Editorial

The US equation

Given our current economic and military links to Washington, is it realistic to envisage a total break?

Editorial May 02, 2013

All parties need to adopt a more sensible, more sensitive and more realistic approach regarding Pak-US relations. PHOTO: FILE

Rhetoric, slogans and drama are, of course, very much a part of any election campaign. This is as true for us as any other country; indeed, perhaps more so than most.

But given our current, rather precarious circumstances, parties need to exercise some degree of caution and demonstrate maturity. The anti-US slogan, as we all know, is a popular one with people. But, given our current economic and military links to Washington, is it realistic to envisage a total break? Or fool people into believing this can happen in the short term? Indeed, the complex network of dependency is not easy to untangle. The relationship between the two nations goes back a long way, and cannot be undone with a single stroke.

For this reason, all parties need to adopt a more sensible, more sensitive and more realistic approach. Right now, we have the parties of the religious right, chiefly the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazal and the Jamaat-e-Islami forging ahead during their rallies with a fervently anti-US approach. The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf has also banked mainly on a stance directed against drone attacks and the war on terror. The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz has kept its agenda somewhat ambiguous as far as foreign policy goes, while the Pakistan Peoples Party condemns drones but in its manifesto, indicates relations with the US will need to be maintained to one degree or the other, given global realities.

The point is we would all like to see our country move towards full sovereignty and self-reliance, but this cannot be achieved instantly. It is only a target we can endeavour to move towards. For this reason, parties need to act with responsibility, not raise false hopes and avoid raising slogans only because they are popular. Doing so will only build false hopes and unreal expectations; these will, in turn, make it even harder for the incoming government to operate effectively. It can do so only if people have a clear vision of the future and the task of all parties should be to help build this idea.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 3^rd, 2013.

COMMENTS (6)

Z.Khan | 10 years ago | Reply

A good editorial. But for whom. Those who never got the chance to govern the country can not understand such delicacies. Current motto of each is to enter the power corridor. What these political leaders uttering make hardly any sense for the brighter future of Pakistan.

Ricky | 10 years ago | Reply

A sensible editorial. However demanding honesty and not misleading public is asking too much from our rightwing parties who exploit the poor on these slogans. The fact is all the donor countries should come out and tell the establishment clearly that the current hijacking of elections by Taliban is not acceptable to civilized world. All aids would and should stop the day terrorist supported govt on their backs comes into power. Pakistani want to be left alone leave them alone and they can enjoy Taliban supported govt. Unless Pakistan becomes isolated like North Korea they would not know the results of having huge army and weapons but nothing to eat.