NATO torpedoes democracy

The entire episode has contributed to lionize Generals Kayani & Pasha while rendering political leadership discredited in the eyes of Pakistani public

Much has been said about the NATO’s strike of our two Army Posts in Mohmand Agency, killing 24 and causing Pakistan’s boycott the of the Bon Conference, on Afghanistan’s future. The Pakistan Army also refused to join, though not as an equal participant; of the US Military inquiry expected to conclude its findings before Christmas. The reason for boycott has been cited that joint investigations in past have led to naught. The US Department of Defense is restricting Obama to condolences short of an apology. While, as investigative journalist Gareth Porter puts it, “The U.S. military has…acknowledged privately to the New York Times that U.S. troops were culpable in the deaths of the Pakistani troops,” the inquiry is nothing more than earning time to heal the hurt Pakistani ego.

It’s not that we’ve been hit for the first time or our men were never killed in friendly fires. Over 35,000 Pakistanis have been killed since we joined this wanton ‘War on Terror’, apparently an ambiguous war without any clear objectives. Therefore, the question is: why Khakis [with mainstream media as the lapdog] have upped the ante this time like never before?

It is an army that helped the US in defeating the USSR in Afghanistan and has rented its services and been pimping for the US imperialism since the 1950s. Has it all of a sudden gone anti-imperialist?

On the other hand, apparently ‘war on terror’ is short of clear objectives. It appears as if Washington lacks clarity of mind and is entangled in the very principles of democracy, universal rights and liberty it faked to set foot in Afghanistan and Iraq. Is that really the case?

Now when Osama ben Laden is dead, economic depression engulfing US’ European cousins, its tax payers demanding a pullout, hundreds of billions of dollars ‘wasted’ , the United States is not camping atop Pamir to help Karzai clan stay in power. It plans to stay on. It is not considering a retreat USSR-style.

It wants a foothold in Afghanistan on the lines it has in Japan, Korea, Taiwan, Philippines and Indonesia. Return on its decade-long investments is yet to start but some of it has to be shared with its dodgy sub-contractor: the Pak Army. The sub-contractor is insisting on a share Uncle Sam is not ready to dole out. To blackmail Uncle Sam, the sub-contractor resorts to a policy of ‘thousand cuts’ ironically taught by Uncle’s very own CIA.

Mike Mullen in his recent appearance before the Congressional Committee narrated the diverging and converging interests of both Pak-US establishments in the campaign. In post-2014 setup, Pakistan Army wants its ‘Birthday Boys’ i.e. Taliban on the helm of Kabul. The State Department wants a settlement. But the Department of Defense believes its victory is being held back by Taliban, Pakistan’s proxy.

Mohamand strike was an expression of this frustration of US army with its client. No matter what the technicalities of the incident---though we are unlikely to find the facts--- the unholy, opportunistic alliance is going to continue. The only casualty of the ongoing Pak-US friction, exacerbated by NATO strike, would be stability and democracy in Pakistan.

It is possible that the US probe due by the Christmas finds faults with Pakistan. As a report in the Wall Street Journal suggests, the probe may establish Pakistan’s connivance. A ‘neutral’ outcome of the inquiry could blame Taliban for instigating the NATO attack from the vicinity of bombed military posts. It cannot be ruled out that US inquiry finds its soldiers at fault. In that case, Diyat [Revenge Money] will be paid to our martyrs. Raymond Davis Case already has established the practice. Hope the beards will not object this practice in line with Sharia.

However, the entire episode has contributed to lionize Generals Kayani & Pasha while rendering political leadership discredited in the eyes of Pakistani public. Gen. Kayani who should have retired long ago or should have tendered his resignation in the wake of May 1 OBL affair, stands tall while President Asif Ali Zardari has been hospitalized for cardiac arrest. He has been under pressure to resign.