The war on terror and Nawaz Sharif

What is surprising and somewhat disappointing is the role of the PML-N leadership, of Nawaz Sharif in particular. Mian Sahib makes the right noises off and on, but there is no consistent and fruitful performance on his part. Is he beginning to lose his fire after failing to win the battle for the restoration of the deposed chief justice? Outwitted and outplayed, he keeps assuring Zardari that he would be supporting his government so that democracy was not destabilised. He sometimes comes up with criticism of the government policies but does little to follow up on his rhetoric. He is a national leader and has an important role to play in mobilising public opinion on issues of vital importance.

Why doesn't his party along with some others requisition a session of the Parliament to discuss the US-Pakistan relations and the War On Terror? What is more important - to save the country or offer prayers in Saudi Arabia. Does he realise that he is losing the advantage he gained by pursuing a principled policy on the judges' issue? Is he alert enough to effectively neutralise PPP's machinations to weaken him and his party by letting loose sharpshooters like Wattoo and Taseer to create problems for the PML-N led Punjab government which has not been allowed to settle down?

PPP keeps dinging to the coalition in the Punjab. Cases have been reopened against the Sharif brothers. If Nawaz Sharif sincerely feels that the present policies in FATA and other places are harmful for the country and need to be changed, why doesn't he call an All Parties Conference and persuade Zardari (who calls him his elder brother) to join it.

Too much is at stake. The very survival of Pakistan. US, India and Afghanistan are jointly working against our interests. Karzai keeps egging on the Americans to start operations in Pakistan. In cahoots with India, he is letting it do things to destabilise Pakistan. Americans have forged a close relationship with India and is working to make it the regional hegemony. New Delhi has already opened its bag of tricks. Stoppage of waters flowing to Pakistan is just a beginning. It is a part of a larger programme to encircle Pakistan embroil it in internal upheavals and reduce it to a weak-kneed satellite. Zardari has his compulsions and limitations.

Nawaz Sharif must step forward and assume the role of a circumspect and resolute national leader. He should enlist the support of the lawyers, the civil society and the media to resist the anti-Pakistan forces and pat a stop to harmful policies.

It is time a consensus is reached about the purpose of the war raging in the country. Whose is it? America's or ours?

The writer is a former federal secretary and ambassador

E-mail: pacade@brain.net.pk