In the last few weeks there has been debate, in US media, about sincerity of Pakistan in the fight against terror. Questions have also been raised about the efforts of Musharraf’s government to help control the resurgence of Taliban in Afghanistan. It was expected as democrats took control of the US Congress and Senate that they would question US policy in Iraq and Afghanistan from all angles. Pakistan, with Musharraf on the helm, was the first country to sign on to become a front line state in the US fight against terrorism. This alliance has now become a target by democrats like every other part of the Bush foreign policy. The real question is whether it is in the US interest to pressure Pakistan for more than it can offer.
South Asia and Middle East are going to be the focus of world attention for sometime to come. For many obvious reasons, it is home to two aspiring super powers i.e. China and India with huge armies and nuclear arsenal; it is home to an aspiring oil rich Muslim country Iran that understands the frustration of Muslim world with both Western powers and militant Islam; it is the region where US is deeply mired economically and militarily in Iraq and Afghanistan; it is in close proximity to a sleeping giant Russia that still remembers its status as a super power coming out of its economic morass supported by rising oil and gas revenues. In all this turmoil and uncertainty there are only few friends that have stood with USA through thick and thin. This minority of US friends include Pakistan, Jordan, Egypt, and Saudi Arabia which have risked their own integrity and sovereignty to help US in its fight against terrorism. Imagine a region where US looses two of these friends because the politicians in Washington doubted their sincerity. I think everyone can see that it will be an ugly picture.
After 911, from nationalistic point of view Pakistan should have remained neutral considering the social and political strain it would encounter to help US especially when these terrorist are labeled Islamist. With almost 95% Muslim population it certainly risked igniting emotions among the populace. And even more from a large number of Islamist political parties like Jamat-e-Islami and Jamiat Ulema Pakistan which constitute a strong opposition in the parliament. Despite these political risks Musharraf accepted the hand extended by the US.
As the time passed US kept asking for more and government of Pakistan tried their best to deliver whether it was tipping off British authorities to foil a terrorist plan to attack planes from London to US or helping apprehend Al Qaeda operatives including notorious Khalid Shaikh Mohammad. The government of Pakistan went so far to initiate a military operation against elements in North Waziristan reportedly losing close to 500 soldiers. Government of Pakistan even suffered embarrassment when US army fired missiles into Pakistani territory on two occasions killing many civilians including some terrorist suspects.
Pakistan by its social character is a moderate country which is evident from the popularity of Western culture, food and movies in all major cities. But this moderation has become a target of a small minority fundamentalist element in the last two decades. These elements gained prominence and power as a direct result of religiously motivated Afghan war against Russian occupation. Once that war was over those same Mujahideen became a problem for Pakistan by targeting its society through sectarian violence, bomb blasts and suicide attacks. Under the disguise of transit trade, Afghan warlords brought drugs, klashnikov and money laundering to Pakistan through their influence in North Waziristani people with whom they share the same ethnicity and culture.
Fundamentalist elements, in Pakistan, were further augmented by the lack of government focus on providing child education through secular schools. These children were instead enrolled by narrowly focused Islamic madarasas with no supervision from government regulators. This resulted in a generation of brain washed young men with no special skills to earn a decent living. These frustrations became a potent cause for Islamist parties to ignite anti US sentiments among them. It is worth while to note that North Waziristan region lies in a province governed by coalition of religious parties called Mutahida Majlis-e-Amal or MMA.
In the back drop of external and internal pressure faced by Pakistan it has tried its best to deliver on the promises made to United States. Instead of appreciating the efforts of the government of Pakistan, newly elected US congress has slapped it with a new bill HR1 imposing restrictions on military aid. Recent visits to Pakistan by Secretary of Defence Mr. Robert Gates and Vice President Dick Cheney were reported as getting assurances from Musharraf for more results. US should understand it is not possible for Pakistan to monitor a 1000 miles long mountainous border with its limited resources when Kabul keeps blaming it for their own failure.
The solution to the current rise of Taliban and Islamist fundamentalism does not lie in military action. In the short term a coalition force can be formed comprising of India, Pakistan, central Asian States and NATO. Presence of NATO forces will always be considered occupiers by proud Afghani population. The long term solution lies in introducing reforms in education systems so that next generation of Muslims are intellectually stronger with a deep sense of their history, has an understanding of the spirituality of their religion and social responsibility. These social reforms can not take roots unless US stop supporting autocratic rulers that abrogate constitutions and undermine building of stable political institutions. Musharraf can not deliver more as his government does not have a democratic mandate rather relies on military establishment and forming alliances with various undemocratic elements. Under Musharraf rule indices representing child education, law and order, social justice and poverty has deteriorated much more than ever.
A strong prosperous Pakistan is in the strategic interest of United States. But it can not happen unless US start supporting the people of Pakistan for a better future instead of an autocratic ruler to gain short term benefits. Blocking military aid sends a negative signal but US can help Pakistan in other ways by awarding most favored nation status to her to improve trade relations. Provide aid to reform education system especially primary education. US think tanks can also help develop institutions to guide the political leadership of Pakistan in creating stable political institutions that meet the expectations of the nation.
As they say all politics are local. A poverty stricken, ill informed and illegitimate population can not consider US a friend when the religious leader at the pulpit is labeling it as a reason for all their miseries.
Pakistan: a friend or a deception?
March 4, 2007 at 10:12 pm · Filed under Political Commentary
In the last few weeks there has been debate, in US media, about sincerity of Pakistan in the fight against terror. Questions have also been raised about the efforts of Musharraf’s government to help control the resurgence of Taliban in Afghanistan. It was expected as democrats took control of the US Congress and Senate that they would question US policy in Iraq and Afghanistan from all angles. Pakistan, with Musharraf on the helm, was the first country to sign on to become a front line state in the US fight against terrorism. This alliance has now become a target by democrats like every other part of the Bush foreign policy. The real question is whether it is in the US interest to pressure Pakistan for more than it can offer.
South Asia and Middle East are going to be the focus of world attention for sometime to come. For many obvious reasons, it is home to two aspiring super powers i.e. China and India with huge armies and nuclear arsenal; it is home to an aspiring oil rich Muslim country Iran that understands the frustration of Muslim world with both Western powers and militant Islam; it is the region where US is deeply mired economically and militarily in Iraq and Afghanistan; it is in close proximity to a sleeping giant Russia that still remembers its status as a super power coming out of its economic morass supported by rising oil and gas revenues. In all this turmoil and uncertainty there are only few friends that have stood with USA through thick and thin. This minority of US friends include Pakistan, Jordan, Egypt, and Saudi Arabia which have risked their own integrity and sovereignty to help US in its fight against terrorism. Imagine a region where US looses two of these friends because the politicians in Washington doubted their sincerity. I think everyone can see that it will be an ugly picture.
After 911, from nationalistic point of view Pakistan should have remained neutral considering the social and political strain it would encounter to help US especially when these terrorist are labeled Islamist. With almost 95% Muslim population it certainly risked igniting emotions among the populace. And even more from a large number of Islamist political parties like Jamat-e-Islami and Jamiat Ulema Pakistan which constitute a strong opposition in the parliament. Despite these political risks Musharraf accepted the hand extended by the US.
As the time passed US kept asking for more and government of Pakistan tried their best to deliver whether it was tipping off British authorities to foil a terrorist plan to attack planes from London to US or helping apprehend Al Qaeda operatives including notorious Khalid Shaikh Mohammad. The government of Pakistan went so far to initiate a military operation against elements in North Waziristan reportedly losing close to 500 soldiers. Government of Pakistan even suffered embarrassment when US army fired missiles into Pakistani territory on two occasions killing many civilians including some terrorist suspects.
Pakistan by its social character is a moderate country which is evident from the popularity of Western culture, food and movies in all major cities. But this moderation has become a target of a small minority fundamentalist element in the last two decades. These elements gained prominence and power as a direct result of religiously motivated Afghan war against Russian occupation. Once that war was over those same Mujahideen became a problem for Pakistan by targeting its society through sectarian violence, bomb blasts and suicide attacks. Under the disguise of transit trade, Afghan warlords brought drugs, klashnikov and money laundering to Pakistan through their influence in North Waziristani people with whom they share the same ethnicity and culture.
Fundamentalist elements, in Pakistan, were further augmented by the lack of government focus on providing child education through secular schools. These children were instead enrolled by narrowly focused Islamic madarasas with no supervision from government regulators. This resulted in a generation of brain washed young men with no special skills to earn a decent living. These frustrations became a potent cause for Islamist parties to ignite anti US sentiments among them. It is worth while to note that North Waziristan region lies in a province governed by coalition of religious parties called Mutahida Majlis-e-Amal or MMA.
In the back drop of external and internal pressure faced by Pakistan it has tried its best to deliver on the promises made to United States. Instead of appreciating the efforts of the government of Pakistan, newly elected US congress has slapped it with a new bill HR1 imposing restrictions on military aid. Recent visits to Pakistan by Secretary of Defence Mr. Robert Gates and Vice President Dick Cheney were reported as getting assurances from Musharraf for more results. US should understand it is not possible for Pakistan to monitor a 1000 miles long mountainous border with its limited resources when Kabul keeps blaming it for their own failure.
The solution to the current rise of Taliban and Islamist fundamentalism does not lie in military action. In the short term a coalition force can be formed comprising of India, Pakistan, central Asian States and NATO. Presence of NATO forces will always be considered occupiers by proud Afghani population. The long term solution lies in introducing reforms in education systems so that next generation of Muslims are intellectually stronger with a deep sense of their history, has an understanding of the spirituality of their religion and social responsibility. These social reforms can not take roots unless US stop supporting autocratic rulers that abrogate constitutions and undermine building of stable political institutions. Musharraf can not deliver more as his government does not have a democratic mandate rather relies on military establishment and forming alliances with various undemocratic elements. Under Musharraf rule indices representing child education, law and order, social justice and poverty has deteriorated much more than ever.
A strong prosperous Pakistan is in the strategic interest of United States. But it can not happen unless US start supporting the people of Pakistan for a better future instead of an autocratic ruler to gain short term benefits. Blocking military aid sends a negative signal but US can help Pakistan in other ways by awarding most favored nation status to her to improve trade relations. Provide aid to reform education system especially primary education. US think tanks can also help develop institutions to guide the political leadership of Pakistan in creating stable political institutions that meet the expectations of the nation.
As they say all politics are local. A poverty stricken, ill informed and illegitimate population can not consider US a friend when the religious leader at the pulpit is labeling it as a reason for all their miseries.
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