At the moment there is a lot of
activity in Pakistan with regards to opening of the transit route for NATO
forces engaged in Afghanistan. In fact it is an about turn of Pakistani
Establishment, Government and Army. They are playing elitist, after loosing face
in the wake of American attack on a Pakistani Military-post Salala, killing 26
soldiers. They stopped the transportation of goods and armament passing through
Pakistan, acting purely on whim and without any deliberations and fore-thoughts,
which are, in general, traits of a foreign policy.
Needless to say that Pakistan army had no choice but to show some bold-face to
ward off the humiliation of flagrantly repeated failures, such as saga of UBL
and attack on another garrison by the militants. America, after the killing of
26 pakistani army men, did realize the fiasco created and agreed to extend an
apology. Navette of Pakistanis, tried to cash on this bent to their fullest
advantage and asked US to delay it for the most opportune time. After
unnecessarily engaging National Assembly to deliberate on this crucial Foreign
Policy issue, they came back to the foregone conclusion that the closing of
supply rout was neither prudent nor sustainable.
Pakistan National Assembly, contrary to all expectations, came up with some good
recommendations, though inherently impractical, given the cash starved and
fully-hypothecated character of the Zardari Government. The time lapse in this
discussion culminated in lost opportunity for Zardari and Co.
On the part of USA the apology was traded for Afghan´s pleasure rather and they
were also garlanded with a strategic agreement, which denied Pakistan of any
future role in the Afghanistan, thus leaving a window ajar for India to creep-in
quietly. Pakistan fell flat on all fours due to not having a Foreign Policy to
adhere to or act upon with any country including US. Its actions are ad-hawkish
and event driven.
Zardari Government on the advice of military did not attend the Bonn conference
but begged to attend Chicago meeting of NATO,where Zardari was grossly
mistreated and openly snubbed by Obama as he was not in a position of towing the
washington´s line.
The blame can always be laid with the civilian Government but in my opinion the
main culprit is military´s top brass, who has not released the formulation of
foreign policy to the civilians. Gen Kiyani and his defence counsel members
should be held responsible for colossal military and foreign-policy failures and
the role played in the NRO. Gen Miraz Aslam Beg, and Ex ISI chief Gen. Durrani
should be taken to task so that no future Gen dare interfere in the civilian
affairs.
Although I am not a big fan of the Chief Justice, except that he seems to be
born again Muslim, a benefit of doubt could be afforded to him pending his war
against the criminalities of the present system in general and Government in
particular. Although, he is obviously wary of the military reaction and
responses should he leap out to tame the Generals, he would have to take that
risk once for all. This may derail the democracy in Pakistan for several more
decades or may put him as the true father of democracy in Pakistan, should he
succeed. The risk is worth taking.
It is very unfortunate that Pakistan never had an institutionally and
ideologically developed foreign policy. It always had a very limited angle to
the need based steps towards any country including China and USA. The reins of
FP had always been in the hands of so called think tanks or gladiatorial
strategists of Pakistan Military. Civilian Governments had neither been capable
nor willing to handle that task and hence scape-goated army in case of any
fiasco. Army on the other hand never had a qualm with the status-quo. There had
always been an Aquiescence on both sides. The result is that the FP had never
been the civilian forte. Civilian Foreign office never developed a sense of
taking independently courageous positions ever. It had always been practiced on
ad-hawk basis and under the clouds of fear, of causing out of control situation.
Mainly with respect to military, a big donor such as Saudi Arabia, USA, China,
India or even some second fiddle players such as UAE, Bahrain and UK etc.
If carefully noticed, one could clearly envision the pattern that those selected
as Foreign Ministers, Secretaries or for that matter Ambassadors, are generally
foreign-educated or those who can speak English without thick accent, regardless
of the foreign-office or foreign policy expertise.
Shah Mehmood Qureshi, now part of PTI, was developing his persona rather than
Pakistan and was doing everything possible to be in good books of US. His
departure was not planned or resulted due to any ideological differences of any
sort, but was rather accidental due to the fiasco of Raymond Davis´s abrupt
release secured by Gen Kiyani. He played it well to his advantage, portraying
himself as a patriot to the cause of Pakistan.
Zardari´s insistnece in attending Chicago NATO meeting was important for two
reasons. One is that his own fortune stashed in US banks would be safe for a
while and the flow of aid to Pakistan may resume. The irony is that although in
war on terror Pakistan has paid most dearly than any other country, in terms of
loss of human life and monetary resources, it is Karzai, an internationally
recognized thug, who has been accoladed by Obama. It is not only the colossal
mis step on the part of Obama administration but is also a colossal Foreign
Policy failure on the part of Pakistan as well.
At this time though Pakistani seems to know that USA is in an absolute quagmire,
the sense of fear and lack of faith is so overwhelming that they can´t push for
their ligit demands. USA on the other hand, due to the vicissitudes of
Pakistanis and the financial vulnerability, is so brazen that it is using
payment of Pakistan´s own money as a bargaining chip. Couples of other factors
which are being exploited by the foreign powers are the money of Pakistani
politicians, bureacrats, Generals, parked in those countries and the Sons and
daughters of this vulnerable class, studying or working in those countries. A
shameful example is the American visa, which is worth more than anything
conceivable for a Pakistani to get.