The ‘Zardari Show’ Continues
Pakistan’s President Asif Ali Zardari has once again proved that his theatrical skills are much better than his political acumen. President Zardari’s column in Washington Post yesterday, titled “The Frontier Against Terrorism” reflected unnecessary aggressiveness and incoherent arguments. The primary objective of the article is to gain aid and assistance from the European States, much in line with the recent U.S. grant. Why did President Zardari write in Washington Post if his target audiences were primarily European governments? Would not Der Spiegel be a better choice? I guess President Zardari had reasons beyond my analytical capacity.
At the very onset President Zardari compares the current situation in Afghanistan and Pakistan to Vietnam, South Asia and Algeria when the U.S., Britain and France left these countries. According to him given the gravity of the situation in Afghanistan and Pakistan, the great powers cannot retract from their obligations in the region. This is an over simplistic comparison. At the given moment the government of no country is contemplating withdrawal from Afghanistan-Pakistan; the mode of involvement may be under consideration but abandonment is not being discussed. Secondly, the colonial and Cold War dynamics of great power involvement cannot be compared to the national and global socio-political and strategic crisis threatening Afghanistan and Pakistan.�
Moreover, President Zardari’s tone gives the impression that the responsibility for the creation of Taliban and Al Qaeda completely rests with the U.S. The United States no doubt had a role in the creation and strengthening of these extremist forces but this fact should not overshadow Pakistan’s eager involvement in executing the script of the drama. Major General Naserullah Khan Babar was instrumental in getting Prof. Rabbani, Ahmad Shah Masoud and Gulbuddin Hekmatyar to Peshawar with the objective of destabilizing Mohammad Daoud’s regime in Afghanistan in 1973. Once again as Interior Minister in the Benazir Bhutto’s government, Babar had encouraged the Pakistani security forces to contact Mullah Omar in 1994 seeking help for the safe passage of a convey of trucks transporting goods to Turkmenistan. The links between the ISI and Taliban have been often cited and require lengthy analysis beyond the scope of this post. But the fact remains that it was Pakistan’s policy of countering the threat of Pashtu unification across the Durand Line and securing its national interests which were instrumental in emboldening the Taliban.
Departing form his nature President Zardari for once exhibits political intelligence when he contends that “to truly eliminate the terrorist menace, we have to succeed not only militarily but politically, economically and socially.” But to expect that President Zardari fully understands the implications of this requirement is naiveté. In none of his interviews, speeches or writings has President Zardari ever elaborated what his Government is doing with regard to the political and social aspects of countering terrorism. The policy adjustments with regard to issues of education, employment and political stability are never discussed by him. The President has not referred to any new initiative, if any, proposed under the recent budget to counter the growth of extremism in the country. Or does Zardari think that is also the responsibility of international community?
One standard statement in most recent speeches and writings of President Zardari has been “I have lost my wife, the mother of my children to terrorism”. I have even lost count of the instances when he has made this statement. The endeavors of Benazir Bhutto to promote democracy are employed as an automatic proof of President Zardari’s democratic credentials. In this particular article President Zardari writes “She warned the world, in her speeches and her writings, in her last book and her very last words, that fanaticism is a threat to all people.” The last book that he refers to is Reconciliation: Islam, Democracy and the West. If President Zardari has ever read the book he will realize that Benazir Bhutto makes a very strong plea in the book to address the internal divisions among the Muslims and the sectarian rivalries. On page five of her book, Bhutto emphasizes the objective of her book: the need for an enlightened renaissance both within Islam and between Islam and the rest of the world. These aspects of Bhutto’s political philosophy are conveniently ignored by President Zardari.
In the words of President Zardari “only an economically viable Pakistan can contain the terrorist menace”. What about political stability and social cohesion? Why is President Zardari always concentrating on the means (money) and not attending to the measures for ensuring that the means meet the desired ends (stability and growth)? For the past several months President Zardari had demanded (not requested) the U.S. to provide increased financial assistance for combating terrorism. Now that the U.S. Senate has approved the assistance bill, President Zardari is demanding that the European countries do the same. I guess once the European nations oblige, President Zardari’s next series of articles will highlight how the lack of trade facilitation by the international community has constrained Pakistan’s economic growth and consequently the country’s fight against terrorism. President Zardari has already hinted that this: “But aid is not enough. In the long term, Pakistan needs trade to allow us to become economically independent.”
The concluding sentences of his article are reminiscent of former Bush’s ‘either with us or with terrorists’ speech. He quotes Benazir Bhutto to emphasize that “truth, justice and the forces of history are on” Pakistan’s side and then states “today, we shall see if America and Europe are on our side as well.”�
President Zardari has enough national problems to address and should concentrate on the task at hand rather than reminding the international community of its obligation. Does the man really think that his speeches and writings can influence the policy choices in Washington, London and Berlin and elsewhere?
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Getting aid from world, IMF and other world organizations is something which many countries do. However Pakistan and zardari’s approach is unique.
No one knows what’s really happening in SWAT. Zardari first allowed it and then went on offensive (not sure if this is as big an offensive as he proclaims) and now he want’s to project this as big favor he is doing to the world.
Guy is desperate and he is concealing it by ads in WSJ and articles in Washington Post. I guess Obama adminstration had no choice (because of afpak situation) but to grant the aid but I doubt Europe falls for this.
Zardari is a president by accident, literally. Pakistan had been misguided since its independence mostly by the military that ruled it for majority of the time.
Unfortunately the civilian leaders elected from time to time weren’t strong enough to tame the military and bring it under civilian control.
It is shameless for a country that the President of a country goes around the world begging and on top of that resorts to veiled threats blackmailing the donors.
Everyone knows Zardari is a President without any power. The military is the one that rules Pakistan and all it needs is money to keep upgrading their weaponry.
Western power aren’t interested in Zardari show but alas, they don’t have any other choice but to live with it.
I don’t know whether is should laugh or regretful. We simply comment he was an accidental leader; he was not fit for this and that and so on. I would like to ask Mr. Sunny to define a leader. I am not fan of Mr. Zardari but he is the man that passed nine years behind bars and lost his wife and we simply how simply comment Zardari is accidental leader. There is no doubt that military dictator destroyed this country and always undermined democratic Govt’s, was it not the situation when a dictator Gen( R) Musharraf stepped down. I think the situation was worst than ever. He had pushed this country in quagmire of issues and this is the present leadership that steer country out from most of the major issues.
I don’t know how I comment on this that “ It is shameless for a country that the President of a country goes around the world begging” I don’t know who are these foolish and where they live. Most probably these are the people who are anti- Pakistan. Please read the following facts and then comment that why Pakistan is calling international community for economical assistance.
“Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) secretariat has issued the report of monetary and human losses done by terrorism and extremism in the tribal areas.
A 21 pages report revealed that more than $2 billion damages were done by terrorism in tribal areas. Tribal areas suffered most as compared to other parts of the country. More than 3,000 people were killed in tribal areas during terror activities. Bajaur Agency was the worst hit area where 600 people were killed. The wake of terrorism claimed five hundred lives Kurram Agency, South and North Waziristan. The number of people wounded in terror incident is over 3,000. According to report, the initial property losses is estimated up to $103 million whereas the losses estimated in economic and social sectors are $119 million and $109 million respectively. Extremism takes its toll in agriculture sector also in the form of $188 million losses. Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) expenses estimated $572 million. The report disclosed that militants are equipped with latest weapons whereas in contrast of this, Khasadar Force have outdated arms insufficient for retaliatory action against militants.The estimated $two billion is needed for reconstruction and rehabilitation of tribal areas, it added.’” Rehabilitation of IDPs is still another issued yet.
I think it is enough for those who are passing comments like begging and so on and these figures are eye opener for every citizen.
Now I leave here a question, Can Pakistan manages such a massive amount?
Have we any other alternate except asking international community to support Pakistan?
Should we let Taliban to take over this country and impose their agenda?
Should we leave IDPs alone in this situation?
Mr Zardari has signed a Nizam-e-Adl regulation introducing Islamic Sharia law to the Swat region. The move comes after parliament passed a resolution urging Mr Zardari to honour a promise made to the Taliban. The implementation of Islamic justice was agreed in February in return for an end to the Taliban insurgency. But when Taliban did not honour dis agreement der was no other option but military operation in order to establish writ of the government. Taliban killed thousands of innocent civilians. No doubt world should bolster its economic and security assistance for Pakistan to help the key regional country ride out economic and terrorism problems.
Sunny………
Zardari is not president by accident. Don’t forget Zardari secured 481 votes, PML(N) candidate Justice (R) Saeed-uz-Zaman Siddiqui secured 153 votes while Mushahid Hussain Sayed fielded by PML-Q bagged 44 votes.
mr zardari is the elected president of Pakistan and he has all the basic rights to propogate for pakistan in any international news channel or news paper .very truly President Zradari has brought out the point that all mess of taliban and alqaeda in pakistan and afghanistan was cretaed because USA left this area unnoticed after afghan war with Russia ; USA had been giving bundles and heaps of weapons to Taliban during Russian war in 80s and after Russian defeat , these left over stinger missiles and land mines are now weapons of present taliban and Alqaeda in the region; world powers closed their eyes regarding this part of world and then 9/11 happened ; President Zardrai has rightly warned that now this area should not be left out with out logical completion of anti terrorism opertaion; its because many western powers want to withdraw their troops from afghanistan as being highlighted in media and these wetern powers are not at the same tune as of USA regarding afghanistan anti terrorism war ; thirdly author said that ISI had been involved in contacts with taliban ; to malign President Zradari , author is hiding the facts or trying to become innocent ; War against russians in afghanistan was fought by CIA , FBI and all top western powers and agencies ; pakistan was just a launchiung pad and front line country ; what are your comments on ties of CIA with Tlaiban in 1980s and now CIA is claiming heda money for same loyal talibans ;in her recent remarks , US secretary of state Hilary clinton has also admitted mistakes in afghan war and post war situation ; what are your comments? ; i quote wordings of a senior USA law enforcement officer ; ” we created taliban for our own interests and we are respoinsiblr for their all actions ” ; Author says that President Zardrai has done nothing in terms of economical , political or other aspects to curb or root our terrorism ; author is wrong with great degree ; tribal areas of pakisan have been kept deprived for last 60 yeras ; Present PPP government is launching programs of development for these areas so that these tribal persons may not become helpers of terrorists ; at present President Zardari enjoys National consensus against terrorists ; Army chief and PM are also at same tune ; Benazeer income suport programm is initiated to help needy , widows and poor people ; foreign investment being brought ; relations with neighbours and all regional and international powers being improved ; All major political parties on borad regrdaing every majot decisions ; all parties conferences being convened ; swat opertaion almost completed ; IDPs issue handaled with wisdom ; recuritments on jobs being done ; what else you want ???????; mr author you says that zardari says again and again that he has lost his wife ; I think after losing a wife , one becomes so mentally shocked that he can not run a single home ; But this biggest shock of life has given strength to Mr zardari ; pkaistan is at the most critical jancture of its existence and Mr zardari is looking after the whole country with full enthuisiam , determination , ability , wisdom ; People of pakistan have voted for him and PPP and he has all the rights to seek international assistance for this anti terroism war which has global impacts ;
@Ammar Hassan:
As you had asked me to define a leader, I shall just give an example: Take a look at Obama. Look at the steps he has been taking since he became President to turn around the worst economy since Great Depression in 1929.
And for your kind information, I am not anti-Pakistan. There would be many ordinary Pakistanis who would love to see their country to be known as a developed country rather than as a failed state.
You mentioned the military dictator Musharraf pushed the country into a quagmire of issues. Do you think it was only him responsible for this mess? Isn’t that the military rulers made Pakistan a puppet?
Nice to see that you had presented the figures pertaining to IDPs and the amount aid required. However, did you take a notice of the amount of spending on defense? Did you step back and ask yourself “In spite of having so many nuclear weapons, do we still need to spend so much on defense,atleast during this crisis hour? Can’t we divert a portion of it for civilian use for a couple of years?If we divert that money, we don’t have to keep asking and waiting for the aid from donors.Isn’t it? Isn’t the military fooling us for a long long time? Who created Taliban and why should I call the Army as saviors if they are fighting the Taliban that was their own creation?”
You asked about the alternative and I have given you one. But if you still fall into the trap of military propaganda that India will be attacking us any time, then only donors can help you. But at the cost of self-respect. Is anything in life more than self-respect?
@Adeel:
When I mentioned that Zardari has become a President by accident(literally), I was referring to the sudden tragic death of Benazir Bhutto. Had she been alive, would Zardari become leader of PPP and then going on to become president?
@Javed:
Your comments suggest that you would be happy if West accepts that they had a role in the creation of current mess. But did you ever ask as to why should Pakistan be left at the mercy of the West and become a pawn in their game? Who is suffering now, Pakistanis or West?
Weren’t the military rulers responsible for letting Pakistan to reach such a pathetic position?
Don’t you ever question the lavish lifestyle to military elite in the heart of Islamabad?
As soon as Zardari made a statement that India is not the major threat, he had to face criticism from the military top brass. Who is controlling Pakistan?
The military wants to keep fooling Pakistanis that India is a threat. Isn’t the hunger of IDPs more important than the most advanced weaponry that the military keeps buying from the West by spending billions?
You said “I think after losing a wife , one becomes so mentally shocked that he can not run a single home ; But this biggest shock of life has given strength to Mr zardari”.
I agree that he has gained so much strength. And you can see his full strength in the following video in front of the world.Take a look
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FbxmPo9Sjq0&feature=related
Is this how a president should behave?
@ Sunny
If you wish to make a man your enemy, tell him simply, You are wrong. This method works every time. This is not the time for supposition or assumption….It is time for all of us to stand and cheer for the doer, the achiever - the one who recognizes the challenge and does something about it. Talking about ifs and buts won’t work really…!!!!
adeel:
“It is time for all of us to stand and cheer for the doer, the achiever - the one who recognizes the challenge and does something about it. Talking about ifs and buts won’t work really…!!!!”
Exactly. Who is the doer and achiever here? As soon as Zardari mentions that the real threat is not from India, back home he had to bear the brunt of response to his statements. He was directly hitting at the bread and butter of the Army which needs India to stay as its enemy for milking billions in the name of defense while the poor IDPs have to rely on aid.
Mention about the ‘ifs and buts’ to your leaders who use them a lot for any peace talks with India.
Mr. Sunny I will again contradict with your example. If you just talk about economy that Mr. Obama turned around the worst economy then our Govt also did well to strengthen our fragile economy. My dear you can not declare a person leader who just turned around the worst economy. A leader is the one who saves the country when it is at the verge of destruction. Isn’t it that we have several others sever issues despite economic slump?
Yes we have several issues and Govt is tackling them well. You should admit the fact that opposition just refused to sit on territory benches due to massive problems we are facing today, and it is the Govt that is struggling to for a stable Pakistan so we should appreciate and support Govt at this point.
I agree with you that military rulers destroyed this country. They made Pakistan not a puppet but also slave. But you must admit this fact Musharraf played key role in pushing country at this situation.
Once again I admit that we spend much on military. This Govt cut defense budget last year. But we have no alternate to maintain minimum deterrence for balance of power and our survival. Especially at this time of test, when anti-Pakistan elements are conspiring to destroy us we can not cut our defense budget. Current wave of terrorism is clear cut proof that our integrity is at stake.
At the end I don’t think that there is any Pakistani who doesn’t believe in self respect. I believe that every Pakistan a true Pakistan is patriotic including our leaders and don’t want to demoralize or degrade Pakistan before international community. We are fighting war on terror and terrorist are threat for entire world so we are not begging we are just demanding our due right, the money we are spending on this war
This discussion is getting more exciting than i had anticipated. to me Pakistan’s problems are not solely the creation of Musharraf or Zardari; the problem is excessive personalization of politics. Political personalities in Pakistan have overtaken the process of political institutionalization. Leaders are important in any political system, but in stable democracies the political institutions define the role to be played by these leaders. In case of Pakistan, successivve leaders have defined the nature of these institutions. Pakistan is a parliamentary democracy where the P.M. rather than the President leads the charge; how often do we see Gilani presenting the case for Pakistan before the international community?
Ammar Hassan: “My dear you can not declare a person leader who just turned around the worst economy. Isn’t it that we have several others sever issues despite economic slump?”
Economy is only one of things i quoted while taking the example of Obama as it is of primary importance. You can see his leadership getting reflected in all the major policy decisions that he is taking whether it’s pulling out troops in Iraq or mending relations with Russia or talking bluntly to Israel.
You said “A leader is the one who saves the country when it is at the verge of destruction. ”
does collapse of economy not amount to destruction? Destruction doesn’t necessarily have to be destruction of physical objects.
I am not undermining the strength of your civilian government. But is it strong enough to rein in the military?
You said “But we have no alternate to maintain minimum deterrence for balance of power and our survival”.
This is the statement made by one of your ministers. Did any Pakistani dared to ask “Aren’t 60(could be more) nuclear bombs a minimum deterrence?” I guess you are aware of the destruction caused by two of such bombs during second World War and then you can figure out how much more destructive power you already possess. What else do you want?
As I mentioned earlier, the military has been fooling you for such a long time and had been nurturing hatred towards India through text books and media that there are only very very few Pakistanis left who can think rationally.
I wonder why Pakistanis are so gullible that they blindly believe in all the conspiracy theories put forth by the military.
Which anti-Pakistan elements are conspiring to destroy Pakistan?
You yourself said “They(military) made Pakistan not a puppet but also slave.”
Then do you need external enemies when your military itself is sufficient to destroy(if ’slave’ does not amount to ‘destroyed’ then let me know)?
You said “Current wave of terrorism is clear cut proof that our integrity is at stake.”. Wasn’t your integrity at stake when your military was planning Kargil operation when peace talks were going on between Prime Ministers? Why do you keep thinking that all of your problems have suddenly cropped up? Just because terrorism nurtured by military/ISI is hitting straignt in your face and affecting innocent Pakistanis?
Lastly your statement “We are fighting war on terror and terrorist are threat for entire world so we are not begging we are just demanding our due right, the money we are spending on this war”
Glad that you realise terrorist are threat for ENTIRE world. If you think Taliban are the only one who can be called terrorists then you would be mistaken again.
And demanding the money you are spending on terror is your due right? Haven’t you heard the statement from the American army chief Mullen saying that Pakistan is not fighting thw world’s war but fighting for its own existence?
Arrogance and hatred takes you nowhere. Start thinking out of the box(created by your Army).
The world will be ready to help you if you are really sincere.
Your military says they flushed out militants. What does that mean? Are the militants killed? If yes, then why it doesn’t show any dead bodies?
If they weren’t killed then where did they vanish? They would only regroup and start attacking again.
And again I am not anti-Pakistan. I am a great fan of Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan and ‘Junoon’ music band.
Achieve something out of your OWN efforts. Your cricket team can be a great inspiration. They won the T20 cup by their effort and determination.
Your so called Father of Nuclear Program is well known for stealing the blue-prints from Netherland. Don’t take pride in such things.
Why should everything be from India-centric viewpoint? Why not strive for ‘Made in Pakistan’ image?
The entire world would respect you if you can create something on your own. You don’t have to demand it. You will receive it automatically. Just like your cricket team.
not only on defence ,but consider the expenses of unlimited ministers,his one day office expenses r upto 1 million,the office is holding nearly 500 people while they were just a few number in days of musharraf,secondly,during such critical conditions is it more important to pay billions of dollars for benazir ’s death or to settle hungry homeless idp’s?even the investigations r dwelling on aid?why not they start the aid from their own accounts n properties?upto what time they keep on playing the emotional national song like “moj barhey ya andhi aey dya jalaey rakhna”and emotionally blackmailing people?waisey aik baat bataoun ub logoun ko bewaquf banana itna asaan nahi boht ghussa aata hey logoun ko aisi cheezoun per jis din punjabi mohajir pathan sindhi aik ho ker pakistani bunjaein us din aisey dramey khatam ho jaein gey,lekin itni education k leay awam ko taleem deni zaruri hey jo koi bhi hakumet nahi dey gi,