Pak-US Ties Are still Retrievable
By Salahuddin Haider
Karachi, Pakistan
Pakistan-US ties, now at their lowest ebb, are still retrievable provided some genuine effort is made by the country’s political leadership. Unfortunately, half-hearted efforts, or to put it more bluntly, mere lip service has been in evidence so far. An undue criticism of the party in power is normally avoided to help save the country’s image from being disparaged unnecessarily. But truth, howsoever bitter, has to be boldly spelled out sometime for the public to know and fully comprehend the situation.
One can also draw lessons from the 1971 crisis, which though painful, continues to be a grim reminder of how the people in the then West Pakistan were kept in the dark till they woke up from the aftereffects of the sleeping pills they were injected because of the draconian censor laws to realize that they had been left in the lurch.
The American pressure mounted to its present pitch because not enough was done to counter the earlier attacks on Pakistan from Capitol Hill. Slowly and gradually it built up to a point where bilateral ties looked like hanging by a thin thread. The only consolation came from the little experienced foreign minister, Hina Rabbani Khar, who after some shy statements on her three and a half hour session with Hilary, adopted a language to reflect the hopes and expectations of a worried nation. But the real stand was taken by the Army chief, although this had to be done by the Foreign Office or the President and the Prime Minister. It was he who furnished a convincing answer to the statement of retiring American army chief Admiral Mike Mullen. The country and its honor were rubbed in the dust by the admiral when he directly accused the ISI of using the Haqqani group for alleged sinister designs against America in Afghanistan. Kayani’s rebuttal was a clear message that we, as a sovereign nation, could not, and should not be taken for a ride.
General Kayani again lodged a strong protest with Centcom chief General Mattis who called on him in Islamabad. Barely 24 hours after the general had issued a rejoinder to Mullen, a softening of attitude was evident in a statement issued by the Pentagon. General Pasha’s air dash to Washington to explain the ISI role or to seek an explanation from the coalition partners was also a timely initiative.
It is an indisputable fact that all such initiatives and steps are to be taken by the government of the day. The Army is subservient to its policies. But if an elected civilian administration, mandated by a popular vote, prefers to keep silent and is not inclined to do its duty to the nation, then it is only creating a vacuum, which is bound to be filled up by someone. Why allow a situation where such gaps are created, and that too, for no rhyme or reason? The worsening Pak-US ties and disturbing statements should have been duly taken note of and given due attention. The government should do something positive speedily to retrieve the situation and strengthen Pak-US ties.
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