Pakistan has taken another step to boycott the Bonn conference on Afghanistan to register its anger. I am not sure what limit they can afford to go to? And I am having my own reservation that it is a thought out policy of the government. I feel it is just to pull the rug under the feet of opposition and to cool Pakistani public. On the other hand the apparently calm COAS Gen. Kiyani has to be taken into serious consideration. Still water runs deep.
The insiders think that there is some rumbling going on in the army. To alleviate them Kiyani needs a helping hand. One must not forget that the army is no more a non-polarised institution. The radicals or hawkish have now attained the status to have a say in the policymaking.
Though the army chief does not enjoy good relations with Mians of Raiwand like Zardari with the chief of Judiciary but to change the hands in Pakistan does not take long. In present circumstances the two chiefs do matter a lot but when it comes to change the circumstances the Army Chief carries more weight.
In my opinion the government anywhere; deals with ground realities and the opposition plays with perceptions. The first one is like a construction engineer and the second one is like an architect.
We the students of politics can make a wild guess. Personally thinking I have no hesitation that the Pakistani establishment is inept to give the country a well thought out external and internal policy. As I said before, their actions are based on impulses rather than logic or realities.
Economically we are in deep waters. All sectors of the society are crumbling down because of horrifying economic instability. Most of the failures of the government to deliver to the public are due to failing economy.
The army is totally dependent on Americans. The country is facing an insurgency of shadows. Though self-employed but now threatening the self. To find the alternatives may take a long time and trust worthiness. We have lost that credibility. To be interdependent is not some thing to be worried about. It is a universal phenomenon and there is no country or a single human being that is not interred dependent. But it is the relative dependence that counts. In the case of Pakistan we are totally dependent on Americans.
If pushed to the wall the American can negotiate the ground access through central Asia. Though it will be expensive but still gives a leverage to ignore Pakistan.
We have no such alternative. Saudi, UAE and Kuwait can give us some cash but not F16. They have no technical skill to sell. Those who have relative equality of dependence make this gross 360-degree turn.
I do appreciate the gravity of the incidence. It was tragic and un-warranted. As for as the sovereignty is concerned I wonder had we any? Zia and Musharraf mortgaged it long ago. Let us give it a time and push for joint investigations rather than opting for frontal assault.
We must take it out of mind that international diplomacy is run on friendship. Countries run their foreign affairs that suit their national interest. This is even enshrined in US constitution. The strategic and economic relations are based on the needs of the country. Friendship as such is an irrelevant notion.
This tragedy cannot be put on ice slab but we have ignored major tragedies in the past. Those who recommend a slap on the face of Americans must realise the consequences. It is said about war and love that they are easy to start, difficult to continue and impossible to end. Are we in position to initiate a non-ending war? Are we stable at home and abroad?
It would have been much wiser to attend the Bonn conference and put our point of view there. Instead of blowing fire we should be logical. The country cannot afford another adventure unless we are ready for the sad demise.
I fail to understand about those countries including Pakistan for their demand to have a stake in Afghanistan after the war ends? It stinks foul. Do they mean that they want a stake for the losses they will have if peace returns to Afghanistan?
That is to say that these countries are milking the war in Afghanistan. If that is the case which I believe is, then the international fraternity should ask those countries to stop double game or be ready for the consequences. It is equal to accept the crime. They should be tried in the international court and should be ejected from the UNO.
We the inhabitants of that land are on fire for the last 30 years and are not ready to have the escalation that is demanded by war mongering mafia of Pakistan.
Peace and the integrity of the country are first, at all cost!
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