Pakistan Panorama: Coalition fends off US arm-twisting (by Kamran Rehmat)
EVEN as Yousuf Raza Gillani basks in the glory of a unanimous mandate as prime minister "“ a first in Pakistan's history "“ his coalition appears to have weathered the assault of top American diplomats, who also drew unanimous flak at home and in the US for their less-than-concealed arm-twisting of the new administration.
US Deputy Secretary of State John Negroponte and Assistant Secretary for South Asia and Central Asian Affairs Richard Boucher explained their latest foray into the territory of their favourite ally in the so-called war on terror as a routine visit.
Clearly, it was far from anything routine. The very timing of the visit was questionable and something that even the usually sedate Foreign Office in Islamabad attempted to make a clean breast of. Officialdom in Islamabad explained that although the visit was on the cards, it had sufficiently cautioned Washington on the schedule and even described it as "inappropriate".
The Americans, however, ignored the advice. Negroponte and Boucher were meeting the recently retired General Musharraf as Gillani prepared to take a parliamentary vote for the new leader of the house.
Pakistanis are clearly aghast at how the American duo was scurrying from one part of the country to another to coerce major political stakeholders into committing to a continuation of what is seen by many as a destructive seven-year war-on-terror.
The State Department officials were unapologetic about both the timing of their visit or demand for the new Pakistani leadership to show up their fangs in the war-on-terror. To their chagrin, former prime minister Nawaz Sharif chose to snub them in his inimitable style.
Sharif refused to go to the US Embassy to have a session with the eyes and ears of American diplomacy, who were described by his aide as "junior officials" in an attempt to justify why it was inappropriate for the former prime minister to have the "call on".
It was apparently, a calculated move to put the Bush Administration in its place for its snub of Sharif last year when President Bush stated that he did not trust the former premier for his alleged association with the rightwing parties.
Sharif ensured the climbdown of the diplomats by offering to meet them at the Punjab House in Islamabad, fully knowing that in the changed political stratosphere, where he holds a commanding position, they would have no choice but to meet him "“ especially, after the stated US mission of engaging with all Pakistani stakeholders.
As well as raise Sharif's profile, the move according to political observers, both restored a semblance of dignity to his country, which under Musharraf has been viewed by them as a genuflection to the Bush Administration, and accentuate the shift in the balance of power from the Presidency to the Parliament.
The upfront approach also appeared to raise the self-respect of an average Pakistani given the strong public reaction against the visit.
Refusing to be cowed down by his guests, Sharif pointed out that the impetus on policy-making viz-a-viz the war-on-terror would now move from the Presidency to the Parliament. As well as highlight the failed policy of the seven years thanks to the ineffective US engagement with just one individual, the PML-N leader said that while Pakistan wanted peace just as much as anyone else, "we could not be expected to kill our own people".
The continued emphasis on reverting to the Parliament as the decision-making entity rubbed off on the leadership of slain former prime minister Benazir Bhutto's Pakistan People's Party (PPP) as well, which was embarrassed by revelations that her husband and current party co-chairman Asif Zardari and his aides had gone to the US Embassy to meet the American diplomatic machine.
Even though the PPP put that down to mere "logistics" and security reasons, few were ready to take their word. However, on the positive side, the bulwark provided by Sharif's pro-active stance enabled the PPP to switch on the P (parliament) word as well.
While it is easy to credit the PML-N with taking an aggressive stand, the comparison in the level of intensity with PPP should be seen in perspective. The latter may be beholden to the Bush Administration for facilitating Bhutto's return to Pakistan last October and the strategic passage of a so-called National Reconciliation Ordinance, which finally relieved her and husband Asif Zardari of the threat of conviction in multiple cases of corruption.
The PPP is therefore, understandably understated about the new order in Islamabad although it would probably, welcome the chance to make decisions about all issues, including the war-on-terror, at home.
While there is a body of opinion that suggests both PPP and PML-N are secretly united and only creating a smokescreen of divergence on the issue, ultimately, the key to any policy review on the war on terror will lie with the army. It remains to be seen, if the new command under General Ashfaq Pervez Kayani, will be anywhere near enthusiastic to let go off sizeable military aid that it receives from Washington as part of terror war engagement. The new coalition will also have to watch its back over possible adventurism by an isolated Musharraf, who would like to retain the American umbrella.
If the army finds it difficult to resist the temptation offered by the multi-million dollar assistance, the hope of a new dawn envisioned by the civilian leadership could be set back.
Having said that, the American diplomats have gone home with doubts over what the future holds, PPP's half-hearted assurances of continuing the war-on-terror notwithstanding. The Bush Administration is not easily given to calls for course correction but even in the US the demand for changing an eminently disastrous policy of engagement with one individual and only employing use of force as a means to combat extremism and terror is getting louder by the day.
As Prime Minister Gillani's Advisor, Hussain Haqqani, aptly quipped recently "“ there's a "new sheriff in town" "“ but it remains to be seen if the White House is up to recognition.
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