The daylight and dark
November 5, 2009 I.M. Mohsin
US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton was in Pakistan for three days. Despite the fumbles of our media anchors, she got a telling account of our predicament typified by the atrocious bomb blast in Peshawar last Wednesday which killed a hundred women and children, besides others. The dominant perception conveyed, generally, by students particularly, was one of "trust deficit" vis-à-vis US. One young journalist even told her, "you had one 9/11, we are having daily 9/11s in Pakistan." She also described it as 'your war' which Pakistan was made to fight, the past notwithstanding.
Hillary, being more of a politician, responded cleverly to such frank dicta by the harassed Pakistanis. Conceding that US had made mistakes in the past she advised moving on to face up to the current challenges. Putting exclusive emphasis on the elimination of Al-Qaeda leadership, which the Washington right-wing analysts have been projecting as living in posh hotels in Quetta, she appeared to reflect the new policy.
Her expression of disbelief about the Pakistani establishment having no clue about the fugitive leaders reflected the failure of intelligence. It also underscored the lack of collaboration and trust between the 'partners' to the on-going war wherein poor Pakistanis are pocketing huge costs. In addition, they are suffering constant threats of diverse nature.
Pakistani interlocutors, generally, picked holes in the US approach; one of them even suggested that President Barack Obama was following George W Bush's agenda. To that she said that this was not so and there was a difference like there is one between "...dark and daylight." I have used her expression as the subject of this piece. Despite all the glitches, Hillary offered a robust relationship in future while urging Pakistan to do more. She also defended US bias for India. However, while urging the exploitation of the weapon of trade which had great potential due to Pakistan's strategic location, she asked the hosts to defeat terrorism.
George W Bush visited India on invitation last week. He claimed to have supported Musharraf as a quid pro quo for the latter joining of the War on Terror as an ally. Advocating all-out assistance to the democratic government in Pakistan, he disclosed that he had told Musharraf that the US stood for democracy. This conundrum underlines that US can adapt to any dictator, if American interests are perceived as being served, while singing eulogies for democracy. However, Hillary did say that in future the US would not support any dictator who seized power in Pakistan. The taste of pudding would lie in eating like always. If a disaster of this type strikes again, Pakistanis could invoke such homilies to muster sponsorship.
While Hillary held hectic exchanges with her hosts, the situation worsened in Afghanistan. The run-off due on November 07 became a prank as Abdullah, the main contender, pulled out of the contest. This decision was based on his distrust of the election machinery. This aggravates the difficulties of the US administration which was hoping to finalise a new strategy after a winner with some credibility could emerge in Kabul. Moreover, the US forces saw off October as another bloody month and the ground realities portend greater danger as the Taliban threaten more deadly attacks. Pakistani forces are advancing in South Waziristan despite stiff resistance which gets a frightening boost from the topography historically.
Considering the fire-power available to our forces, their capacity to overpower the enemy seems, generally, assured. However, one cannot overlook the fact that since the launch of the current operation, Pakistan is experiencing persistent wanton killings and destruction in her major cities. The nature of such bombings is now changing whereby civilians appear to be the focus to cause widespread devastation and demoralisation. After the gruesome Peshawar blast last week, Rawalpindi on November 02 (Monday) witnessed a carnage in the parking lot of a hotel building which housed a branch of NBP. It being a payday, many senior citizens and government employees became helpless victims as they had queued up for their turn. Lahore was said to have been saved by policemen who intercepted a suspect vehicle whereby a bomber blew himself up injuring 10 jawans, two critically, besides six others on Monday evening.
The US appears to be following the neo-con policy in Afghanistan practically. Its army is, generally, seen as occupation force by the locals despite the sympathetic attitude of the General Stanley McChrystal. The status quo still has some support but the same is feeling the heat of the Taliban surge. Due to the US indiscriminate use of airpower and disregard for the local traditions for over eight years, the Pashtuns stand alienated in large numbers. Even north, the stronghold of the pro-US ethnic minorities and aid-beneficiary, is finding faults with the unjust dispensation promoted by the US. As insecurity creeps up, the local people are prone to stay neutral before casting their lot with the winner.
The Afghans, generally, tend to be suspicious of any foreign force. With more than eight years of corrupt governance which developed warlordism, the rule of injustice dominated by non-Pashtun bias, degrading unemployment, grinding poverty and highhanded tactics to suppress 'usual suspects', the Afghan pot is bubbling. The position will be worsened by the installation of Karzai as the winner. As the US announces its new strategy, the die would appear to have been cast.
Hillary did hint at accommodating the repentant Taliban fighters. This could mean a dialogue with the 'insurgents' under some cover. Both Karzai and Pakistan have advocated such a way out in keeping with the local traditions. Obama, with his mature worldview, also signalled the same by delinking Al-Qaeda from Taliban. From now on, the latter would be the principal enemy.
As Afghanistan assays for stability, Pakistan would be crucial for US as is being openly asserted by the administration. The latter is waging a war whose cost may render the aid promised under Kerry-Lugar Act to a measly fraction. In addition, alleged Indian help to the extremists is a dangerous landmark. While worsening the existing threat, it miffs the Pakistani people, victims all the way against the US too. The US must clearly define her mission in Afghanistan while pursuing the political portal seriously. Pakistan would help but it can't fight fully facing back-stabbing. By Hillary's analogy, "dark" has been replaced by "daylight" under Obama. What a bleak day for Pakistan!
The writer is a former secretary interior.