Pakistan is being subjected to bullying, coercion and intimidation. Its sovereignty is endangered through a well orchestrated plan by its own benefactor and strategic partner, the Unites States of America. It is being governed (rather misgoverned) by the most corrupt and incompetent government in power that was brought to foray by NRO (National Reconciliation Order) drafted and crafted in total sync with the US and British establishment. It is a puppet and a pliable regime that would do America’s bidding without fear or shame. So what is the future of people of Pakistan? Who shall they turn to since 99% of Pakistani politicians are corrupt to the core? What are the effects of Pakistan’s destabilization in the entire region of not only South Asia but the rest of the world? This Issue 20 of Journal from the London Institute of South Asia (LISA) is thus dedicated to the Pakistan. The unthinkable is happening. The United States is confronting the Pakistani military leadership of General Parvez Kayani. An extremely dangerous course to destabilise Pakistan is commencing. Can the outcome be any different than in Iran in 1979? But then, the Americans are naive; they never learn from their mistakes. Americans in their arrogance have never bothered about human life as long as it is not American or Israeli. Lives of hapless Iraqis, Afghanis, Pakistanis, Libyans, Lebanese, Palestinians, Africans or Arabs are bunch of Muslim extremists who must be exterminated and the War on Terror must continue to keep the US overwhelmingly strong and forever powerful. 

Ambassador M K Bhadrakumar a career diplomat in the Indian Foreign Service had distinguished career assignments in many countries including Pakistan. He believes that the United Sates is instigating mutiny in the Pakistani army. He writes;-“Quite obviously, the birds are coming to roost. Pakistani military is paying the price for the big access it provided to the US to interact with its officer corps within the framework of their so-called “strategic partnership”. The Americans are now literally holding the Pakistani army by its jugular veins. This should serve as a big warning for all militaries of developing countries like India (which is also developing intensive “mil-to-mil” ties with the US). In our country at least, it is even terribly unfashionable to speak anymore of CIA activities. The NYT story flags in no uncertain terms that although Cold War is over, history has not ended.” His article ‘Instigating mutiny in the Pakistani Army’ is published in this issue and makes interesting analysis and pertinent observations.  

Bruce Riedel, the former CIA officer who led the policy review for President Obama on Pakistan and Afghanistan in 2009, wrote in the “New York Times” last Friday, “America needs a new policy dealing with Pakistan.  First, we must recognize that the two countries strategic interest are in conflict, not harmony, and will remain that way as long as Pakistan’s Army controls Pakistan’s strategic policies.  We must contain the Pakistan Army’s ambitions until real civilian rule returns and Pakistanis set a new direction in their foreign policy”.  The article’s lead line gave out the “Final Solution” about a new Pakistan Policy, “Containment”.  Ikram Sehgal a senior journalist says, “Bruce having systematically reduced the country over the last decade into the horrible state we are in today, come “clean” and spell out the real aim, the “Balkanization of Pakistan”! The US and Pakistan have major differences in policy objectives that make it impossible to ever have a strategic alliance. US does not need such alliance since they have subservient rulers in Pakistan. Not only that they are the most atrocious leadership that excels in nepotism and corruption of the worst kind. 

The overwhelming public perception is that the US aim is to denuclearize Pakistan or at least have a say over the “command control” set-up and having failed to achieve its objectives in Afghanistan, the US is publicly attacking ISI for its contacts with Haqqani, and are accusing them of complicity in attacks on US troops.  The majority in Pakistan see the Army and the ISI as Pakistan’s front line of defence and do not approve of the US thus tarring and feathering them. Mr Sehgal says that propping up corrupt leaders in Pakistan allows the US to pursue its core national interest even if it is detrimental Pakistan’s, e.g. impose Indian hegemony on us and finally the US sees the Pakistan Army and the ISI as roadblocks in pursuing their own core national interests.   Bob Woodward’s book quoted US Vice President Biden articulating US policy in the region as aiming to (1) eliminate Al-Qaeda and (2) securing Pakistan’s nuclear arsenal.   Never contradicted by Biden, or for that matter any senior US official, US policy objectives remain the same while moving from engagement to containment. 

US policy has horrendous ramifications. An unstable Pakistan, combined with the forces of insurgencies in India by the Naxalites, the rise of Dalits, the aspirations of Sikhs for a separate homeland (Khalistan) and the struggle of Kashmiris will be a total disaster for South Asia, and even the world beyond.   Every country’s core national interests differ from each other. Strategic alliances can only happen when these interest are common or coincide.  The core national interests of the US and Pakistan are different, what we actually have today is tactical alliance of convenience in as far as fighting and eliminating terrorists is concerned.  There can never be a strategic alliance between unequal partners with differing national security imperatives; nevertheless it is vitally important for the US-Pakistan relationship to continue. 

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