Friday, December 2, 2011
Pakistan freind or Foe: U.S perspective
It’s tough question even for those who are outsider observers, but for us, those who are sitting on either side of the line it is far more complex and far more critical.
To give a brief background of Pak America relations, it is worth mentioning that
Pakistan never came out of the leadership crises; most of its history is littered with military leadership that continuously remained in search of some colonial master, to fill the vacuum created by the exit of U.K. In this 60 year long journey along the course U.S.A provided this role. You helped generalissimo to usurp the rights of common Pakistani and they did. You made them habitual of yours bankrolls; you used historical fault lines of Indo Pak issues to benefit your designs. You used them to block the soviet tsunami at the cost of Pakistan’s very national social and civic fabric. Generalissimo altruistically served not only new American masters but also to her own ranks.
And a complex resultant sum is Pakistan today. In this situation it doesn’t matter much how Pakistan perceives USA; a friend or foe. They are likely to accept the label you put on their forehead. For American’s, If you perceive Pakistan a Friend it is a friend, If you perceive her an Enemy its enemy. It doesn’t have much to do with the situations on ground; you have luxury to put a label on Pakistan as you like and then propagate and spread it.
If their existence or territorial integrity is threatened by any mean they are likely to act as an enemy. In the light of this statement we should examine and check American attitude towards Pakistan’s problems. I would like to make you put your feet in their shoes on following counts and than I would ask you “how should Pakistanis conceive you.”
After the tragedy of 9/11 when they put themselves in your ranks, wasn’t it a legitimate expectation that you would help them to get rid of their existing problems. There was energy crises brewing, and despite of ample hydro, wind and nuclear infrastructure in Pakistan you chose to push them towards thermal. Hydrocarbon fuel supply security, since than remain under uncertainty, moreover you resisted their bid to interact with Iran who could become an alternative hydrocarbon fuel provider. To add insult in the injury you had a deal with India but on the same ground you refused to fetch Pakistan’s appetite.
Than there is Afghanistan, Pakistan had developed a strategic equation with India, let us not talk about whether it was wrong or right, you changed it. I remember an address of former Pakistani army chief Jahangir Karamat, to an American think tank long before 9/11 when he said, Pakistani military has corporate interest in Afghanistan. Now India is getting influence there and Pakistan is especially suspicious India’s involvement in Baluchistan. It’s a cause of constant irritation in Pakistani establishment view and now Indian influence in Afghanistan through America is threatening their territorial integrity how should they behave on it.
Military wise strategic equation between two rivals have also been changed in the loss of Pakistan through a number of American postures like hidden embargos on military hardware of choice. Volley of American drones assaults are critically undermining the writ of Pakistani state apparatus, so drones are not part of solution they are increasingly becoming a part of problem. In this background people tend to think that perhaps it is Berzinskey’s line that is being followed and it suggests a disintegration or impotent Pakistan. It has also been reported that he is the mentor of President Obama and it generates ripples of fear in Pakistani mind.
In this situation, I guess they would never be able to be trusting America’s intentions in the area and it would be a continuous source of strategic mistrust. If you want them a strategic ally of yours you would have to accommodate their strategic concerns in bigger equation.
If you want a friendly Pakistan you would need to let the genuine leadership to take over; who can reign in military. You must be seen as friendly nation by helping them to get rid of their problems and all this should be achieved without compromising their national prestige, at least a face saving should be offered. That’s how you can turn Pakistan a trustworthy friend.
To give a brief background of Pak America relations, it is worth mentioning that
Pakistan never came out of the leadership crises; most of its history is littered with military leadership that continuously remained in search of some colonial master, to fill the vacuum created by the exit of U.K. In this 60 year long journey along the course U.S.A provided this role. You helped generalissimo to usurp the rights of common Pakistani and they did. You made them habitual of yours bankrolls; you used historical fault lines of Indo Pak issues to benefit your designs. You used them to block the soviet tsunami at the cost of Pakistan’s very national social and civic fabric. Generalissimo altruistically served not only new American masters but also to her own ranks.
And a complex resultant sum is Pakistan today. In this situation it doesn’t matter much how Pakistan perceives USA; a friend or foe. They are likely to accept the label you put on their forehead. For American’s, If you perceive Pakistan a Friend it is a friend, If you perceive her an Enemy its enemy. It doesn’t have much to do with the situations on ground; you have luxury to put a label on Pakistan as you like and then propagate and spread it.
If their existence or territorial integrity is threatened by any mean they are likely to act as an enemy. In the light of this statement we should examine and check American attitude towards Pakistan’s problems. I would like to make you put your feet in their shoes on following counts and than I would ask you “how should Pakistanis conceive you.”
After the tragedy of 9/11 when they put themselves in your ranks, wasn’t it a legitimate expectation that you would help them to get rid of their existing problems. There was energy crises brewing, and despite of ample hydro, wind and nuclear infrastructure in Pakistan you chose to push them towards thermal. Hydrocarbon fuel supply security, since than remain under uncertainty, moreover you resisted their bid to interact with Iran who could become an alternative hydrocarbon fuel provider. To add insult in the injury you had a deal with India but on the same ground you refused to fetch Pakistan’s appetite.
Than there is Afghanistan, Pakistan had developed a strategic equation with India, let us not talk about whether it was wrong or right, you changed it. I remember an address of former Pakistani army chief Jahangir Karamat, to an American think tank long before 9/11 when he said, Pakistani military has corporate interest in Afghanistan. Now India is getting influence there and Pakistan is especially suspicious India’s involvement in Baluchistan. It’s a cause of constant irritation in Pakistani establishment view and now Indian influence in Afghanistan through America is threatening their territorial integrity how should they behave on it.
Military wise strategic equation between two rivals have also been changed in the loss of Pakistan through a number of American postures like hidden embargos on military hardware of choice. Volley of American drones assaults are critically undermining the writ of Pakistani state apparatus, so drones are not part of solution they are increasingly becoming a part of problem. In this background people tend to think that perhaps it is Berzinskey’s line that is being followed and it suggests a disintegration or impotent Pakistan. It has also been reported that he is the mentor of President Obama and it generates ripples of fear in Pakistani mind.
In this situation, I guess they would never be able to be trusting America’s intentions in the area and it would be a continuous source of strategic mistrust. If you want them a strategic ally of yours you would have to accommodate their strategic concerns in bigger equation.
If you want a friendly Pakistan you would need to let the genuine leadership to take over; who can reign in military. You must be seen as friendly nation by helping them to get rid of their problems and all this should be achieved without compromising their national prestige, at least a face saving should be offered. That’s how you can turn Pakistan a trustworthy friend.
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