The knives are out for Pakistan

Pakistan's status as an ally of the West is under threat. The signs suggest the country has out-served its usefulness to the US and its interests. There have been rumblings against Pakistan for some time from various American officials criticising its anti-terrorism efforts. But lately, in the wake of the attacks on Mumbai, India, the US President and other heads of state have joined an orchestrated complaint chorus.

Last Tuesday, George W. Bush warned Pakistan that the US "will do what is necessary to protect American troops and the American people", while reaffirming his policy of pre-emptive strikes. While the US supports Pakistan's efforts in the troublesome semi-autonomous tribal areas, Washington would take action itself, if necessary, was his message. In fact, it already has by launching missile attacks on Pakistan's North-West Frontier Province killing many civilians in the process.

So, who cares about the swan song of a lame duck, shoe-ducking president with one of the lowest approval-ratings ever you might think? The problem is, when it comes to Pakistan, Bush's successor, president-elect Barack Obama, appears to be of like mind. During his days on the stump, Obama said he would be prepared to use military force against elements of Al Qaida inside Pakistan with or without the Pakistani government's consent.

At the same time, according to a published leak in the Pakistani press, the US has sent a memo to the government of Pakistan alleging that former ISI Chief Lt. Gen. Hamid Gul has been supporting terrorist groups, advising the Taliban and helping to recruit anti-US insurgents. Gul has responded by calling the accusations "fictitious", saying, "I was quite a darling of theirs at one time. I don't know what this is about. It looks like they have a habit of betraying their friends".

In concert with the Bush administration's mood, Britain's Prime Minister Gordon Brown, who has just completed a two-day visit to Afghanistan, India and Pakistan, is also wagging his finger at Islamabad.

During this highly sensitive time when Indian-Pakistan relations are tense over the Mumbai tragedy as well as accusations by Pakistan that Indian fighter planes had violated its airspace, Brown sees fit to inject himself into the fray.

Demanding action, not words, the British prime minister has promised the Pakistani premier Asif Ali Zardari anti-terrorism technology as well as $9 million to combat youth radicalisation and further democracy. So far so good, but why did he then throw hot pepper in to the pot by announcing that three-quarters of the most serious terrorism plots investigated by the British authorities have Pakistani links? Why did he select this already highly-charged environment to come up with that incriminating statistic?

The fact is Washington and its friends are veering away from Pakistan, which was warned to cooperate post-September 11 else be bombed back to the Stone Age, towards their new best friend and emerging economic power India. It seems to me they are looking for an excuse to dump Islamabad or worse. If the past is any indicator of the future, just cast your mind back to the orchestrated blame game prior to the invasions of Afghanistan and Iraq played by the Bush administration along with Britain's Tony Blair government.

Special relationship

Similarly, the two countries with a so-called special relationship have in the past coordinated anti-Syrian and anti-Iranian statements. However, whatever secret plans they might have had for those regimes were thwarted for a variety of reasons. The question is when it comes to Pakistan what do they have up their sleeves?

Whatever it is, it's dangerous for the region and the world. Pakistan is not only a nuclear power, but throughout the country anti-Western sentiment is rife. If the US uses hard power it will open a can of worms, add grist to the extremists' mill and greatly undermine the Zardari government.

Indian-Americans have been protesting outside the New York headquarters of the UN demanding Pakistan be declared "a terrorist state". This would serve no purpose except to increase hatred.

I have the utmost sympathy to the pain and anger felt by the Indian people during this time as well as their need to lash out at the perpetrators of the Mumbai atrocities. For me, it was personal too as I consider Mumbai as a second home and over the years have spent many months as a guest of both the Taj Mahal and Oberoi hotels. I know that some consider the attacks as India's 9-11 but if that's the case, every effort should be made not to respond in the way the US did following theirs.

Cool heads and wise minds are needed on both sides. Just about everyone agrees that Mumbai was the victim of non-state actors and it is known that Pakistan's pro-Western president is keen on resolving the Kashmir dispute, while the life of his own wife was robbed by terrorists.

Pakistan needs help, not threats or blame. And instead of allowing foreign powers to up the ante to suit their divide and control strategies, the two nuclear neighbours should come together in common cause. With talk of war polluting the air, the alternative is too devastating to contemplate.

Linda S. Heard is a specialist writer on Middle East affairs. She can be contacted at lheard@gulfnews.com Some of the comments may be considered for publication.

I appreciate Linda Heard's comment on the Indo-Pak issue, especially the last two paragraphs where she mentioned the best solutions to the problem. I think that Western forces love to fish in troubled water. I do not see any good faith in the recent approaches from both the US and the UK towards this issue. It is upon the very governments of both India and Pakistan to see that all problems, including the one in Kashmir, must be settled amicably. It must definitely be in the interests of the people of both these countries, especially the innocent souls living on the borders. As for the terrorist outfits, do I need to say that terrorism knows no religion, God or humanity? They are only killing innocent people all around the world! We, humans, must put an end to these terrorists. So, it is my earnest request to Manmohan Singh, Asif Ali Zardari and Yousuf Raza Gilani that they must act now and foster peace, love and stability for India and Pakistan. As for me, I do not see or believe in the Line of Control. For me, both Indians and Pakistanis are my brethren. Mere manmade boundaries will not separate brothers.
George C. Jolly
Dubai,UAE
Posted: December 16, 2008, 13:08

As an expatriate working in Dubai, I have friends from both India and Pakistan. I sympathise with the Indian people for this tragic event. I feel the pain and anger of those who lost their loved ones, livelihood and their means of earning a living. I am hoping for justice to prevail and honour those who died. I think Bush should mind his people's problems back in the US, or at least help another country in need instead of making the India-Pakistan situation worse. It is true that Pakistan needs help and not threats or blame. Let us pray that US President-elect Barack Obama will not do the same mistakes that Bush has made and not follow his footsteps to make a plot and look for excuses to dump Islamabad. I also hope Obama would have considerations for the lives of the innocent Pakistani people who did nothing but to struggle for their lives.
Aira Alejandrino
Butuan,Philippines
Posted: December 16, 2008, 12:38

I think you should investigate this issue in detail and go through the history of Pakistan and India to know each country and its culture. India being a soft country and having the history of giving back should be a role model for other countries. I think any other country would have declared war with Pakistan by now .
Rakesh
Chennai,India
Posted: December 16, 2008, 11:23

I do not agree with Linda Heard's comment. Mumbai is not the first and I believe is also not the last. India cannot continue like it has in the past. Pakistan needs to find a way to control their extremist militants. Otherwise I think neccessary action needs to be taken to end terrorism.
Girish
Abu Dhabi,UAE
Posted: December 16, 2008, 11:13

I think the comment is very true. In my opinion, the US would never want good relations between India and Pakistan.
Ehsan
Abu Dhabi,UAE
Posted: December 16, 2008, 08:37

I think Linda Heard is the only person who believes that the attacks were done by non-state actors. A state of self denial that does not want to deal with the situation. Pakistan has allowed itself to be manipulated by Western powers, for narrow and worthless gains. If peace was such a priority, then military policies would have been put differently a long time ago. What has happened is that Pakistan has been morally hijacked by the military, who are now unwilling to relenquish power, and thus feeding themselves at the cost of the nation.
Hari
Dubai,UAE
Posted: December 16, 2008, 08:18