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Will somebody please listen?
Pakistan is entitled to US$60 billion
Comments
Zahid Malik
'We're entitled to it.'
This is by all means a queer logic by the Texas oil magnate as his
argument implies that the United States is a victim of circumstances
in Iraq whereas it is there as an aggressor and not as a protector
of Iraqi people or their interests. But his thinking indicates how
the responsible societies, business communities and States build and
present their case and advance their strategic national interests.
Americans have played havoc with the poor countries of Iraq and
Afghanistan but they are portraying their adventures as legitimate
acts and want to grab the booties. Contrary to this Pakistan has
been pushed into an unending and treacherous war on terror at the
instance of the US and it has been undergoing huge human, economic,
social as well as psychological sufferings but has miserably failed
to present its case in its right perspective or in a comprehensive
manner. This is because of utterly non-serious attitude on the part
of our weak and care-free leadership which is more eager to enjoy
undue perks and privileges and complete its five-year tenure which
now looks to be a day-dream. Let me warn that if the political
leadership did not wake up to protect the vital and strategic
interests of the country and its people, doomsday scenario is not
far off.
It is a mind-boggling question as to why our former and incumbent
leaders surrendered to American demands. Ironically, on a phone call
from Washington asking whether you are with us or with our enemy -
former President Pervez Musharraf totally surrendered before the
United States, resisting not a bit which amused even the Americans,
Pakistan gave air bases and land route for invasion of Afghanistan
under justification that Pakistan was not in a position to fight a
war with the superpower. Right, but what Pakistan got in return -
only spread of terrorism.
According to credible sources, Washington provided a 'worry and wish
list' to Pakistan and it was hoping of Islamabad to accept only a
few one and that too after a lot of bargaining but Pervez Musharraf
acted in haste on a false message that 'Pakistan would be bombed to
stone age'. Apparently, to prolong his rule, the then ruler
miserably failed to get anything from the United States whereas,
later reports suggested, Washington was willing to provide at least
$ 10 billion in return for the much-needed strategic cooperation
from Pakistan. This compares sharply and ignominiously with
countries which demonstrated the necessary maturity at decisive
moments of history and proved to be tough and wise bargainers. That
was what the late Egyptian leader Anwar Sadaat did when he visited
Tel Aviv in 1977 and later signed much-maligned Camp David Accord
with the Jewish State at the US prodding. His visit shocked the
proud Egyptians and he was assassinated later but for a price and
since then Egypt is the second largest recipient of US aid after
Israel. Turkey too was offered US aid package that included about $6
billion in grants and $20 billion in loan guarantees in return for
permission for American forces to use Turkish bases as a springboard
for invasion of Iraq from the north.
Coming nearer home India through its mature and marvellous diplomacy
gained enormous favours in return for serving US interests in this
region. They tactfully advanced their national interests in the form
of clenching unprecedented nuclear deal while remaining outside the
ambit of the NPT. It will not only provide tremendous boost to
Indian economy but also give a cutting edge to New Delhi in nuclear,
space and missile fields.
It is also getting dual use technology and equipment and advanced
military hardware just by portraying it as a counter-weight to the
expanding Chinese global power and influence.
In this perspective, one wonders why Pakistan could not gain a
single penny while its role was most important as the Americans like
a wounded lion were hell-bent to give Al-Qaeda and Taliban
leadership a lesson for their attack in the heart of the world's
only superpower. It was not possible for US to attack Afghanistan
except for firing missiles from the Arabian Sea. It was Pakistan
which nabbed around 500 Al-Qaeda fighters and some of the top
leaders from its tribal areas and cities and handed them over to the
United States. It is not acceptable that it is totally our war and
let us admit that it was due to the United States pressure and arms
twisting that we became a party to it. In fact, Al-Qaeda or Taliban
presented no security threat to Pakistan before our Army, as desired
by the Government, pounced on them at the behest of the United
States to secure lives of American marines and NATO troops in
Afghanistan. As we became the strategic ally of the United States,
Taliban and Al-Qaeda elements turned their guns towards us and
disastrous string of suicide bombing started in almost every nook
and corner of the country taking heavy toll in men and material.
It is true that Pakistan or for that matter no responsible
Government would allow its soil to be used by militants,
particularly foreign terrorists of all sorts against any other
country. Anyhow, Pakistan has become a battle ground and poor
innocent people are being killed, and their limbs are flying like
soccer. But, please remember these “jihadis” are fighting against US
occupation forces as they waged a fierce war against USSR.
Unfortunately, there is no tradition in our country to maintain
systematic and authentic data or record of events and in the absence
of such information one cannot comprehend or calculate the full
magnitude of human casualties and monetary losses suffered by
Pakistan since 2001. However, according to conservative estimates
given by Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi during a news
conference in New York on February 12, 2008 Pakistan incurred losses
worth US$ 34.5 billion for its central role in the war on terror.
CENTCOM itself released data way back in May 2003 confirming that
Pakistan suffered losses of over US$10 billion owing to US
operations in Afghanistan. Americans made Libya to pay $ 10 million
per family as compensation to the families of 270 passengers killed
in Pan Am Flight that exploded over Lockerbie in Scotland on
December 21, 1988. If this is made the yardstick then one can
imagine the compensation that is due to the families of those killed
as a consequence of war on terror. Add to this displacement of
hundreds of thousands of families, destruction of their homes,
properties and businesses, damage to the infrastructure i.e. roads,
bridges, railway lines, electricity distribution system, telecom,
schools, health centres, government buildings, police stations,
closure of industries, flight of capital, loss of investment and job
opportunities, the amount would go beyond imagination. But what
Americans have provided us so far - reimbursement of a few million
dollars a year from the Coalition Support Fund and yet to be
delivered $ 1.5 billion in economic and military assistance annually
under Kerry-Lugar Bill but on humiliating terms. Rest is huge
loaning from the IMF, which the country increasingly finds it
difficult to repay and people of Pakistan are made to digest bitter
pills of repeated increases in tax rates and utility charges.
I strongly believe that as President Obama is in the midst of
reviewing his Afghanistan-Pakistan policy and doubts are being
expressed in Washington as to whether Pakistan would be ready to go
along the United States, there is a dire need that Pakistan should
urgently work out the losses it suffered in men and material since
the launching of the US invasion of Afghanistan. What is more
devastating is that the psyche and nerves of the nation are bruised
and shattered. The PPP Government owes it to Pakistan not to make
any more commitments unless the losses already suffered are
compensated for.
Mr Zardari has every right to throw away his much maligned Surrey
Palace but he has no right to barter away Pakistan's vital
interests. We have lost precious lives and infrastructure built over
the past 60 years destroyed and it is our right to demand
compensation to be paid to the families of the deceased and to
rebuild the infrastructure. I agree, all the poor children of
Pakistan, who are being killed here and there are not much
privileged Bilawals and Asifas but, Sir, they are citizens of this
country of Quaid-i-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah. Please don't sacrifice
these innocent souls for your own agenda.
According to my rough estimates which I managed to work out in due
course of time during interaction with government officials,
economists, strategists and members of the civil society, the
country has a right to claim at least $ 60 billion. I also discussed
the losses of Pakistan with some of the ambassadors who agree that
Pakistan must take a firm stand to demand reasonable compensation
for the losses. Pakistan has to rebuild affected areas and create
economic opportunities there if military gains are to be sustained
and this obviously requires huge funding. At the end very briefly,
about Friends of Democratic Pakistan. President Zardari before
embarking on a visit to New York in September 2009 stated that
Pakistan would be seeking $ 100 billion assistance from FoDP. But
later the worthy President, surprisingly enough, said that FoDP was
not meant for seeking financial assistance. May I ask then what is
the utility of this forum.
I would urge the Government to please be serious and undertake an
exhaustive exercise to work out close-to-reality estimates of the
huge losses suffered by Pakistan due to its vital role as frontline
State in the war against terror and present it to the world
community in general and the United States in particular in a
cogent, well-documented and forceful manner for reimbursement. If
this genuine demand is not accepted, we must say if you don't
compensate for our sufferings, don't expect any support any more in
the war on terror. It is our right and the Government, for God's
sake, should not bargain the fate of 170 million people of Pakistan
like that. |
