Sharif Gets a New Lease of Life
By Salahuddin Haider
Karachi, Pakistan
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, though still precariously perched, received a new lease of life after the army and the US manifestly extended support to him this week.
Whether in reality or myth three formidable “A”s -- Allah, Amy and America -- are considered to be the benchmark for any government to survive or prosper in Pakistan. Its own merit matters little and is almost of minimal value.
Worrisome and wearing a haggard look because of the ominous sits-in of Tehrik Insaaf chief Imran Khan and Pakistan Awami Tehrik party leader Tahirul Qadri, the two Sharifs, governing from Islamabad and Lahore, were lucky to be backed by even their opponents in the parliament. The Army’s threat to their rule continued to exist. Sharif handled it tactfully and maintained an uninterrupted rapport with General Raheel Sharif. The strategy worked, and although the Army kept on guiding the country’s foreign policy, it was neutralized to a great extent in the opinion of many. That averted the danger of an unconstitutional change, at least for the time being.
But the real surge in Sharif’s favour came when General Rahil visited the USA to hold multi-dimensional talks. The proof of the General's tactful handling of the rapidly worsening ties came when the American government bestowed the coveted Legendary Award on him. It not only showed improvement in the situation but generated enormous goodwill, especially when President Obama telephoned Sharif to update him on Indo-Pak relationship. Sharif was quick to request him for using his good offices to ease tension between Islamabad and Delhi during his visit to India for participation in the independence day celebrations.
Irrespective of the outcome of Obama’s efforts to help improve the Indian-Pakistan relationship, the very news about Obama’s courtesy call to Sharif, a person whom he had completely ignored during the UN General Assembly session last September, was a big boost for the Prime Minister’s image among his countrymen. American support, whether real or superficial, is generally regarded as a victory for those at the helm in Pakistan. Sharif naturally felt greatly relieved and obliged to Rahil for pleading Pakistan’s case with reasonable perfection in the US.
The sudden u-turn in Washington’s attitude towards Islamabad was perhaps also prompted by the latter's decision to sign a wide-ranging treaty for cooperation in defence and other sensitive areas with Russia. Analysts were firm in their assessment that last week’s agreement sounded alarm bells for US policy-makers in Washington who did not wish to lose an important ally for two reasons. First its strategic location on the sea routes for Gulf oil to China, and secondly America by writing off Pakistan, or belittling it in the changed scenario, may feel handicapped in dealing with India. Because of its geographic location and 18 million peoplePakistan can always be an effective tool for the US to liberate itself from any intended Indian blackmail.
Pundits are the least bothered whether the treaty with Russia was the result of an initiative of the Army or the brainchild of the Foreign Office. They were simply elated at the end result.
Yet another surprising development was the US envoy Richard Olson’s meeting with Imran Khan on the eve of the “grand and decisive showdown” against Sharif in the capital city on November 30. Linked together, all these happenings tilt the balance substantially in Sharif’s favour. Confidence is clearly writ on his face now. What follows in December or after a couple of months remains to be seen. (The writer is a former Sindh Minister and senior journalist)
