Archive for the ‘Pakistan’ Category
India Misses Critical Outreach Opportunity in Pakistan
India is geographically and historically endowed with a natural leadership role in South Asia. In practice exercise of this leadership has been problematic on two fronts. First, the neighboring South Asian states perceive (I am not going into issues of validity here) India as harboring hegemonic ambitions designed to convert South Asia into an exclusive zone of influence. Second, India’s leadership style does not conform to the traditional patterns of leadership. Indian policies reflect a supervisory leadership role rather than a more favorable participatory leadership character. Initiative which defines leadership is evaded by India in most cases. Avoidance of initiative is justified on grounds of countering fears of domination and cultivating trust in regional relations.
[Photo Courtesy: New Atlanticist Blog]
The psychological fear of the smaller neighbors and the cautionary leadership of India have valid justifications. Each side claims to have been caught in a conspiracy of geography and history. Nevertheless, such regional policies are proving self-destructive. There needs to be a conscious effort at altering the traditional postures and policies. Perception change is a time consuming process and requires proactive policies with regard to impacting sensitivities of nation states. Such policies have to go beyond the realm of political agreements and economic concessions. Since India claims regional leadership it is imperative for Indian diplomacy to undertake public outreach across state borders in South Asia. Humanitarian assistance after the tsunami to Sri Lanka and earthquake to Pakistan in 2005 are some outreach efforts undertaken by India. The recent terror attacks in Pakistan provide India with a similar opportunity; one which can also send a strong political message to the international community.
Different Flavors of Popular Protests in India and Pakistan
Indians and Pakistanis are discussing the leadership crisis in their respective countries, but 
for different reasons and with different implications. India’s inability to wield influence on the world stage is being blamed on the lack of good leadership. In Pakistan, people feel that the political leaders have failed to instill confidence and provide direction when the country is consumed by the threat of terrorism. Are these leadership demands signs of widening and maturing democracy in the two countries? Or are the Indians and Pakistanis wanting to re-live the hope and optimism characterizing the era of Nehru and Jinnah? Whatever may be the rationale, the demand for better leadership is showing different traits of the public in India and Pakistan. Click to continue…
An Enemy Imagined? Documentary on Pakistan-India Hostility
Pakistan-India hostility has been the hot topic for the media in both countries. But very rarely is there an attempt to pose serious questions and search for unbiased answers. An Enemy Imagined? aired on October 13, 2009 was once such attempt by the Dawn News. The documentary looks at threats that emanate from Pakistan’s eastern border, assessing if these are genuine threats or merely played up to alter political perceptions.
The non-judgmental quality of the documentary title was refreshing. Views of the academicians, retired Foreign Service Personnel and members of the Armed forces have been juxtaposed to understand the nature of threat posed to Pakistan by India.
There is a wide spectrum of views showcased in the documentary. Shehryar Khan, Former Foreign Secretary of Pakistan, holds that India is not merely a perceived threat but a real threat that needs to be taken into account. Former Air Chief Marshal, Asghar Khan is of the opinion that “we have been obsessed with threats from India; there are other things to do.” The latter comment did surprise me, coming from someone who has served in Pakistan’s armed forces.
The views of Aasim Sajjid and Rasul Bux Rais, both professors at LUMS, on the 1971 war belied the perception that a linear anti-India sentiment pervades in the Pakistani society.
The documentary would have been even more impressive if apple halves (depicting partition) and dummy soldiers in a mock war zone had been replaced something more real and illustrative. Nevertheless, the diversity of opinion in Pakistan projected through the documentary was extraordinary. It’s sad that the Indian media, accustomed to negative reporting on Pakistan, took no notice of the documentary.
South Waziristan Operation: Civilian Government Recedes, Army Takes Charge
The Rah-i-Nijat Operation in South Waziristan has provided the Pakistani Army an opportunity to re-claim the center-stage in Pakistan. Since the past fortnight, Pakistan has witnessed a disturbing series of terror strikes and the Army has initiated the ground offensive in South Waziristan. In these troubled times, public statements or media visibility of President Zardari and P.M. Gilani has been conspicuously low. Who is leading the current military offensive against the Taliban: Army or Civilian Government?
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Pakistan set to Take the U.S. ‘Beyond the Vietnam Experience’
Since assuming office in January this year, President Obama made it clear that Pakistan was an area of grave concern for the U.S. counter-terrorism efforts around the globe. Review of strategy in Afghanistan led to the now famous acronym Af-Pak: an approach signifying the conjoined nature of problems and solutions for Afghanistan and Pakistan. The Obama Administration was making a sincere attempt at resolving the Afghanistan crisis. Strategists in Washington and other Capitals across the globe welcomed (with skepticism) the new alignment of priorities and strategy proposed by the Obama administration. But it is now turning out that the Administration is in for an undesirable realization: if Afghanistan was viewed as re-living Vietnam, Pakistan is sure to take the U.S. beyond the “Vietnam Experience”. Click to continue…
A.Q. Khan - From Release to Reverence
After his widely criticized release, Pakistani nuclear scientist A.Q. Khan is now on his way to regain his place as the country’s revered hero. Commenting before the formal release of A. Q. Khan in February this year, U.S. State Department Spokesperson Gordon Duguid referred to Khan as a “serious proliferation risk.” In the first exhaustive interview since his release, Dr. Khan not only denounces the international community’s anxiety over Pakistan’s nuclear proliferation record but also emerges as the great patriot who sacrificed his freedom for the country’s sake.
[Photo Courtesy: CHUP]
Dr. Khan had confessed transferring nuclear secrets to other countries (Iran, Libya and North Korea) in 2004. President Musharraf had pardoned Dr. Khan but the latter was under house arrest since his confession. The Islamabad High Court declared the detained nuclear scientist Dr Abdul Qadeer Khan a “free citizen” on February 7, 2009. The release of Dr. Khan was contingent upon a secret the ‘agreement’ reached between him and the government. Despite several attempts, the U.S. Government has still not been able to question Dr. Khan about his role in the illegal nuclear proliferation network.
Dr. Khan was introduced on the program as a scientist to whom “Pakistan owes its impregnable defense.” In his interview, Dr. Khan confirms to the role of China in developing Pakistan nuclear technology and admits that the Pakistani bomb was ready in 1984. The influx of American aid into Pakistan following the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan had necessitated postponing the testing of the bomb in 1984. Dr. Khan has regretted his confession earlier and clearly stated in the interview that he was pressured and threatened by President Musharraf into delivering the confessional statement. Dr. Khan refers to his involvement in illegal proliferation of nuclear technology as “mere accusations”. Further defending Pakistan’s nuclear program Dr. Khan claims that there is no possibility of proliferation or leakage from Pakistan nuclear facility. His admission that Pakistan was in favor of Iran acquiring nuclear technology as means of building an ‘Islamic pressure group’ to counter international pressure could rekindle international concerns with about the ‘Islamic Bomb.’
The problem lies not only in Dr. Khan’s past but also his present disregard for what the international community thinks. In response to a question about how the international community would perceive his release, Dr. Khan voiced his irritation by saying, “Let them talk. Are they happy with our God? Are they happy with our Prophet? Are they happy with our leaders? Never, so why should we bother what they say about us? I would be more worried about what you (Pakistani journalists) say about me, not what Bush says or what Dick Cheney says. I don’t damn care.”
Hopefully the Pakistani Government will care more about the concerns of the international community with regard to nculear proliferation.
After Bilwal Bhutto, it’s now Bakhtawar and Asifa
Last week I posted a video of Bilwal Bhutto’s speech which had left me speechless. Now there is some confusion added to that state of speechlessness. Benazir Bhutto’s daughters Asifa and Bakhtawar have also delivered public speeches recently.
This ‘speech trio’ has raised two thoughts in my mind. The first is the relevance of speeches for Pakistan’s current political state. In terms of content and connectivity all the three speeches were a flop. The audience applause appears fabricated given its occurrence at most bizarre points during the speeches. It seems highly unlikely that the people of Pakistan would relate to these ‘young leaders’ (though I fail to understand who are they leading, if anyone) speaking with a heavy English accent and dispassionately glorifying their parents.
Second, it appears to me that the speech campaign was choreographed by President Zardari to prove that he is the best of the Bhutto clan at the given moment. The public appeal of the Bhutto family cannot be underestimated in Pakistan. President Zardari has attempted to counter opposition by displaying the caliber, or the lack of it, of the other members of the Bhutto family. Asifa Bhutto’s speech in particular is like a no objection certificate for President Zardari’s leadership.
The three speeches, rather than marking the entry of the young Bhuttos into Pakistani politics was a statement of abdication in favor of their father and President Asif Ali Zardari. All that was lacking was better screenplay to make the dramatization appear somewhat realistic.
Bilwal Bhutto’s Obvious Pretence
I was almost speechless after hearing Bilwal Bhutto’s August 4 outburst. I guess ctitics of President Zardari, including myself, will be happy that he took over the reigns of Pakistan People’s Party from Bilwal even though under the garb of guardianship.
Pakistan and Counter-Terrorism: Inability or Unwillingness?
Pakistan’s recent military offensive against the Taliban has earned the country some 
international support for its counter-terrorism efforts. There is hope that the democratic government will be willing and committed to fighting terrorism. However the events of the past week have raised a disturbing concern in my mind. Pakistan has, beyond doubt begun combating terrorist elements operating on its soil; but at the same time Pakistan’s counter-terrorism strategy is selective and self-serving. In a matter of few days the Government of Pakistan has re-arrested Sufi Muhammad and released Hafiz Saeed. To me this is not a simple case of supporting terrorism against India but has deeper implications. It’s about Pakistan’s reluctance and not inability to combat terrorism. The Sufi-Saeed case points to three trends in Pakistan’s ‘counter-terrorism efforts’: no person-specific operations, inconsequential arrests on mild charges and treating terrorism as legal problem. Click to continue…
‘Humor Censorship’ in Pakistan
One of the long standing criteria for distinguishing dictatorships from democracies was the degree of press freedoms. A free press is considered to represent the popular voice and keeps a tab on all branches of the Government. A recent directive by the Government of Pakistan has added a new dimension to this discourse. What about freedom of expression through email, blogs and text messages? How would you respond if your expression of humor is censored? For those who find this strange should thank their stars if they are not residing in Pakistan. And for those who are living in Pakistan remember this before you crack a joke next time: Pakistanis who send jokes about President Asif Zardari by text message, email or blog risk being arrested and given a 14-year prison sentence. Click to continue…