The writer is a former ambassador and former assistant secretary general of the OIC
Our many analysts have been enamoured for some time now with the need to ‘revisit’ Pakistan-US relations. The questions that are begging for answers are: why the urge to revisit these ties and why now? One development merits special mention. The truth appears to have, at long last, dawned on the powers that be in the Land of the Pure that our ‘strategic partner’ cares more about its own strategic goals than our piddling reservations. The unfortunate fact remains that we have nurtured the habit of first basing our calculations on purely superficial considerations and then feigning surprise when confronted with the facts of life.
Living nations study their histories with great care. They do this in the hope that this would enable them to steer clear of the mistakes they had committed in the past. Due to some unfathomable flaw in our make-up, we are prone to repeating our blunders. What is worse, we choose to put the blame of our failings on others or on providence.
A fleeting glance at recent history may not be out of turn. Post-9/11, the US administration posed the pointed question: are you with us or against us? Needless to say, Pakistan’s establishment instantly jumped onto the bandwagon. The attack on Afghanistan followed and we offered our ‘good offices’, our airspace and open-ended moral and logistic support, in that order. This was when we appeared to have lost our bearings, presuming we had some to begin with! The declared American objectives were to: a) destroy the al Qaeda network, whom it believed to be responsible for 9/11; and b) punish the Afghan leadership of the time for having afforded asylum to the al Qaeda leadership.
Sometime down the line, however, the US decided to unilaterally move the goalposts. The whole complexion of the war thereby changed. Little objection was evident from Pakistan. Little wonder, then, that after reverses in Afghanistan, US attention got riveted to ‘sanctuaries’ on Pakistani soil.
The war on terror was conveniently allowed to transmogrify into an open-ended conflict with no denouement in sight. Pakistan’s facade as a state was upgraded to that of a ‘belligerent state’. Those who matter in this land ought to have seen it coming. The question remains: how long can this country continue to take others’ irons out of the fire without burning its fingers in the process?
What is not clear is what our politicians aim to achieve. Are some of them trying to provoke a confrontation and if so, to what end? Or, alternatively, is this all a game of pelf? We are playing difficult to get, while our strategic ally is threatening to squeeze the flow of assistance and neither side appears to be on stable ground. American (and Nato) frustration with the unenviable situation in Afghanistan filters through loud and clear. The Afghan regime is joining in by levelling serious charges against Pakistan every now and then.
The stark choices facing us are becoming clear. Belabouring the country’s sacrifices in the cause of the war on terror is neither here nor there. Lost causes can hardly serve as handy crutches. The time for serious introspection is upon us. There is need to tote up the assets and liabilities. There is a need to carry out a serious exercise to arrive at a favourable cost-benefit ratio that ensures that our order of priorities is not awry. In the absence of such an exercise, planning of any kind would hardly be worth the effort.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 17th, 2013.
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COMMENTS (9)
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Indian commenting brigade, cyber Hindus rush to abuse Pakistan and Muslims, as usual.
To the writer, I believe Pakistan should establish an independent policy which is in our national interests and not be intimidated by foreign powers. Until we can stand on our own two feet, we will never be free of the yoke of imperialism. The war in Afghanistan has no strategic advantage for Pakistan, and has caused us more pain and suffering than any other country.
First, the elected govt has to reclaim the country from the military. Then, together, the two have to reclaim the country from the extremists. Then all three have to join together to reclaim Pakistan from the international lenders. Well, it took 66 years to get here in the first place. How long should you allow for getting out of it? It is fatiguing just to think about it! Much easier to just carry on as is. After all there is some satisfaction in knowing that while you yourself may be going downhill at increasing speed, you are throwing up dust at your chasers. And while Pakistan keeps the Americans and the Taliban busy, think how many other countries feel grateful that they can get on with their lives peacefully. There is even a moral angle to it!
The only other option for Pakistan was to be against NATO and ISAF in 2001.And then it would not have been drones alone to take the sanctuaries out.
The day Pakistan has something positive to offer its neighbors and the global community, relations with all countries will start improving. The negative agenda set by the countries rulers since Independence has cost the country dear. If the narrative had been built around "how can I help" rather than "how can I hurt", misery could have been avoided. The first task should be for the civilian government to wrest control of security and foreign policy from the Military Establishment, considering the miserable performance on both fronts for decades. That will set standards for accountability that have been starkly absent. Secondly, disarm and rehabilitate the terror groups through talks or if not amenable wipe them out through force. There are no other options and procrastination only make any disease incurable, if not prohibitively costly to treat.
nothing new in this essay, old proposition,suggesstions and bashings.
"The Afghan regime is joining in by levelling serious charges against Pakistan every now and then." +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ I would say levelling unfounded serious charges.....
our ‘strategic partner’ cares more about its own strategic goals"" +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Pakistans strategic goals are the Kerry Lugar and Coalition Support Fund.........
There! Another cliched victimhood mutterings. So, it is the fault of the US for all of Pakistan's problems. Never mind that top global terrorists like Osama bin Laden, Haqqanis, Khaild Sheik Mohammed were all being hidden and nurtured inside Pakistan.
no..no....we will burn the satan's flag and also enjoy his money....