By General (retd) K.M. Arif
Pakistan’s internal polarization and domestic political compulsions are taking a toll of its external relations, Instead of having an objective national approach on major foreign Policy options its policy makers and the opposition increasingly tend to view external developments affecting Pakistan through the narrow prism of their domestic political expediency And party interest—nay, self-interest. The decision-making process in Pakistan is a solo effort. What the person in the horseback says is taken as final, sacrosanct and unquestionable by the tongue-tied faithful around him. An inside eyewitness once told me how one minister lost his job when he Acted in good faith, without the prior Consent of the right quarter and how an elderly financial expert had to swallow insult in a well-attended meeting ‘when he dared to differ with the dictated view.
The opposition sails in the same boat. No, in a different boat but of a similar type. It neither has a shadow cabinet nor a person dedicated to foreign affairs, or any affairs for that ‘matter. The government is generously helping the opposition members by Keeping them engaged in a plethora of Court cases initiated against them in a Patently one-sided accountability process. Settling domestic scores is our Priority number one. Other issues can wait for better times. We have studiedly entered a blind alley and think that some miracle will produce light at the end of our dark political tunnel. “The government claims that because OF its successful foreign policy Pakistan is neither isolated nor threatened to be put on the terrorist list by ‘America~ the unilateral pressure on its nuclear pro.
The government claims that because Of its successful foreign policy Parisian is neither isolated nor threatened of be put on the terrorist list by America, the unilateral pressure on is nuclear program has eased, the Presser Amendment is being dented, it will get the money paid for the undelivered Fl6s. Some defense ‘equipment sent to the US for repairs will return to the country and the Kashmir dispute is engaging world attention. Our policy makers consider these as“ sub achcha’ (all well) indictor.
When President Clinton declared the ‘Obvious that his county-had been ‘unfair to Pakistan on the F16s issue and would ask the Congress to provide partial relief, it was projected by the state controlled electronic media in Pakistan as if its Prime Minister had stupendously charmed America during her last visit to the US. Islamabad failed to comprehend that Clinton had merely read a line from a carefully prepared US Master Plan for South Asia which was not conceived to please or support Pakistan, Its objective is to project US policies and promote US interests, Senator Brown is currently doing what Senator Pressler did in yesteryear provide greater maneuverability to the US administration in dealing with Pakistan.
The US leaders, from Clinton downwards, have spoken with one voice. Senators Brown and Arlen Specter were air-dashed to Islamabad to remove any lingering doubts in the ‘minds of policy bigwigs in Pakistan, Addressing a Press conference before their departure from Islamabad Senator Specter disagreed with a reporter that Kashmir was the “main thorn” and endorsed the US view that the “nuclear issue is a main problem,” Adding, “if there was a resolution on this point all other problems would be addressed.” In an obvious snub 10 Pakistan he called Kashmir an “extraordinarily complicated and tokened issue.” The word “localized” explains the importance America attaches to Kashmir. He was no less ‘emphatic on the proposed changes in the Pressler Amendment when he said, “this is not a new arms sale or Suggestion that the US will get involved as an arms supplier (to Pakistan).” If Pakistan is still euphoric about an uptime in its relations with ‘America the reason lies in its domes: tic vulnerability or naivetés or both.
The two US Senators came to Pakistan via India where they had a lesson ‘on double talk from the Indian Prime Minister. They caused a short-lived surprise by announcing that ‘Narasimha Rao had agreed with them for a Sensation moot to discuss the nuclear non-proliferation issue in South Asia. Prime Minister Benazir well advised the US Senators to get a written statement to this effect from Mr Rao.
The Brown amendment is at best a first small step to correct the mighty wrong done to Pakistan, A sober reflection shows that the US has already retarded Pakistan’s security capability by one full decade by declining to honor its contractual obligations about the purchase of military hardware. This is an irreparable damage proved when New Delhi promptly issued a denial, The Indian duplicity may have surprised the Senators.
An indication of the “success” of ‘our foreign policy has come from down under. Paul Keating, the Australian Prime Minister, feels that Pakistan’s nuclear effort poses a security threat. Keating may better utilize his talent by correcting the wrongs done to the Aborigines who have been virally eliminated from their native lands by the white settlers turned-rulers through state-sponsored terrorism, Keating’s remark has put us in a quandary. We are hard put to decide whom to criticize more, our foreign policy or the advertising skill, Perhaps it doesn’t matter ether way. ‘The two have become a family affair in Pakistan.
The high price extracted from Pakistan by the US to review only fraction of the one-country specific absurd Pressler Amendment is an open secret known to every cab driver and barber in this county. It is surprising that those living in our glass houses have yielded so much for so petty and temporary gains. Inter-state relations fought to promote mutually shared values to achieve common objectives without compromising the vital national interests of the affected parties. ‘Our relations with America have increasingly become one-sided, Islamabad’s capacity to say no to Washington is decreasing, day by day.
America is a fine country, rich and powerful and proud of its status and unboastful of is reliability, Is relations with countries, democratic and autocratic, are essentially tailored 10 promote its own national interests. It acts with ease to discard friends and be friend adversaries to meet the needs of time, Vietnam, Iran and Pakistan are some examples. It looks for demons and launches a multi-dimensional and multidirectional blitzkrieg to paint them in murky colors. Communism, the cold war and the east white Soviet Union faced such an on slight in the post-World War two era. It is now known that the cold war was willfully contrived and systematically maintained by the US-led western powers to promote their own interests. In our interest we should know such realities to avoid pitfalls.
There is no need to indulge in ac money of accusations on the past ups and downs in the Pakistan-US relations. Whatever our gains and losses, this is not the time to count pennies o check the balance sheet, Butt would be foolish not to earn from past error and misplaced expectations. The les son of history is unambiguous. Overreliance on any one power is a folly and external crutches, giving a false sense of security, invite trouble. If any ‘one in Pakistan thinks that the can gain power or cling to it with the help of a foreign power then he qualifies to attend the kindergarten in politics. ‘America was discovered long before Pakistan emerged on the world scene. ‘The fault les with Pakistan if it has not discovered it yet.
Our rusty foreign policy is overdue for an overhaul to make it more vibrant, broad-based, balanced and above all home-spun, We have moved away from our moorings, have lost some friends and others are distancing away from us, is not tribute to ‘our diplomatic effort that we have failed to convince America that by singling out Pakistan’s nuclear ‘program in South Asia for punishment: by withholding its purchased military hardware from America while allowing export of US weapons and ‘dual-purpose technology to India and by ignoring the UN Security Council resolutions on the settlement of the Kashmir dispute its policies in South Asia are tests than evenhanded. Nay, they embolden a hegemonic India to become intransigent with neighbors, indulge in its bellicosity, act in an imperial style and threaten regional peace.
The Brown Amendment is at best a first small step to correct the mighty ‘wrong done to Pakistan, A sober reaction shows that the US has already retarded Pakistan’s security capability by one full decade by declining to honor its contractual obligations about the purchase of military hardware. This is an irreparable damage. So long as the Pressler Amendment stays on the US statute book, in any form, the US intentions about Pakistan sell cause anxiety in this country, (PL 9/2195).
Article extracted from this publication >> October 20, 1995
