The controversy over Kerry-Lugar Bill boils down to Pakistan’s foreign
policy and solution of economic challenges. Pakistan needs to replace
failed American consumption based capitalist economic model with
traditional saving based model to end permanent dependence on foreign
aid and huge debts. Japan’s PM blamed US-led capitalism for his
country’s economic failures. Majority of Latin American leaders blamed
American capitalism for global poverty in their UN General Assembly
address this September. It is opined that at this point of time
Islamabad should review its $24 billion budget for current financial
year to raise $1.5 billion to get rid of anti-sovereignty Kerry-Lugar
Bill.
Revamp country’s banks on-lines of traditional banking system to improve
domestic savings to sustain growth, reduce inflation and end foreign
meddling in national affairs. The refusal to adopt proposed G-20 banking
regulations clearly shows America’s commitment to protect its exports.
Weak dollar serves American interests but Pakistan needs to re-peg its
currency to gold to control inflation and sustain economy. Reportedly,
oil-trading nations are already deliberating replacement of dollar with
currency basket. Australia’s decision on Wednesday to increase interest
rate despite low US interest rates shows that advanced states will adopt
independent monetary policies to save local economies. Islamabad should
reject IMF/WB policies because they protect exporting interests of
developed world by promoting availability of cheap western goods, which
in turn increase de-industrialization and unemployment. An economically
viable Pakistan with independent nuclear policy, strong armed forces and
effective intelligence setups is not acceptable to pro-Israel west and
India. Islamabad therefore needs to adopt a foreign policy that protects
all its interests in the region including stopping west and India from
meddling in Baluchistan to undermine Pakistan’s security and trade
interests within the region including CARS and other SCO members.
Pakistan has to protect its interests because US-led NATO military
presence in the region is targeted against China in emerging multi-polar
world order and shifting of world economy to Asia.
Equally important reason for changing Pak-US foreign policy is Obama’s
Tuesday statement promising to continue pressing the battle to cripple
the (terrorist) network around the world (The New York Times 7 Oct. 09).
It clearly shows Washington’s total disregard for Pakistan’s sovereignty
despite PPP government’s complete support for America’s so-called war
against terrorism. It is opined that Pakistan’s energy crisis is due to
lack of availability of funds that are being used to support military
action. The energy crisis has resulted in en-mass closure of industry
leaving millions jobless. West instead of financing Islamabad’s war
efforts is attaching humiliating strings to aid.
Since Obama is itching to bomb Pakistan, it is therefore time to show
America the door, starting with country’s infamous ambassador and
denying land request for embassy expansion. Obama’s statement has come
despite warning of Pakistan Army Chief that no attack will be tolerated
on Quetta. Gen. In addition, Pakistan should withdraw its logistic
support for US-led Afghan NATO mission; return 2.5 million Afghan
refugees to their homeland and on line of Iran use fences and mines to
barricade its borders to deny Washington and its western allies the use
of anti-occupation Afghan resistance as a pretext to carry out
pre-planned attack on Pakistan.
It should be clear to the PPP government that the elimination of
corruption, good governance and strong judiciary and media will
guarantee continuation of democracy in Pakistan not anti-martial law
clauses of Kerry-Lugar Bill. The timing of suicide attack in high
profile UN (food aid) office shows three things: Influence NATO members
to use the attacks to force public to support sending more troops for
illegal Afghan occupation. Portray Pakistan as “sanctuary of terrorism”
to continue occupying Afghanistan to protect its geo-strategic and
geo-economic stakes in the region. Obama’s speech to UN General Assembly
shows total disregard for international law. Obama refused to extend
apology for millions of deaths in Iraq and Afghanistan. US led invasions
have reportedly left three and half million women widows in Iraq alone.
The independent observers are of the opinion that withdrawal of US led
NATO occupation forces from Afghanistan and use of civil courts and
police is the only permanent solution to restore peace in the region. It
will help end the drug trade which is being used by recession-hit west
to finance Afghan occupation. It is going to allow both Pakistan and
Afghanistan to revive trade and commerce in the region and break free
from the dependence on foreign assistance. Therefore, Islamabad like
most of NATO allies has to distance itself from Afghan occupation to
protect national interests including local security.
It is opined that continuation of drone attacks on Pakistan in the name
of so-called war against terrorism and foul mouthing country’s nuclear
program is part of West’s pro-Israel ME policy. It is believed that
America is violating sovereignty of Pakistan to scare Muslims world over
including ME who look up to nuclear Muslim Pakistan as their savior in
the ME. It explains west’s outcry over Iran’s peaceful nuclear program.
The historians are justified in linking of murders of Zulfiqar Ali
Bhutto and King Faisal to the vision of stronger independent Muslim
Ummah and down the line ongoing witch-hunt of Pakistan’s heroes
responsible for turning their vision of Muslim nuclear state into a
reality. In stark contrast, West’s stoic silence over alleged collusion
of more than half a dozen western states in providing nuclear technology
to Tel Aviv’s is self-explanatory.
Musharraf’s departure has failed to settle the issue of missing persons,
restoration of parliamentary form of government and restoration of 1973
constitution. It is alleged that country’s foreign policy, democratic
institutions including judiciary and media are being systematically
undermined and stifled to serve western stakes. PML (N) statement
promising support for democracy as part of the infamous deal is case in
point. Mumtaz Bhutto has criticized cooperation between ruling PPP and
opposition PML (N) as violation of the spirit of democracy. PPP and the
PML (N) instead of using public’s rejection of Kerry-Lugar Bill as
barging chip should demand its scrapping because the bill will only
destabilize Pakistan’s fragile democracy and economy.
Finally, public’s disapproval of Kerry-Lugar bill clearly shows that PPP
government has to change Pakistan’s foreign policy and economic model to
secure country’s national interests. Obama’s UN address and refusal to
adopt proposed G-20 banking reforms clearly shows that in step with Bush
doctrine America will continue to undermine international law and use
brute military force instead of civil courts to restore global peace. It
also shows that America’s so-called war against terrorism is a pretext
to maintain Afghan occupation for vested stakes. Under the
circumstances, PPP government like most EU/NATO members has no choice
but to part ways with the America.
