Pressurizing Pakistan

The POST, Tue, Feb,14, 2006.

Pervaiz Iqbal Cheema


Despite being fully cognizant that air strikes inside Pakistani territory amounts to violating an independent country’s sovereignty, the American media continues to justify their illegal actions without realizing the dangerous consequences of such actions. The two articles entitled ‘The War in Pakistan’ (Washington Post) and ‘Straight Talk Needed on Pakistan’ (The New York Times) clearly reflects Americans efforts to justify the undesired intrusion into Pakistani territory. Not only such actions invoke strong domestic reaction in the target country but they also establish dangerous precedents. There can be nothing worse than a bad precedent.

The above mentioned leading American newspapers argued that the recent strikes on Bajour were aimed at top leadership of Al Queda and therefore it was a justifiable action. The American appears to be convinced that the Al Queda leaders are hiding the tribal areas and to stamp them out they have deployed several Predator drones along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border. The strike hit the innocent women and children. If judged by the objective yardstick, it would be viewed as a terrorist act. Even if one applies CIA’s definition of terrorism that ‘a premeditated politically motivated violence perpetrated against non-combatant targets’, the Bajour attack could be viewed as the one that fit the broad cantors of the definition. The attack was ostensibly aimed at leaders of politically disapproved group which killed the innocent civilians. Killing of innocent civilians is considered an act of terrorism by everybody. This is the only aspect of the definition which has a complete consensus.   

Another interpretation of justification that has been projected revolves around the concept of collateral damage. This means destruction or injury beyond that was intended or expected. How can one accept the argument that the attackers did not take into account that such a thing can happen. An attack on any village is bound to cause casualties. Admittedly the precision guided weapons invariably are able to strike the intended target with accuracy but the danger of inadvertent collateral damage still haunts many.

The questions that invoke inquisitive streaks of many Pakistanis revolve the unnecessary and undesired pressurization of Pakistan through media. Are the media article genuine reflections of the American concerns? Are these parts of what is called inspired leaks? Are they meant to generate pressure on Pakistan? Are they meant to justify the illegal acts that the Americans have committed against an ally?

For most Pakistanis, this type of pressurization is not new. For years many western papers applied pressures in order to dissuade Pakistan from acquiring nuclear weapon capability. Despite being fully aware that the real proliferator in South Asia was India but more pressures were applied against Pakistan. All sorts of irrational arguments, essentially no different that what we are witnessing after the Bajour attack, were advanced. Once Pakistan acquired the nuclear weapons, then the focus shifted to the issue whether or not these weapons are safe in Pakistani hand. Could these weapons fall into wrong hands?

Once this phase was over, the A.Q.Khan affair was projected despite the fact that the American are fully aware of the strong measures the Pakistani government has taken to avoid its repetition. Pakistan has even passed laws in order to prevent future similar eventuality. Not many countries have legislation passed to prevent such happenings. Today senior American officials argue that they cannot have similar kind of nuclear relationship which they have with India primarily because of AQ Khan Affair. For India the Americans have demonstrated that they are willing compromise their own stance in order to strengthen their strategic partnership despite the fact the leading American scholars have been reminding the administration that Indo-American nuclear deal is going to weaken the NPT regime. Besides it needs to be reasserted here that South Asia became nuclearized because Indian policy pursuits.

Somewhat similar types of pressures appear to be applied against Pakistan these days with regard to war against terrorism. Instead of acknowledging a mistake being committed, the American officials seem to be ignoring the gravity of the action and the American media is not only justifying the illegal act but are also publishing stories that could generate pressures on Pakistan and simultaneously take undesired toll of Pakistan’s image.

Despite Pakistani President’s repeated assertions that Pakistan has made major contributions in war against terrorism, the notion that Pakistan should do more keep appearing in one form or the other. Undoubtedly Pakistan’s contributions are well recognized and appreciated by many but it seems that there still exist skeptics. The current focus of media onslaught seems to be on lack of successes in operation against the terrorist in the tribal areas. While no body knows where the leaders of Al Queda are, the American media appeared to have successfully gazed through their crystal ball and have put out the notion that they were hiding in Pakistani tribal areas. The fact of the matter is that nobody knows their whereabouts. But the stories published in American newspaper indicate their possible hideout without any convincing evidence.

It was appropriate for Pakistani authorities to covey Pakistanis resentment against the recent illegal and unauthorized violation of Pakistan’s border. However it needs to be pointed out that Americans still have not improved their approach. It has been reported in Pakistani newspaper that an American helicopter violated the Pakistani air space even after having realized anger invoked by the previous air strike. Prior to the helicopters intrusion, shells were also fired from the Afghan side of the border.

Another development that needs to be mentioned here is the recent travel advisory that has been issued by the Americans. The US State department advised its citizens to defer nonessential travel to Pakistan. The State Department said Al Queda and Taliban elements continue to operate inside Pakistan particularly along the porous border with Afghanistan. It does seem to be either influenced by media stories or it is part of late awakening. If they have to issue this type of warning, it should have been much earlier. Could it be to lend credence to uninvestigated recent newspaper stories or reflective of genuine belief about the existence of a difficult situation?

Another   question that is being asked by many revolves around Pakistan’s stance on Iran. Pakistan has categorically stated that it would like see that Iran crisis is resolved through negotiations. Simultaneously Pakistan recognizes the right of all countries to develop peaceful nuclear energy. The Americans have been openly pressurizing both India and Pakistan in order to prevent the Iran-Pakistan-India (IPI) pipeline. While the pressures on Pakistan continues to increase especially through American media, the question whether or not IPI pipeline materializes continue to invoke doubts especially if viewed within the context of the latest IAEA resolution which recommends reference to the United Nations Security Council.

By and large no one can justify the killing of so many innocent civilians either by design or by accident. Not only extra care needs to be taken whenever such operations are being contemplated and if the target area is part of another country, it is imperative that the authorities of target area are taken into confidence. Initiative without taking the partner into confidence is nothing more than reflective of highhanded attitude and arrogance. Even more amusing aspect of the whole tragic episode is the justifications offered subsequently which are not only loaded with insinuations but appeared to be aimed at pressurizing Pakistan.

The writer works for Islamabad Policy research Institute.