Political Insensitivity/ By T H Shah

POLITICAL INSENSITIVITY By T.H Shah Renowned Lebanese poet Khali Jibran in one of his revolutionary poem Pity the Nation, says, ‘Pity the nation that is full of beliefs and empty of religion. Pity the nation that wears a cloth it does not weave, eats a bread it does not harvest, Pity the nation whose statesman is a fox, whose philosopher is a juggler, and whose art is the art of patching and mimicking, Pity the nation divided into fragments, each fragment deeming itself a nation.’ It seems same is the case with Pakistani rulers. In a recent statement of Media Advisor to President Ms. Ferah Naz Isphaheni has very blatantly misconstrued the repercussions of drone attacks on the geographical territories of Pakistan, which has claimed numerous innocent people including women and children. Ms. Farah justified these draconian American onslaughts on the logic of peace and security of the people along with offering generous kudos to the financial support by the American administration for countering terrorist tendencies in Pakistan. Before passing such types of insensitive remarks, Ms. Farah probably has not taken into account some ponderable points to be deciphered in wider historical perspectives. Does the peace and security of Pakistan links to US financial support? Does US Administration wholeheartedly want maintenance of peace and security in Pakistan? Is the emergence of terrorist groups whether religious or political fanatics on the land of Pakistan thanks to Islam or closed culture prevalent in many regions of NWFP and Balochistan? What been the role of Ex political administration in tackling the terrorist tendencies in Pakistan? These simples questions have become riddles in our political culture, and on taking deep stock of the situation, the injudiciously framed policies of civil and military administration both in respect of regional and international scenario, has brought such squalor on the scene. The relations with US administration were developed to further the interests of the American with absolute imperviousness to the national interest of Pakistan. To substantiate the fact, take for instance the role of US Administration in East Pakistan crisis, motivating factors behind Pressler Amendment, Brown Amendment, American response to Kargil adventure, making hair-splitting on F-16 fighter planes to

Pakistan, likely imprints of American Civil Nuclear deal with India, adoption of lukewarm attitude towards Kashmir dispute between Pakistan and India, how US Administration can deal with water crisis between Pakistan and India. These are some of the most common apparent examples to interpret the implications of future objectives of American interference in Pakistani affairs. Above all the negative and prejudiced treatment of US Administration in United Nations over the issues particularly related to the Muslim world is crystal clear. Concerning global issues like disarmament, nuclear non-proliferation, weapons of mass destruction (WMD), American double standard does not stand beyond criticism. WMD of Iran, Pakistan, and North Korea are repugnant to the USA Government, but the retention of same by Israel and India is not going to have any threat to the global peace and security. These are important questions in international politics necessitate straightforward mathematical answers. Foreign policy is determined to pursue internal and external security and stability of the state, and one of its strong determinists is economic stability, but distressingly the foreign policy of Pakistan has never been formulated in consonance with its needs and requirements. It has always been deprived of the economic factors from the view point of stability; therefore, the sequel is we are stuck in heavy financial indebtedness. In American markets, Pakistani exports have been kept to sub-optimal treatment compare to the Indian. It can be understood by denying to Pakistan the access to free trade to American markets. Many critics consider the cold war is over after dissolution of USSR, but it has assumed another form and now being waged against the Muslim world particularly against the Pakistan to make it destabilised. The state of Iraq was badly decimated on the false reports of having WMD, Iran is under American and Israeli anguish and planning is on the anvil for its annihilation. The Pakistan’s atomic program and its nuclear assets are major concern to US and Israel. In international politics, national interest is not a monolith, whereas it is of pretty fluid nature and change different forms with course of time. Nexus of Sadaam Hussain with US Administration are not hidden matter, he has been engaged in war with Iran on the back of USA, but when national interest changed, USA became its hostile and thus, started throwing daisy-cutter and cluster bombs on it. During cold war with USSR, the same Afghans were freedom fighters in the eyes of USA and got unquestionable financial and military support to withstand against Russia, but after it crumbled down, same freedom fighters turned into Islamist terrorists and fanatics. Pakistan’s national interest should not be construed in American perspectives; it should be designed and achieved within the objective resolution setting clear cut policy guidelines. Under such circumstances, how drone attacks can be considered as a source of peace and security in Pakistan. Ms. Farah needs to analyse the situation factually and should not become latch on to government just for the sake of feathering her nest. (The Writer is associated with Press For Peace (PFP) as Director Research. He could be reached at: [email protected] )

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