episode
the class, inspired by a mediocre wrriter as nasim khijazi, has reached to the top levels of the deep state.Nothing will change unless they be removed from the important posts there is no denying the fact that media makes a public opinion.Irony of the fact is, our much said independant urdu media is not independat.It continues to propagate a certain agenda set by the deep state. As commen sence lacks amongst the majority,hypocracy is making world records here in the lands of pure.exceptions are there, but exceptions do not count. kamran sahib,great job kudus.
It is writer's party in power.
"One hopes one will continue to read Mr Hashmi in the future …" ha ha ha. I am curious when did Mr Hashmi learn to write? And don't tell me yesterday afternoon, coz I am asking the time.
@Shahbaz Asif Tahir: I await YOUR detailed answer(s) to the points the author continues to make in his columns that appear regularly in this news outlet! Otherwise we may all just conclude that you have nothing positive to add to the discussion so you just throw rocks like a LOSER!
@Shahbaz Asif Tahir: How about elaborating on that? Or are you worried that your reasoning abilities may turn that comment around and point itself at you?
Kamran, you need serious help, and fast.
@Mirza: "Pakistan does the right thing after they have tried everything else. Yet we are quick to claim “victory is alwasy ours no matter what”".
Sad but true as it concerns US. With regards to India, Pakistan has not come around to doing the right thing after 65 years. I am not referring to Kashmir here which is a dispute and obviously each country has a different opinion on it. I am talking about the institutionalized Hate India, Hate Hindus prohject that has been ongoing in Pakistan since 1947. While undoubtedly it has harmed india, Pakistan does not realize that by radicalizing its society and making them intolerant, it has paid a bigger price.
In India too we have radicalized people, but as time goes by they are either getting marginalized or changing their behavour and becoming more tolerant. This can be seen by the fact that in the last 10 years there has not been a single communal riot. So at least we are headed in the correct direction whereas Pakistan is accelerating in the wrong direction at this time. For both India and Pakistan's sake, I hope that Pakistan takes a U-turn on this.
We (that is, I, myself and most of my friends) are sorry for the losses suffered by the Pakistani military. I offer our (that is, on my behalf and on behalf of most of my friends) sincere condolences to the families of the Pakistani soldiers who lost their lives. Did I just apologize to Pakistan?
You are anti the army which threw you out for your incompetence and big head. And, you will remain so...........never able to see the whole picture. Who is gagging the politicians mouths. Why does not any one of them, including the Presidential spokesman tell us, the people, that the armed forces are responsible for the tamasha! or the non-event?
The main Problem is that our politicians are responsible for Using Pakistani-America-European relations for their Own Shop of politics and as a result general public is incited with hatred and a fake sense of pride is introduced in them. Also Our military now have to invest on regular army rather than on Proxies. One thing more that now we have to tell the nation that in reality who we are. We cannot develop a single electronic circuit on our own. Our military have not been able to develop a single patent sniper rifle on its own in the past 70 and every thing is imported and assembled and then the tag Made in Pakistan is carefully inscribed on it. Recently I met my friend who is a fanatic Made in Pakistan thing and he told me that we had finally developed One JF-17 fighter aircraft and since my uncle worked in that project i told my friend that yes we have assembled it by a borrowed engine from Russia known as RD-93, Avionics from French and Europe, Radar from Italy and China and even Paint is imported from China and ofcourse we were not even able to develop an ejection seat so we got it from American firm known as Martin Baker ejection systems and then we claimed that we are Proud to be the Pakistan and another Indigenous product is unveiled. Anyway I dont think things will rapidly improve in near future at all.
A great Op Ed in a great independent paper, thanks for that. The ghairat is used to extort as much money as possible. In taking aid and loans there is no talk of ghairat, it only starts when the tap is likely to shut off. Even though Obama called and regretted the death of soldier, Pakistan opted for "sorry" in a private talk by Sec. of State not the President! Pakistan does the right thing after they have tried everything else. Yet we are quick to claim "victory is alwasy ours no matter what".
I work for an NGO overseas, and I can tell you that even officials in even those countries which Pakistan considers "brotherly" have begun to look at us in complete disgust. And, no, it isn't entirely because of our government (at least not the civilian side), it's also very much because of our middle-class public! We are seen as people who glorify murderers, persecute minorities, spread hatred, and create problems where there were never any problems (examples: blocking NATO supply routes, frequently annoying India out of the blue, creating a genocide in Balochistan, over-spending on defense when we have no money at all and then complaining that we are bankrupt/poor etc.). Of course all of this was said in a more politically correct manner than in the way I have stated here, but nonetheless it was embarrassing to hear.
Says it all -- when the smoke clears you basically go full circle and end up back with the American report of this incident which clearly indicates that mistakes were made by both sides. All this hoopla and anti American chest thumping got Pakistan did nothing but further tarnish Pakistan's international reputation.