All the evidence, material as well as circumstantial, points to the undeniable fact that America considers Pakistan, not an ally in its so-called war on terrorism but a mercenary who has been ‘adequately’ paid to do a job as per instructions and expectations. That President Pervez Musharraf of Pakistan has been publicly pampered and endearingly eulogized by President George Bush of America on some ‘precious’ and highly admirable, feats of ‘courage and responsibility’ is not indicative of any high esteem, Washington holds its ally Islamabad in, but only a strategic ploy on the part of the White House to send a special message both to the people as well as the military of Pakistan. To the people of Pakistan, the special message is that as long as their destiny is in the hands of ‘a moderate and sensible’ leader like General Pervez Musharraf, they need not feel ‘apprehensive’ about the U.S designs. And to Pakistan’s military, the ‘clothed’ message is that in order to keep benefiting from the generosity of a result-demanding paymaster, the leadership of General Pervez Musharraf be kept above all ‘doubts’ and ‘questions.’
The dilemma before Pakistan is whether it can afford to continue playing the mercenary role it is commissioned by the paymasters to play. Is the ‘fee’ being paid to us enough to make us set aside all requisites and demands of patriotism and national responsibility, and turn our guns in the direction of our own brethren?
Those who have shaped our present policies, may coin as many crazy ideas as they can in support of making Pakistan a battleground between liberals and extremists; yet the un-avoidable truth remains that the war we have been made to fight and are now being urged to fight more vigorously and extensively is not our war. It was, it is and it will always remain America’s war. And it is not a war on ‘terrorism’ as Washington’s policy-makers like to dub it for the consumption of their people as well as the rest of the world. It is essentially a, war for consolidating America’s hegemonial status and stature as the globe’s lone superpower and policeman. Also for the pre-emptive containment of the emerging future powers who have the potential to challenge America’s hegemony in the times to come. These powers are Russia and China, both of whom are in Pakistan’s close vicinity. Thirdly it is also a war for the purpose of nipping the ‘Islamic threat’ in the bud.
It is not ‘the bearded Islam’ manifesting its power through ‘suicide bombings’ that Washington is scared of. Infact this version of Islam is being used by America as an excuse for carrying out its far-reaching agenda to destabilize the World of the Crescent. What America is really scared of is the possibility of the emergence of “the Tigers of Islam” on the pattern of Malaysia. So keep the Muslim World busy with handling its ‘terrorists’ and dealing with the fallout of this so-called war on terrorism.
Let me add here that Pervez Musharraf is not a willing pawn. Like all of us he too has a patriotic soul. But unlike us, he has his presidency to defend, his leadership to extend, and his power to keep from eroding. Thus instead of his people, he has made the White House, the State Department and the Pentagon his constituency.
A tragic irony of no ordinary dimensions! But there are optimists amongst us who have good reasons to hope that he may atlast lose patience with the demands of Washington and cry out:
Down with Bondage
Long Live Freedom
(First publish on
25-07-2007)
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