Do you wonder why have the Pakistani pundits stopped complaining about imperialist tyranny and exposing the onerous conditions of Kerry-Lugar Bill? Why all of a sudden KLB is a non-issue? I was curious and I spend last several days in Washington DC trying to understand how Obama administration managed the PR fiasco.
Conversations with several insiders and subject matter experts point to a set of meetings on October 19th in Islamabad. General David Petraeus and US Senator John Kerry reached Islamabad on Sunday (October 18th). It was reported in local media that the meetings were about Waziristan operations but in reality talks with top Pakistani General were limited to the $7.5 billion dollar aid package. “They wanted to understand how this aid package violates Pakistan’s sovereignty. And, they wanted to hear it from the horses mouth,” said a diplomatic source.
Gen. Patreause and Sen. Kerry were sent to Pakistan after US President Barack Obama signed a record 7.5 billion dollar package tripling non-military aid to the nuclear-armed Muslim nation to boost its campaign against a virulent Islamist insurgency. Although the Zaradari government defended the package, Pakistan’s powerful military sparked a domestic showdown, expressing grave reservations about conditions that hinge some of the funds on efforts to battle Islamist extremism. The bill prevents the funding from being used for nuclear proliferation, to support militants or to attack neighboring countries — namely India — and calls for a cut-off in aid if Pakistan fails to crack down on extremists.
United States Central Command chief Gen David Petraeus and Chairman Senate Foreign Affairs committee Senator John Kerry on Monday October 19th held separate meetings with the Pakistan Chief of Army Staff Gen Ashraf Kayani and the outcome of those meetings were an immediate yanking of the anti-KLB campaign from Pakistani private TV channels. When Central Command chief Gen David Petraeus went to the GHQ he categorically told Gen Kayani to halt anti-KLB campaign. “Gen. Kayani was told in absolutely clear terms that the Obama administration will not tolerate another Honduras,” said a source very close to this conversation.
It is interesting that three of my sources mentioned Honduras while talking about the possible outcome of anti-KLB campaign in Pakistan.
On June 28th Honduran soldiers roused democratically elected President Manuel Zelaya from his bed at gunpoint and flew him to Costa Rica. The coup d’etat was the first in Central America in over a quarter century. The coup, led by the Honduran Gen. Romeo Vasquez, was condemned by the United States, the European Union, the United Nations, the Organization of American States and all of Honduras’ immediate national neighbors.
The Obama administration initially did not legally classify Zelaya’s ouster as a coup, which would automatically trigger a suspension of aid. However the administration subsequently suspended military cooperation with the country. Honduran controversy has been extremely embarrassing for the Obama administration which had come to power on the rhetoric that America should seize supporting tyrants and military dictators.
In Pakistan, Zardari administration was portrayed by the media as too deferential to the United States. Pakistani journalists who unconditionally support their Army started the campaign against KLB and coalesced anti-Western politicians, and Muslim fundamentalists — implausibly claiming that Pakistan’s sovereignty was undermined and the country could end up as a U.S. neo-colony. Some of it is untrue!
To begin with, Pakistan has been an American neo-colony for last six decades and most of that time it was under a military dictorship. And, most importantly Pakistan has been an American satellite state because of it’s army. Pakistan’s military operates on the U.S. financial and technological assistance and it will receive even more support in the near future as it targets Taliban strongholds. Therefore conditions placed by the U.S. Congress on $7.5 billion in economic aid to Pakistan over the next five years should not have been of major consequence to Pakistani generals.
Sen. Kerry brought the carrot while Gen. Patreus had the stick. Gen. Kayani was assured that his military will get monies and equipment that he has asked for but if he pulled a fast one, the Obama administration would at once severe its ties with Pakistan army.
Sen. Kerry’s meeting was held earlier in the day and Gen. Patreaus arrived at the GHQ in the afternoon. General Kayani counseled his peers and advisors and by the end of October 19th and it was decided that Kerry-Lugar Bill will not be publicly condemned. Five Pakistani journalists were contacted the very same night and told not beat the dead horse.
It is undoubtedly true that Pakistani government is too deferential to the Americans. Not that I condone it but this is not new. Bone of contention here was the ‘non-military’ aid. This aid package was historic because it earmarked monies for health, education, infrastructure and civil society. Pakistan army felt left-out. Although Pakistan army has backed out of KLB but democratic government is still hanging on the balance. NRO, food security, energy crisis all loom over Zardari’s head.
Pakistani media is packed with stories of corruption – same TV anchors who had become Hugo Chavez of Pakistan on army’s behest opposing Kerry-Lugar bill have now launched vociferous campaign against Zaradri government exposing corruption of ruling politicians. Not a single anchor has ever asked what happened to corrupt Generals. Why are corrupt army officials beyond criticism?
From trafficking heroin to grabbing precious land; from taking kick-back on purchase of equipment (sub-marines included) Pakistan army has looted everything we have ever had. Why then, I wonder, Pakistanis only discuss civilian corruption? Managing PR fiasco was easy for the Obama administration. They had to remind the source of opposition of an old proverb: you can’t bite the hand that feeds you. Pakistani Generals understood and complied.
Ibrahim Sajid Malick is a Pakistani-American writer, technologist, and social entrepreneur. He has been writing on Pakistani society and politics since 1986. He has held several media, communications, and technology positions for organizations large and small. Mr. Malick graduated from New School for Social Research with a master’s degree in anthropology. He holds several technology and management certifications. He works for a leading technology firm and blogs at www.ibrahimsajidmalick.com
@Pakistani: This is in reply to Pakistani. Please remember this: We lost East Pakistan while the Generals were in power. Both the wars with India (1965 and 1971) were fought when the Generals were holding the reins of the country. The Kalashnikov culture came to Pakistan when one of the most hypocritical generals was ruling over us. So we have every right to be against not the Army as an institution but the few power hungry generals who ruled Pakistan as their personal fiefdom. Yes the army is and must be accountable to the nation as they enjoy their perks from the hard earned money of the common tax-payer. In which country of the world is the army not held to account? All who join the army do so voluntarily-they are not forced to do so, therefore they must be held accountable. For more than half of our existence it is the army which has ruled over us. No politician has been allowed to rule for much more than half their allotted term for which they were elected by the people, who are the ultimate sovereign. On the other hand no military dictator (except for Yahya Khan who had to go bacuse he had lost more that half the country) has gone before at least a decade (Ayub Khan 1958-1969) (Zia 1977-88 remember his swearing to go within 90 days) (Mush 1999-2008). And see the sons of generals who have held political power; they are all billionaires several times over. At whose expense?
Joining the army is no yard-stick of loyalty–some of the greatest traitors have been from the forces. Yes the generals are more educated but only in conducting warfare-politics is a different art altogether. And as you rightly said it is the politicians who have to go back to the people not the generals. So let the ultimate sovereigns decide by whom and how is the country to be run! Pakistan will only then be a better place to live in.
@Abbas: i think i agree to what you said, but remember health care though not of very high quality is the prime attraction for our soldiers. You take that away and you will have problems in maintaining this big army. Either reduce your national security problems or continue to suffer this sized army.
About fringe benefits, i think rather than these plots etc, army should be given higher salaries. these plots are a bane, they drag you into commercialism and turn you away from professionalism
@Subhan:fully agreed. He is just pretending to be an inside man. Nothing else
@Naushad Shafkat: Naushad. One humble request. Differentiate between Generals and Army. You abuse generals, you are abusing person. you abuse army, you do it to an institution. Do not believe on this peace facade. Indians will respect you till the time you have power to reply. Otherwise you are gone to dogs.
@Mohammad Ali Awan: Admiral in this case. No one is supporting corruption of Generals but do not turn a blind eye towards politicians and bureacrats. Every one in top hierarchy is corrupt including Generals and Secretaries, politicians. Its no good to single out one group only
no1 talks abt the economic situation in pak……if not the American money then where r u going 2 raise the money 4rm???…….have u seen the inflation or the other deficits……the foreign reserves is like sh*t……..all the talk above makes sense but only in philosophical way but they dnt solve any problem on grnd…….is there any other alternative???
[...] his blog this past Saturday, Ibrahim Sajid Malick further corroborates my analysis by noting that his own sources have confirmed that supporting a coup in Pakistan will mean the devastation of Pakis…. United States Central Command chief Gen David Petraeus and Chairman Senate Foreign Affairs [...]
@Rasheed: Mr.Rasheed I am telling you yet once again that neither am I a fan of Zardari nor defending him or his policies. All I am saying is that we have had our politicians go through several trials and imprisonments/tortures/persecutions either through Ehtasab Bureau or NAB (Zardari spent 11yrs without a single verdict against him, PM Gillani spent 7 yrs and others like Javed Hashmi spent alot of time) but why dont we bring our corrupt officers from both military/bureaucracy to the courts??
Just answering your issue of NRO, I wonder how could you forget that this dirty NRO ordinance was Mr.Musharraf’s brainchild for extending his career with the help of his close allies Mr.Tariq Aziz (a bureaucrat). Now all we can see is criticim of NRO on PPP but why is the creator himself missing or where is Mr.Tariq Aziz now?? Where is the imported Shaukat Aziz who was at the helm of the affairs when NROs and other dirty agreements were being signed??
@Farhan Shahid
Pakistan Amry is a failed institution that acts like mafia to keep control on the pakistani nation. these people are not able to defend our borders- they are very much occupied stuffing their bank accounts. They failed us in 1965, 1971, Kargill and AGAIN EVERYDAY.
ISI took money from CIA to kidnap other Pakistanis. SHAME ON ISI.
From Generals, Brigediers, to Jawan everyone is morally and materially corrupt. These are not protectors they are our occupiers.
I say Hell with Pakistan Army.
Long live Pakistani people.
Hell with dictators
Long live Politicians
@Mustafa
You are bro! ISI is just an extension of CIA. These handful of ISI paid journalists blame Zardari for being American lackey. But ISI and CIA are two sides of the coin. Look at the News story:
The CIA provides hundreds of millions of dollars to Pakistan’s spy service, including payments for the capture or killing of wanted militants.
The CIA’s financial support accounts for as much as one-third of the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) agency’s budget. The clandestine program that offers bounties to the ISI for the capture or killing of militants has prompted fierce debate within the US government, officials told the paper, as ISI is suspected of retaining ties and providing support for Taliban and other Islamist extremists in Afghanistan.
The payments were first approved by former president George W. Bush and have continued under President Barack Obama, the report said.
Compared to the vast amount of publicly declared military and civilian aid to Pakistan, CIA officials told the paper that their payments were a bargain.
“They gave us 600 to 700 people captured or dead,” one former CIA official who worked with the Pakistanis was quoted as saying. “Getting these guys off the street was a good thing, and it was a big savings to (US) taxpayers.”
Another intelligence official said Pakistan had made “decisive contributions to counter-terrorism.”
The ISI used some of the funds to construct a new headquarters, as Washington had worried that the old officers were vulnerable to attack, the paper wrote.
In an indication of close ties to the Pakistani spy service, the CIA has regularly invited ISI agents to a secret training facility in North Carolina, it said.
Top US officials, including Admiral Mike Mullen, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, openly voiced concern earlier this year about ISI’s suspected ties with the Taliban.
Pakistan switched from top Taliban backer to US ally after the September 11, 2001 attacks.
But the ISI has long faced allegations of insubordination to Pakistan’s government and of channeling support to the Taliban as a counter to arch-enemy India, which has cultivated friendly relations with the Kabul government.
During the Cold War, the ISI worked with the CIA to arm Islamist groups that fought Soviet forces in Afghanistan. The ISI later backed the Taliban, which imposed austere Islamic rule on the war-torn country.
US media have previously reported that American officials had found evidence that ISI operatives provided money, military supplies and even strategic planning to Taliban commanders in Afghanistan.
@Mustafa
Pak fauj kee dada geeri nahi chalay gee nahee chalay gee
These General SOBs are 100% corrupt. Zardari and Nawaz Sharif are angels compared to Pak Arm officials. Pakistani people are 100% backing politicians.
Shame on Army.
No to martial law.
This is best line in this article: “Managing PR fiasco was easy for the Obama administration. They had to remind the source of opposition of an old proverb: you can’t bite the hand that feeds you. Pakistani Generals understood and complied.”
Pak Generals are like those dogs that bark but not bite. We should not be scared of them.
We always see the Journalists giving lectures on morality, ethics and pretending to be advocates of rule of law. These journalists will always highlight the wrongdoings of anyone else in the society, but when it comes to their own community, they unite and act as mafia.
One typical example is the criminal silence across the board by all Pakistani Journalists on Nazir Naji’s use of abusive language against another junior journlaist. Isn’t it shameful for those preists cum journalists who could not gather moral courage to utter a single word to condemn this disgusting behaviour of a disgusting fellow journalist?
Many of these journalists have received favours from other corrupts and criminals of society, acting as partners in their crimes. Not all journalists are corrupt but at least one crime has been committed by all the journalists, and that is the Silence to cover crimes of their fellows.
Mr. Malick is a journalist who can be easily called the Al Capone of Pakistani journalism.
Details of his plot scams and benefits from different Governments are as follows:
1- Advertising Agency and Production House: (Media Magic and Pink Productions)
2- ESP Initiatives (his recreational company that was given 25 acres land in Islamabad)
3- Marketing Head of PTV with Rs 0.5 million per month salary under Musharraf Regime
4- Was allotted a Category 1 plot of 500 square yards in Islamabad
5- Malick Zong
So Mr. Malick you are busted!
U idiot pakistan army is the only reason this nation has been running. everytime a zardari tries to finish off the plate, that is Pakistan, the army comes in with some honour and dignity to drive them to bay. Nobody is talking about the MASSIVE corruption Zardari is doing, and everybody has his finger free to raise at the army’s strategic decisions which are atleast sincere to the defence of this country. I repeat , it is much harder to thank for what you’ve got, complaining to Allah is a piece of cake. Thank Allah for Pakistan and the Army that is keeping India, America and Nato at bay. Otherwise ur women would have been wearing bermudas and dating occupying american soldiers.
@ DW
u fool, u think those military dictators came to liberate u? wot an idiot, whether its corrupt politicians or a corrupt military junta, its always been the US controlling u.From Julies Caesar down to Musharraf theyve always taken advantage of fools like u & left behind devastation as their legacy
nice blog in defence of the king mr. malik. no one here is saying that there is no corruption in other quarters.there is no denying of the fact. but this mr. Z is just despisable. he goes any lengths to suck more $$$$ from any corners thats possible. he s infact like a leech. and remember sir leeches do not compete in derby. so no point in portraying Z as a breeder. he s not.
The KLB Bashers are still here, very much alive. The people of Pakistan are very clear about it. Your article has described only the main principles on which this bill has been drafted, which, apprantly, are pointing towrds the high morals of democracy, controle over extremism, poverty alliviation etc. etc.
But when you go into detail of every condition written down in this bill, it is directly attacking our souvernity. Please read it again and better instead of wasting so many words bashing Pakistan, you should have copied these conditions in your article and leave the decision for the readers themselves.
Take off your yellow spectacles! Please!
All this talk about Zardari corruption do you know how much asset Gen Kayani has grabbed in last 12 months? He has houses in American and ENgland. Beside he owns a commercial building in California. Generals are theives. Worst than politicians. They have no right to subdue and control citizens.
We are still here and We are still Disagaree with stupid Kerry Lougir bill Kind Stuff.
Annual Aid of Kerry Louger Bill is 1,500,000,000 $ Right ? Total Population of Pakistan is 160,000,000 Which is 10 year back now Population would be 220,000,000 Annual aid of Pakistan 9.38 $ Dollar Rate 83.25 , Annual Aid for each person of Pakistan Rs.778.13 Monthly Aid for each Person of Pakistan 64.84 $ Daily aid of Each Person of Pakistan Rs 2.09 $ . Don’t you Think This Stupid Sort of bill which So many Restrictions , Our nation would accept .So It Would be USA biggest Mistake This Bill Can Accept Only PPP or PML (N) not every Pakistani or not majority of Pakistanies.
We are still here and We are still Disagaree with stupid Kerry Lougir bill Kind Stuff.
Annual Aid of Kerry Louger Bill is 1,500,000,000 $ Right ? Total Population of Pakistan is 160,000,000 Which is 10 year back now Population would be 220,000,000 Annual aid of Pakistan 9.38 $ Dollar Rate 83.25 , Annual Aid for each person of Pakistan Rs.778.13 Monthly Aid for each Person of Pakistan 64.84 $ Daily aid of Each Person of Pakistan Rs 2.09 $ . Don’t you Think This Stupid Sort of bill which So many Restrictions , Our nation would accept .So It Would be USA biggest Mistake This Bill Can Accept Only PPP or PML (N) not every Pakistani or not majority of Pakistanies.
Power struggle threatens Pakistan ’s leader
Zardari attempting to fend off maneuvers by military, intelligence
By Robert Windrem
Senior investigative producer
NBC News
updated 7:32 a.m. ET, Mon., Nov . 16, 2009
Pakistan ’s civilian and military leaders are tangling in a series of political confrontations that could lead to a constitutional crisis or worse after the New Year, officials in both Islamabad and Washington tell NBC News.
With the tenor and volume of debate rising over America ’s commitment to Afghanistan , that struggle is complicating U.S. strategy to stabilize the Afghanistan-Pakistan border.
It’s not only that dozens are dying every week in suicide bombings or that there are concerns that the Pakistani military will not be able to hold the territory it has won in hard-fought battles in South Waziristan. The more profound issue, say Pakistani and U.S. officials, is the fate of President Asif Ali Zardari, who is engaged in a seemingly never-ending battles with the country’s powerful military and intelligence establishments.
In recent weeks, say officials, opponents of Zardari have begun raising the stakes, setting up what some are calling a “soft coup … a legislative coup” – an attempt to force Zardari out.
End to amnesty
On Nov. 2, legislators opposed to Zardari, along with the military and intelligence community, thwarted an attempt by his Pakistani People’s Party to hammer through an extension of the National Reconciliation Ordinance.
The innocuously named law, pushed through at the behest of the U.S. in 2007, froze criminal prosecutions against Zardari, his late wife, Benazir Bhutto, and their allies. Without the NRO, Bhutto would not have returned to run for president. Not long after she did return, she was assassinated, and her husband succeeded her as head of the PPP, winning the presidential election last year. Parliament has until Nov. 28 to renew the NRO. But on Nov. 2, other parties in the PPP-led coalition, along with the parliamentary opposition and the military, thwarted Zardari. Analysts in Pakistan and the U.S. say there is no chance the NRO will be renewed by the deadline, and in fact, Prime Minister Yusef Reza Gilani said this week it’s dead.
As a result, say Pakistani officials, several cases involving Zardari cronies — some of them high-ranking officials — are likely to move forward. One Pakistani official familiar with all the parties said that while he can’t see the president stepping down, he expects a constitutional crisis early in the year, as the prosecutors close in first on his aides, then him. “Nothing before (next year), but almost certainly by then,” said the official.
One potential issue is whether Zardari has presidential immunity for any crimes committed before he was elected. He may have it for his time in office, but it’s uncertain that he does for any crimes alleged before he assumed office.
Deep rift in power structure
U.S. officials are said to be alarmed by the development. It cannot have come as a surprise, however.
The top of the Pakistani power structure is riven by deep, personal and professional animosity between military and civilian leaders. As one senior Pakistani official reports, Zardari and Army Chief of Staff Ashfaq Parvez Kayani “hate each other” — and each is trying to ensure that other can’t threaten him, often against U.S. interests.
The stalemate over the NRO extension is just the latest move by the military. What Zardari will do to counter that is uncertain, but he is certainly trying to get help from his allies in the U.S. government.
The prospect of a military takeover — long an option in Pakistan — is overblown, say officials in both the government and the military. Kayani is indeed ambitious but he understands the consequences of a military takeover, particularly with regard to continued U.S. military aid, said one official.
“This government does not believe we are trying to be supportive,” said an officer in the Pakistani intelligence community. “There are no political ambitions in the army. The past relationship between the army and government … the previous experiences have been very bad … This government still does not believe that a transformation has occurred.”
“We want them to do their jobs, we want to do ours,” he concluded.
But does Kayani want to be a kingmaker? Under one scenario, he eschews a coup but instead maneuvers to have a “government of national unity,” populated with technocrats, replace Zardari.
Both fear Sharif
On the other side, Pakistani officials say Zardari understands the very real and dire consequences of firing Kayani. So there is a stalemate and no clear leadership. Both sides fear Zardari’s chief political rival, the charismatic but more religious Nawaz Sharif, and would band together to thwart any power play he might attempt. At least, that’s long been Zardari’s plan. (Sharif is banned from serving as head of government under a constitutional amendment pushed through by former President Pervez Musharraf. Zardari promised to remove the ban but hasn’t followed through.)
But the NRO stalemate, say officials in Pakistan and the United States , is just the latest in a string of crises. Only last month, there was the controversy over whether the U.S. had put onerous burdens on Pakistan in return for a $7.5 billion aid package.
With Congress unhappy about reports that previous counterterrorism aid had been diverted to conventional forces and fearing that some of the money might be funneled to Pakistan’s nuclear weapons development, the bill laid out restrictions and requirements on how the money was to be spent.
The military began a public relations campaign assailing the restrictions. The officer in the Pakistani intelligence community told NBC that clauses in the bill were believed to be “instrusive,” “derogatory” and a “legislative indictment – assumptions we’re not doing all we can against militants.”
So the military leaked the details of the U.S. objections. In a particularly telling choice of words, the intelligence officer said the leaks occurred because Kayani is, “in some ways, leading a political party. His public has to know why he does what he does.”
Not meant ‘to cause trouble’
The officer said it was not done “to cause trouble for government. It was to show rank and file (in the Pakistani military) that that army is taking a stand for what’s best for country, and to make clear these clauses we felt were detrimental to the long-term security of the country.”
Specifically, the officer as well as others in the Pakistani government friendly to the army said none of the three drafts of the U.S.-Pakistani agreement “were ever discussed with anyone in the Army or ISI” ( Pakistan ’s Inter-Service Intelligence directorate).
Zardari’s people deny that. One official said Kayani was briefed “in full and in person” on the details of the bill and is playing the “babe in the woods” claiming to be blindsided for reasons that are unclear. He said that under Musharraf, who is also a former army chief, the previous aid bills had similar language and “no one cared.” This time, it’s a bigger deal because of the rift and lack of trust between the two leaders.
If that was the case, however, why didn’t Zardari leak the communications showing the military was briefed? asked one military official. Indeed, the military feels confident it will emerge as the survivor in all this, with Zardari’s popularity now measured in the teens in almost every Pakistani public opinion poll.
How does this all play out in terms of relations with the U.S. ? Often, the Americans are caught in the middle.
Amid the dispute over the Kerry-Lugar bill on the aid package and who got briefed and when, the U.S. and Pakistani governments had to issue a “joint explanatory statement” that was attached to the legislation. In essence, it tried to assuage the military’s fears while renewing the U.S. commitment to “help strengthen the institutions of democratic governance.”
Seen as a victory for the military, the four-page statement was interspersed with underlined sentences that emphasized a hands-off approach regarding Pakistani national security. The key one: “The legislation does not seek in any way to compromise Pakistan ’s sovereignty, impinge on Pakistan ’s security interests or micromanage any aspect of Pakistani military or civilian operations.”
While the bill has passed the U.S. Congress, it now must be accepted by Pakistan ’s parliament — and that is not a done deal, in spite of Pakistan ’s dire economic straits. The reason: an increasingly virulent anti-Americanism that now reaches every level of Pakistani society, including the military.
“Americans may think General Kayani is pro-American,” said one senior Pakistani official. “He is not.”
The anti-Americanism is manifested particularly in Pakistani fears of abandonment. Pakistanis have seen this before: The U.S. denied all aid to Pakistan in 1992 after U.S. intelligence determined the Pakistani military had assembled nuclear weapons during a crisis the year before, violating the Pressler Amendment on aid to Pakistan . The experience left Pakistani leaders bitter – and, according to U.S. officials, paranoid.
Two recent stories being passed around Islamabad are indicative of the sentiment. Both are associated with Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s visit with Kayani on Oct. 29, one of several she was required to have, given Pakistan ’s deeply divided government.
In one story, Kayani presented Clinton with “evidence” of a conspiracy involving the CIA, Israel ’s Mossad and India ’s intelligence agency, RAW. According to the story, the three agencies had been responsible for some of the terrorist attacks that have killed hundreds in Pakistani cities.
In the other, Kayani supposedly told Clinton that Pakistan was aware the U.S. has been talking to the Taliban through the good offices of Saudi King Abdullah and didn’t appreciate it. Indeed, Kayani did dispatch his ISI chief, Lt. Gen. Shuja Pasha, to Riyadh to meet the king.
The U.S. denies both stories.
There is also something else at work here. At their core, Pakistanis are angry, not just about the upheaval and violence that threatens civil society, or the inability of their government and their army to deal with it. They are angry because their rival, India , is now seen by the U.S. public as a land of opportunity, where even a “slumdog” can make his fortune, while their homeland is viewed as a basket case of political intrigue and intractable Islamic militancy.
Bottom line: The next few months are likely to produce even more grist for that belief, as winter closes in on the mountainous border regions of South Waziristan , bogging down the Pakistani military, amid increasing terrorist attacks and collapsing leadership.
“Until and unless Pakistan views security and stability as internal and not related to India or the United States , chaos and confusion will threaten it,” said a western security official. “Right now, the prognosis is not very good.”
Robert Windrem is an NBC News producer and research fellow at the NYU Center for Law and Security. Contributing to this report were NBC News’ Richard Engel from Kabul , Carol Grisanti from Islamabad and Amna Nawaz from Rawalpindi , Pakistan .
URL: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/33893960/ns/world_news-south_and_central_asia/
Pakistan’s Supreme Court today disposed off two cases involving President Asif Ali Zardari after being informed that they related to matters which had already been settled.
One case pertained to the freezing of Zardari’s assets by an anti-corruption bench of the Lahore High Court in 1997.
The other was related to an appeal filed by the Sindh government challenging the transfer of a criminal case from an anti-terrorist court to a sessions court.
Abu Bakkar Zardari and Mehar Malik, the counsel for the President, told the three-judge bench that the case related to the freezing of Zardari’s assets had been decided under the National Reconciliation Ordinance, which granted Zardari immunity in graft cases.
Shahadat Awan, the Prosecutor General of Sindh province, told the bench that Zardari had been acquitted in the other case, which related to the murder of former secretary Alam Baloch.
Who ever wrote this article i just want to point out onething that its not Gen. Ashraf kyani, actually its Gen. Ashfaq kyani. so try to get enough knowledge before writing any article, or specially when you writing against pakistani or about pakistani nation, finally the writer is a lier.
well, I have mixed feelings about the article. I mean; I am sure there is far more than what meets the eye …..
I agree with the analysis. Absolutely on the mark. These Army dogs went quite after the master paid them a visit. These dogs only bark when it comes to powerful. They have the power to only beat Pakistanis. We are held hostage to them. Unless we bring these idiots under our control we will not go anywhere.
Hell No to Dick-Ta-TorShip
You will never have the military under civilian control unless you have capable civilian leadership. We can curse the army all we want. But at the end of the day the fault lies in corrupt traitors that make their way to the top. and the military knows how to play with them.
@Zain: you don’t know what you are talking about. look at our history, our army is coward that surrenders to India and rolls over to America but kills other Pakistanis. Shame of them. They have no legitimacy. They are the biggest traitors.
Gen Kayani is a pashtun killer.
@ Rizvi
I am not saying you are wrong and I am not disagreeing with the analysis in this article.
But what I am saying is:
You will never have the military under civilian control unless you have capable civilian leadership. The fault lies in corrupt traitors that make their way to the top. We have frauds and criminals at the top. And in the last 20 years I have seen the same faces leading the parties and running for president and prime minister.
majority of the parties don’t even have a democratic system within the parties.
everyone talks about democracy. but we need the political leaders to practice what they preach.
And while the army might be Pashtun killers, the civilian leaders inpower are backing the army. Ironic!
The truth is that they are all killers, the military and the civilian leaders.
@Zain: I can agree with that. But how do we clean up our house? Military creates reason and crafts situations to overthrow Nawaz’s and Zardari’s and then loot some more. It is a viscious cycle. what do we do?
[...] Originally Posted by Jana hey Icey post the link. Where Are All The KLB Bashers? | Ibrahim Sajid Malick [...]
@kashif:
Interesting angle, where does it originate from?
Malik Sahib.
Pak army is the biggest enemy of Pakistan. they had created monsters and now helpless. they had done nothing in the last 60 years, they are real estate agents and bunch of corrupt bustards
Imran, if you were infront of me I would have shot you dead
@Dw
You can argue that politicians couldn’t govern Pakistan effectively, but their performance was better than that of military dictators (who ruled for thirty-two years). For instance, Pakistan fought all the major wars with India (1965, 1971, 1999) under military rulers.
The people of Pakistan in recent months, however, have amply shown that they stand for rule of law and democracy. Huge public participation in pro-judiciary rallies is enough evidence of that. So the question is why U.S. foreign policy only revolves around one Army in Pakistan?
@Shairyar
Why do you make such threats? You can’t intimidate people like that. Pakistanis now understand that Army and ISI can be challenged as well. These institutions will be awnserable to people of Pakistan very soon. Inshah Allah!
@Shairyar
Our history shows that no one is ever answerable in Pakistan ultimately. The army as well as corrupt politicians will always get away because they have the money and power to do so.
Yes, we can be optimistic and hope that things will change. but the fact of the matter is that we have a largely ignorant population who are easily misled. U and a few of us here can debate about a lot, but it’s the massive vote count from the uneducated and unaware masses that brings the corrupt civilian leaders back. And the army doesn’t need to be voted back. they will take over whenever they see it fit.
@Majid Khan
Our history shows that no one is ever answerable in Pakistan ultimately. The army as well as corrupt politicians will always get away because they have the money and power to do so.
Yes, we can be optimistic and hope that things will change. but the fact of the matter is that we have a largely ignorant population who are easily misled. U and a few of us here can debate about a lot, but it’s the massive vote count from the uneducated and unaware masses that brings the corrupt civilian leaders back. And the army doesn’t need to be voted back. they will take over whenever they see it fit.
@Shairyar
Sorry! I meant to address u now, and not in the previous post
I admire your emotion when it comes to the military. yes, they are to be admired, and not demonized as much as they are. yes, they do make errors, but they are what we depend on for our security. there have been things wrong with this institution, but they are a robust institution. if they sell out like the current government, all hope is lost.
u see, the military has been very crafty; they may want to make money and throw their weight around. so far, they have not sold the country.
As much as people try to blame the losses in times of war on them, it has been the civilian leadership that lacked credibility.
And someone mentioned Kargil back there. Kargil war took place when Nawaz Sahrif was in power.
@ Majid Khan
Kargil war took place when Nawaz Sahrif was in power!
@Zain
People maybe educated but they are human beings. they will revolt against these corrupt generals soon, Insha Allah.
meant to say “uneducated” in previous post.
@Pakistani: Beg to differ with you on this. The Army is NOT a business, but it’s funded by the government (the defense budget) through the money we pay as taxes and the revenue we people generate. Thus, it IS answerable.
@ Majid Khan
well, we hope that there will be a revolution against all the domineering forces in this country [military and civilian]
but to say that the people Will Revolt is fair hopefulness. When this will happen? we honestly don’t know. And it is fairly unlikely wit he the massive public support for parties that are themselves undemocratic. Majority of them have life time leaders who want to be president or prime minister. they don’t hold party elections, which is considered to be the grassroots of party democracy. How can they be democratic???? they just continue to fool the ignorant.
@ Proud Pakistani
the army is answerable or it least it has show that it is. but no corrupt civilian leader can dare stand in front of them. If the civilian leadership weren’t so corrupt, the army wouldn’t need to play big bully brother all the time.
Have u read Military Inc. …it’s about the military as a robust institution, which it undeniably is. Thankfully or not is quite debatable
Pakistan army is the savior of people. Zardari is creep who stoleing everything. he has build empire from our money. nawaz sharif is 100% corrupt too. ANP is corrupt and MQM is mafia.
Only leaving Army as the best option. I hope army takes over right away.. today is better than tomorrow.
Allah Hafiz
@Zain
You keep saying the same thing. Army is lesser evil. OK- i find that peoples victory step 1. Because till recently not too many people even say that. Now lets take it a step further.
The real reason why democracy failed in Pakistan is the ideology Pakistan is wedded to. Sadly, this is true of any Islamic country. Pakistan is not unique in this respect. A quick glance at all the Islamic nations around the world will prove the point.
Pakistani progressive should unite and figure out if Army can be progressive and anti-Mullah we should support army. Islam and Army are a bad combo.
Some…only ‘SOME’…balanced and thought provoking comments..Rest all ‘Humbug’….PAKISTAN…its people…its Politicians…its beuraucracy..its Armed Forces…its artists..its business people…its media n so many others….are here to stay..come what may, let no one doubt that. We are a persevering people and will overcome our present irritants.America or no America, really does’nt make much of a difference in the long run.
@PIFFER
Well said and I agree. But people of Pakistan should have greatest say… power ultimately belongs to the people. and army, politicians, police, artists, journalists and enterprenuers are all people. when we recognize that we are much stronger.
@ Majid Khan
I don’t recall saying that the army is the “lesser of the two evils”. However, what I am unequivocally saying is that if we had proper civilian leadership that were truly democratic from the grass roots we would certainly have less military intervention.
To do this:
Step 1. All parties that claim to be democratic should hold party elections. This is norm in a democratic society.
Step. 2. Whichever party that comes to power needs to carry on the policies of the predecessor. For example, if there is a good public education policy in place with one government, the successor government should come in and carry on with it. At the most, they could reform or refine it.
well, I have to agree you on Islam and the army being a bad combo. However, we don’t want an immoral westernized country either. While we have seen an increase in militancy in the last decade or so, we have also seen an increased amount of westernization. The latter needs to be checked, and the religious segment of the society should not have direct influence in politics. It simply does not make sense.
I don’t want to condemn Muslim countries and how they conduct themselves in governance. I don’t feel comfortable generalizing how Muslim countries are governed because there is quite a variety. Let’s just stick to Pakistan and discuss a more democratic setup.
@Zain
I agree with 1 and 2 but don’t think army has ant role even as we politically mature.Show me what percent of Islamic countries are democratic.