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A US Pakistani’s Advice to PM
PM of Pakistan, being a man of average ability needs a very clear headed
Foreign Minister and a man of sound understanding and pragmatism as his
national Security Adviser. In addition, he needs a Finance Minister, who
is a sound economist and well focused on the problems and issues at micro level
at home. These are issues frustrating an overwhelming majority of the
population. If he wants to do something really meaningful he should retire the
present lot surrounding him all his waking and sleeping hours and get dynamic
people around him to advise and deliver.
Regarding his visit to the UN and Washington, I have been wondering all the
time what was the need to rush in a hurry and what was he expecting to
accomplish? Even if he was getting uneasy to rush to the US along with the team
of his close advisers he should have given a space to the US President to get
over the influence left behind by Manmohan Singh. On the issue of drones,
Pakistan has locked itself in meaningless legalities. As the situation is,
total lack of control over the territory from which insurgents are operating on
both sides of the border, no sane expert of international law will give any
credence to PM's slogan of sovereignty. That legal concept has to be balanced
with effective control of the territory on ground by the Government claiming sovereignty
over the area. He and his advisers have to think hard, away from emotional
appeals and populist slogans, of the strategies to convince influential and
powerful members of international community that the y are willing to play
their role in controlling terrorism for which, unfortunately, the perception
has grown very strong that Pakistan has become the epicenter of terrorism.
Before appealing to international leaders, the PM has to do his homework and
show some positive results in handling the matters that the world is asking
for. Let him start with dealing with the protection of minorities and Muslims
who do not belong to the mainstream religious groups. Governance and corruption
are the other two issues on which he can contribute effectively to gain respect
at home. Once he has shown real progress regarding some matters at home then he
can, with confidence and pride, tell the international leaders that his
Government is moving with strength in the matters of interest to the public in
Pakistan and that would give credibility to his words. Otherwise, every word
that he would utter would only be regarded as an empty rhetoric. In
today's world no national leader can su cceed in convincing foreign statesmen
that he really means what he says. Once, in a few months or a year, the PM
would be able to show some accomplishments at home only then he could think of
talking to others in a constructive manner.
Dr. Muhammad Nawaz
Washington, DC. USA
c/o Col. Riaz Jafri (Retd)
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