Pakistan’s Bittersweet Partnership With the US

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Posted by realistic bird under Caricature, Politics Tags: Caricature, cartoon, Pakistan, Politics, US, US policies

by Carlos Latuff

Will Pakistan Endure More American Pressure?

By Abdullah Saad, IOL

Pakistan is currently facing intense turmoil. The war on pakistani militants- by the Pakistani and US armies- is ever increasingly taking its toll on the safety of Pakistanis who are dying by dozens on a daily basis.

On the political front, there is a tug of war between the military and civilian authorities, more specifically, between the military and President Asif Ali Zardari.

Zardari became President of Pakistan about 14 months ago, riding a wave of post-dictatorship, goodwill and sympathy for his slain wife Benazir Bhutto. Promises of democracy and freedom were in the air.

Not surprisingly, he is now facing a bewildering situation in the form of growing public anger and disillusionment over his presidency. He has lost much and gained very little in the past months. This fact is very much visible in his abysmal performance in public opinion polls.

Much pressure is being exerted on Zardari through the media, judiciary, and the coalition partners of the PPP (Pakistan’s People’s Party) in order to urge him to step down.

National and international media have been flooded with old scandals and have increased moral and political pressure on the president to such an extent that some see him as compelled to find solace in leaving the presidency.

Army & US-backed President

It seems that the military is uneasy with Zardari’s status as the Supreme Commander, especially since he is considered too close and intimate with the United States. The statements and communiqués of President Zardari and Pakistan Ambassador to the US, Hussain Haqqani, regarding the military with the US administration are the main reasons.

The gap between the military and the president widened more after the details of the Kerry-Lugar Bill were unveiled. Military circles expressed their disliking for the bill as it infringes on the sovereignty of Pakistan and it seems there is no chance of backtracking.

Below all political tensions and rivalries there is a real sense amongst common Pakistanis that they are but left on their own to come to grips with issues such as shortage of gas, electricity, sugar, and flour.

Insecurity has become a major daily threat and Pakistanis are angry and frustrated about it and the inability of the government to fix the situation. The government is considered rudderless, at a time when strong leadership is the need of the hour.

Washington Complicates Matters

Considering such circumstances, Zardari’s deepening unpopularity has put Washington in a bind because of two reasons.

First; The United States’s supposed commitment towards bolstering democratic institutions in Pakistan after supporting military rule in the country for almost a decade makes it committed to such values, but more realistically to a regime that produces a partner for it that maintains US intrests.

Hence, if Zardari gets forced out of power, either on old corruption charges or through a collapse of the ruling coalition, US might have to deal with new leaders who might be less friendly, something it obviously will seek to avoid.

Secondly; Washington is currently seeking to expand and speed up its fight against al-Qaeda and the Taliban. It wants the Pakistani army to conduct more military operations in other parts of Pakistan, especially in North Waziristan and in Baluchistan.

Just a few days ago, President Obama’s national security advisor; Gen. James Jones was sent to Islamabad with a message that the new American strategy would work only if Pakistan expanded its fight beyond responses to militants attacking its cities and security forces.

Rather, Washington wants Pakistan to go directly after the groups that use Pakistan as a safe haven for plotting and carrying out attacks against American troops in Afghanistan, and act as support networks for Al-Qaeda.

Conflicting Interests

Such a proposition might not sit well with the Pakistan military, which harbors certain fears about Obama’s new strategy in Afghanistan. They believe that if Obama commits additional 30,000 or more troops, it will inevitably push more Taliban fighters across the border into some Pakistani territory and complicate the South Waziristan offensive.

On the other hand, if United States were not to have a strong military commitment in Afghanistan, it would only strengthen the belief in the Pakistani military and intelligence community that the US commitment to the war in Afghanistan is diminishing.

It is this concern that, according to some, justifies Pakistan’s continuing ties to militants who fight American troops in Afghanistan.

Under such awkward circumstances, the proposition put forward by President Obama might prove to be undoable for the Zardari-led regime. If the policy is put into effect, it’s much expected that it will not only be dangerous for the country, but for the entire region.

The next few months are therefore quite important for Pakistan, as winter closes in on the mountainous regions of South Waziristan, further complicating the ground situation for the Pakistani military in its offensive against the Taliban. Also amid increasing violence and a collapsing leadership one wonders what could possibly happen in Pakistan’s internal affairs.

Abdullah Saad is a writer and freelance columnist. He is currently pursuing a Masters degree in Information Systems with a Minor in Political Science at University of Melbourne.