It is amazing how the West speaks of alliance and credibility, when it clearly falters midway on so many occasions. Pakistan is just one example. There are 140,000 troops on the border with Afghanistan and mind you, that is more than the entire active British Army (which will come around 75000 after Cameron’s cuts take full swing). There have been 33000 innocent Pakistani civilians killed since 2004 and these are conservative figures. I trust many of these were victims of Taliban-style extremism (and yes there is another form of extremism that the Western intellectuals need to explore). Around 2500 Pakistani soldiers have been killed in this so-called “War on Terror”. About 8000 Pakistani civilians have gone missing. Pervez Musharraf has openly admitted in his book “The Line of Fire” that he sold many of these men, women and children to American for piles of cash (that you call aid to Pakistan). Aafia Siddiqui, portrayed ignorantly in the West as a terrorist, is just one shining example of an increasingly euro-centric view of conflicts and issues that are so crucial to our world’s peace and stability. Aid for blood – I must say Pakistan is getting a pretty good deal. I wonder how the British or the French would feel if offered the same.
Pakistan was never a threat for the West. It has been reiterated again and again by multiple quarters in Pakistan and the Muslim World, that Al-Qaeeda and organizations were almost non-existent. Hardly anyone was aware of organisations and needless to say, the support for them was marginal (if anything at all). Pakistani society, especially the urban (which is different from the simplistic categories of elite and non-elite), was a vibrant society ready to adapt to Western ways and ideas. The Westernisation of Pakistan was apparent, let alone inevitable. Fortunately or unfortunately, the tide is turning and people are looking to filter the good rather than completely adopting the Western culture. The argument applied in the case of Cold War that Soviets are going to change our ways, does not apply in the case of Pakistan.
The West claims to champions of democracy and the “modern world”. I do not see how anyone can come up with this observation. The recent WikiLeaks concerning Pakistan are an open testament to the degree of influence exercised by the Americans on Pakistan’s governance structures. It was comical yet extremely sad to see Maulana Fazlullah (one of the heads of the Islamist parties in Pakistan) advising Anne Patterson that US should make him the Prime Minister. This comes as no shock to a Pakistani or any developing country. Such interferences and interventions have been seen in the case of Iran before and we all know the consequences of that. Similarly, the pressure on Pakistan Army of scaling a full scale war in Waziristan is contrarian to public’s opinion. This has been practiced before and Pakistan paid a heavy price for it. The suicide bombings increased rapidly after Pakistan Army followed the orders coming from its masters in Washington. The drone attacks have been persistent despite their “ineffectiveness” and “lack of precision”. It is appalling and heartbreaking to see intellectuals supporting such naive initiatives. Besides, Pakistan is simply not in a state of waging more battles. The end solution would be through dialogue and a setting up of long-term development framework for Afghanistan and tribal regions.
Plus, why should Pakistan only answer? What are the NATO and US troops doing in Afghanistan? Are they busy playing marbles?
Crossing borders is an issue but it is something to consider for both sides. It is a rough terrain and it is an equal responsibility of the US troops to stop this infiltration. Pakistanis can make the argument that these insurgents came from Afghanistan and then Afghans can make the same argument by looking at a different time frame. There is no need of maligning anyone. America should have the decency of accepting its failure in Afghanistan and should avoid putting everything on Pakistan as it would simply make matters worse. Pervez Musharraf openly suggested fencing off the border but this was denied by the Americans and Afghans. Just to remind you, it wasn’t the Pakistani authorities who let Mullah Omar escape on a motor bike or Osama bin Laden jump around the Tora Bora Mountains. And if Pakistan has not done enough in this so-called “War on Terror” (UN was aiming to define terrorism – I wonder what came of that discussion), then what about those 8000 Pakistanis missing. Where are they? Where are Aafia Siddiqui’s children?
It wasn’t Pakistan’s war (and yes Pakistanis get to decide if it was their war or not), yet we fought it to the extent that now it has very much become ours. Pakistan wants to fight this nuisance but a different way. The West has made many miscalculations in the last ten years and it is high time we leave the thinking part for others. I understand that you see the situation from your lens, but there is another angle which needs consideration before passing judgements.
There is a very interesting saying in Urdu (and perhaps now it’s also frequently used by the English) – “Baat kernay se pehlay apnay girabaan mein jaahnkna chahiye” i.e. one should look at his own collar before speaking. West needs to do more. I think I’d leave you with this.
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