by Ikram Sehgal
As far back as one can remember all the
visits abroad by our various Presidents and Prime Ministers over the years
have been very “successful”. With the US figuring prominently on
everyone’s diplomatic screen, that segment has always been “outstanding”,
this even when Mian Nawaz Sharif was receiving his (from Kargil) marching
orders in July 1999 from Clinton in extremely tense talks in Blair House
(a very deliberate slight given that Blair House is across the road from
the White House). Soon after 9/11 Pervez Musharraf was in sync with the US
tune in total contrast to our rather convoluted foreign policy perceptions
about Afghanistan. That it suited us is only added comfort, how else would
we have the courage to go after a whole range of terrorists of various
kinds that seemed to come out of the woodwork? Hard-core terrorists have
even been caught taking refuge with activists of mainline factions of the
MMA, where does that leave them, rather where does it leave the image of
Pakistan in the present international environment? Musharraf was due for
accolades in the premier foreign capitals, that he deserves and that he
got!
All our military Presidents,
selected, “elected” or otherwise, have been outstanding in their
individual capacities, their tenures are still too near in history to be
objectively recorded. Ayub towers over the others in sheer personality and
Ziaul Haq was the darling of muslim countries, his action in support of
King Hussain against the Palestinians in Jordan in 1970 in making their
“septembers black” notwithstanding. Without any doubt, Yahya Khan was the
most brilliant and as is now clear, was not engaged in making his future
financially bright, notwithstanding his “extra-curricular” activity during
his colourful but tragic reign. Musharraf is clearly the most eloquent
among the four, having a more precise and detailed knowledge than any of
his predecessors about both internal and world affairs, moreover he is
very decisive. An instructor in good standing in the National Defence
College he is extremely articulate and logical, that helps him speak with
authority in front of knowledgeable foreign audiences critics who come to
such events generally skeptical but more often than not go away charmed by
his sincerity of purpose with respect to the country. In short, he is no
tin-pot dictator and he works hard at preserving his support domestically
and internationally. Moreover he is extremely decisive. Therefore if he
has bowled over leaders and media alike in London, Washington, New York,
Los Angeles, Berlin and Paris, it is no surprise, it is also good for
Pakistan. To successfully build up an image of country like Pakistan is
not easy, according to senior advocate Mazhar Jafri (and like most members
of the legal profession Mazhar Jafri is generally critical of all military
rulers).
Musharraf’s backtracking somewhat on the recognition of Israel was
disappointing but it seems to be a more of a tactical retreat rather any
strategic re-thinking. In fact for the first time Pakistan has spelt out
that the touchstone of future relationship will be the progress on the
“roadmap to peace”. Good enough for starters, at least we are talking
about it. In fact, if we had a constant dialogue going with Israel we
could be helpful in nudging them along on the roadmap. In many seminars
and conferences one comes across Israelis and find they do not have the
horns they are supposed to have, in fact one finds them very logical and
correct. They make no apologies about their actions in the West Bank,
their existence as a nation is threatened and one supposes that is logic
enough! One notices that their perceptions about Pakistan is more negative
than positive, having left the field open to a hard-core enemy to exploit,
the enemy can hardly be expected to tell any truths about us. What stops
us from having dialogue and commerce the way we have with Taiwan? Moreover
why not a step-by-step approach that keeps in step with progress on the
“roadmap”? Having had the rare privilege of praying at Al-Aqsa Mosque
(Islam’s third holiest site), outside the Haram Al-Sharif there were
Israeli policemen but only Palestinian guards within the Noble Sanctuary
(35 beautiful acres of mosques, gardens, etc including the “Dome of the
Rock” Mosque). Both the Israelis and the Palestinians were polite in
asking whether I was muslim before I could enter the holy area. One must
remember that in Jerusalem, mosques, churches, synagogues are literally
within (instead of “at”) arms length of each other. Since September 2000
when the Intafada was militarized, more than 2000 Palestinians have been
killed. In these three years about 800 Israelis have died. More muslims
died in less than a week in Gujrat in February 2002 during BJP Chief
Minister Modi’s pogrom against muslims, a deliberately cynical act meant
as part of the political campaign to win the ensuing elections.
The US
Aid package of US$ 3 billion dollars, half of that for military supplies,
was a major achievement for the President. At least US$1 billion can be
used to retire the outstanding debt of US$1.8 billion. This frees revenues
for us to look at options other than F-16s, possibly French Mirage
2000-5s. We need desperately to augment our air defence capability, air
superiority in the hands of the enemy can paralyse us on the ground and in
the sea, strategically overwhelming all the bravery and tactics that our
Armed Forces may be able to display, ie. given that at least two
critically important Corps Commanders who are planted in harm’s way (at
least their troops are) can take time out from their myriad number of
“civilian” duties to attend to dire operational necessities.
The MMA
is on the defensive after disqualification of one of its MNAs for lack of
a graduation degree, this condition is a must for all parliamentarians. If
a “Sanad” is recognized as a due qualification by a authorised university
ie. fulfilling all curriculum conditions and related criteria, then it
should be acceptable as a qualification for a member of the Assemblies or
the Senate. The MMA has a vested interest in trying to scuttle the LFO, at
least 30-35 of the MNAs and about 80% of their members of Provincial
Assembly get disqualified, there will have to be by-elections to fill
their seats. It is an even guess / estimate that in such an election they
will keep their seats in some areas ie if they can get qualified
candidates, in any case they will certainly lose their majority. The Awami
National Party (ANP) has already come together and the other political
parties (PPP and PML mainly) have learnt a serious electoral lesson in
being divided at election time.
The Opposition shot
themselves in the foot with their failed no-confidence motion brought
against the Speaker, they are compounding their mistake by no going
against the Deputy Speaker. The government has been repeating “ad nauseam”
that the Opposition is not interested in their legislative duties, being
simply pawns being manipulated by remote control by leaders-in-exile.
Their Parliamentary negative tactics supports the government’s stand, most
ably articulated by the government’s “information streetfighter” Shaikh
Rashid. Having fought the elections on the basis of LFO, it is incongruous
that the Opposition, mainly the MMA, are militating against the very law
that has brought them to power in one Province and in coalition in
another.
Musharraf has a good trip
abroad and may even become a “frequent flyer” if his domestic opposition
remains as ham-handed as they have been. The rumours about his losing
control, spread far and wide by motivated interests, are “greatly
exaggerated” (with apologies to Mark Twain). On the contrary the
Opposition is in danger of losing all credibility unless they can get
their act together and fight political battles as they should be fought,
politically.
Mr. Ikram Sehgal is
Publisher and Managing Editor of Defence
Journal (Pakistan).
He contributed above article to Media Monitors Network (MMN) from
Sindh, Pakistan.
Source:
by courtesy & © 2003 Ikram Sehgal
by the same author:
