PAKISTAN AND US STRAINED RELATIONS.
Foreign policy is always dictated by the internal situation in a country. There are certain factors that invariably effect the country's importance internationally. Every country tailor it's foreign policy according to its national interest except Pakistan, where it is tailored in the interest of the ruling junta.The reality of friends and foes on the international stage doesn't stretch beyond mare diplomatic gestures. A slight whim of wind can turn today's friends into enemies overnight. For historical references I would rather spare your intellectual faculties.
An effective foreign policy underpins essential factors such as geo strategic positioning of the country, the political and economic stability, its political reliability and dependability.
No doubt Pakistan has geo political importance in the present circumstances. Afghanistan is on fire, while Iran's extravagance, fundamentalism and its vainglorious posturing is threatening it's neighbours and world at large. Middle East is going through a turmoil. Central Asian states are having their own problems. China ever continuing economical expansion has made west more worried and uncomfortable.
Had Pakistan political stability and economic soundness it would have been the ripe time to exploit the situation to the best of its national interests. Unfortunately Pakistan is not in that position. It has a shaky political system. The institutions are at war with each others. None is bothered to remain in its jurisdiction. Financially it is a non viable state. Power shortage has shaken the industrial basis. And the common man sufferings are on increase.
Judiciary is not showing activism but is on the path of adventurism. The same is the case with so called free journalism they are running a parallel government. Our political debates are no more than cock's fighting. Army is not ready to accept civilian authority. Parliament has been made irrelevant. Good governance is not in sight. The last factor has two reasons. The government is corrupt and have no cohesive policy nor the statesmanship to steer out the country of the mis.
It is faced with scandals, accusations, adventurism of jurists and journalists. From memo scandal to NRO every thing is hanging on its head like a sword.
No institution is working in its jurisdiction but interferes in others. The weakest of all is the government. The law of nature that every thing flows in the direction where there is least resistance.
As a student of politics it is surprising for me that jurists are concerned with the security of the country, the army is worried about foreign relations, the opposition is visionless and is waiting for Jim to fix the things. Neither they quit the parliament nor has any alternative program to offer to allay the sufferings of a common man.
The important centres of the army are being targeted. The ground and air space is continuously being violated but our army is more concerned about foreign policy and allocation of foreign aid.
The lower judiciary is being eaten up paw by paw by corruption but the higher judiciary is too busy in political cleansing. There is phobia in the judicial institution. The CJ is like chief of Staff of the army the rest are expected to fall in line or face the consequences. Cleansing in the lower courts were done in Iranian style. No body was given a chance to prove his innocence but were asked to resign. C.J instead of putting his house in order is determined to take revenge from the government.
It is a load of rubbish to say that judiciary showed a lot of patience but were forced by the adamancy of the government to take a tough decision. They are least bothered of its fall outs and political repercussions. In reality they were waiting for the breach to appear between government and the establishment.
The present government of Pakistan has least power and most regularly condemned. Government is on receiving end from all three institutions. Government is under the barrels of guns from all sides. Establishment, judiciary, journalists, and opposition, who is ruling 64 percent of the country.
The central government is taking punches right in face from its own ally MQM. It is a beleaguered government keeping themselves in chair on the basis of daily strategy. The government did show its resilience in this odd circumstances. Zardari proved his political acumen.
The country is faced with internal insurgency in Baluchistan and terrorism waves are striking each and every nook of the country. There is hardly an institution without corruption.
The forces on the right and clergy is strengthening its grip on the government and masses. The defence council is yet another Jim of the establishment. Sonami and zalzala are the other two. Both signify destruction. But Jim will fix it in three months is still buzzing the atmosphere. The two hopes of the free journalists are Imran Khan and sheikh Rashid.
In this back drop I wonder is there any logic to have confrontation with Americans. Have we thought over it with sanity? Are we not providing an excuse for NATO to stay on our borders? Or we not inviting further violation of air space?
It makes me laugh to look at this height of stupidity to invite unwanted guests to violate our ground sovereignty but show such an abnormal sensitivity to air violation. It is important that our rulers should at least put the risk involved to have confrontation with USA and repercussions of stopping ground supply to NATO forces and leave it to the public to decide. Pakistan is digging it's own grave in my humble opinion.
The Americans too did not play its cards properly. They are also responsible for strengthening the rightists forces in Pakistan. US played in the hands of fundamentalists and establishment. The belligerent journalism played a terrible role. They blew out every thing out of proportion.
It is the time we should stop impulsive politics. We need Americans and they need us. If they find the alternatives then we will be on our knees. Our armed forces are totally dependent on US. We have no technical know how. Our economy is in shambles. Our institution are yet to be established. The peace in the country is yet to be restored. The power crisis and souring inflation are yet to be checked.
To add to all these problems we are going for direct confrontation with US. To down one drone or to put on fire 20 oil tankers can invite unimaginable wrath. It is like putting the integrity of the country at stake. If the Americans are not friends why they should be forced to become our enemies. If we further want to cement our relationship with China, it should not be by dumping America. It will be another silliness to take out eggs from one basket and putting all in another one. Was it not the fact that indian advance was stopped by Americans on Bahawalpur sector. When it was a matter of hours that india would have cut the railway line and would have divided the country in to two like Korea, in 1971-2
We are impulsive flock and shut to ground realities. If certain sectors are determined to disintegrate the country they should have the strength of character to come out and say it.
Prof. Khurshid Alam. London 4/4/2012
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