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insaan Avatar
insaan
Posts: 29
Posted: 05.23.07, 05:35 PM
General Abizaid'Angst
The man who headed the US Central Command until recently has sounded a stirring warning to the world. With the benefit of experience gained from on-going US campaigns, he told his audience in Canberra that instability in Pakistan/ Saudi Arabia
would be far more damaging than the current mess induced by Iraq/ Afghanistan. Anybody who has a sense of history would heed the call of reason given by the former Commander.

Pakistan currently is in doldrums as the people are up in arms against the Military regime and its shills. The courage and tenacity displayed by the Lawyers' organizations all over the country in close collaboration with the major political parties is a very hopeful development. It underscores the fact that the people are prepared to fight for their rights to form a genuinely elected Govt which shall be accountable to themselves only. The political movement against the regime is on despite the brutal killings done by the MQM goons in Karachi to terrify people. In the backdrop of such dangerous tensions Pak-US relations are attracting unusual attention of the people.

Since 9/11, a close alliance has existed between the countries. Prior to that it was, more or less, a routine relationship. Pakistan, being a neighbor, had to keep diplomatic relations with the Taliban regime. US, realizing the gravity of the situation on the ground, was agreeable to such an arrangement. In fact, they sought Pakistan' help in promoting Unocal' bid for laying of the gas pipe-line with the Taliban. As late as July 2001, their officials kept on visiting Kabul for the same reason. Bill Richardson, Clinton' Energy Secty and now a presidential hopeful, visited Kabul in late 1997 in pursuit of the same objective.
Pakistan, as per the Gen Musharraf, joined the US against the Taliban under threat of ‘being bombed in to stone age' from DY Sec Armitage. It offered Military bases etc to facilitate the US' war against Afghanistan. Subsequently a robust relationship developed between the Pakistani regime and the US Administration which was, generally, Taliban-centric. About six hundred alleged Al-Qaeda persons were seized by Pak agencies and handed over to the Americans. While some of them ended up in Gitmo, others were kept held under detention in secret European prisons. The scandals involving such operations have now got widely published all over the world which would influence US' image.
As the Taliban get more aggressive in Afghanistan due to the prevailing lawlessness and desperation, jitters are growing in Kabul, Islamabad and Washington.

A fearful Karzai always does the finger-pointing towards Pakistan which makes the Gen wince and retort in the same tone. Lately, Pakistani and Afghan armed forces have even been trading fire around the Durand Line. President Bush and members of his Administration invariably end up urging Pakistan ‘to do more.' Cheney' recent brief stopover in Islamabad during his visit to Kabul was, inter alia, meant to give a tough message to the Gen to work on a no-holds-barred approach against the Taliban resurgence in Afghanistan.
US-Pak relations suffered a setback when George Bush cut a deal with India during his trip on Nuclear Cooperation. Pakistan felt ignored by the US despite its performance in the US' ‘war against terror.' US has been rather cautiously trying to induce the Gen to return to democracy. This policy is self-defeating for 3 reasons. First, it will aggravate the prevailing political mayhem which can have all kinds of hazards. Second, it will strengthen extremists at the expense of the liberal parties. By a corollary, such a development would automatically strengthen the position of Taliban all over. Third, such a disposition would turn most of the Pakistanis against the US even if they may not become ‘volunteers' against her.

US has to realize that the people, even in Pakistan, should be heeded instead of backing the ‘strongman' which is so convenient in the short-run. The democratic movement must receive recognition and support of the US Administration. Even The New York Times, in its editorial today captioned ‘Propping up the General' , has advised a change of course for their country. It asserts, “A succession of uniformed dictators has misruled Pakistan for more than half of its 60-year history. All have advertised themselves as great friends of Washington, but all have fanned extremism while discrediting America' reputation among ordinary Pakistanis. There is no security with General Musharraf. The United States belongs on the side of Pakistani democracy.”

Better late than never. The US should use its good offices to ensure that free and fair elections are held in Pakistan early. A new COAS should be appointed to help the process. Similarly, an interim Govt of qualified persons should be put in place to arrange national elections without rigging etc under the supervision of a free judiciary. A genuinely elected Govt in Pakistan would provide the best solutions to the current problems facing the region as well as the US and its vital interests.
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