Hillary Clinton’s terse words

Random Thoughts
This time around US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton came to Pakistan with a chip on her shoulder and a bagful of goodies worth a small change of $ 690 million. In a talk session with journalists in Islamabad she was unambiguous when she said Pakistan is not doing any thing to conserve its meager resources of water, nor has built any big dam since the time of late President Ayub Khan due to inter provincial disputes, but wants America to help it in getting water from India. However, she was kind enough to throw a change of $ 690 million in Pakistan’s kitty for some small projects in the areas of energy, water, health and education.

This is what happens to poor nations which are unable to generate their own resources and depend entirely on foreign dole and also hear rebukes. There is no doubt that Pakistan is in dire straits, but is not doing any efforts to increase its revenues nor to reduce government’s lavish expenditure. Referring to such people the Holy Qur’an says “God has sealed their hearts and covered their eyes and ears.” Mrs. Clinton warned that despite all efforts deep mistrust exists between Pakistan and America over the issue of terrorism which is cardinal for US safety. She clearly warned if America suffered any future terrorist attack on its soil, which is traced back to Pakistan it would have devastating consequences for Pak-US relations. The reasons for this fear and mistrust are obvious. America believes that anti American terrorist groups are openly operating in Punjab under the protection and support of the government of the largest and most powerful province of Pakistan. Besides all major opposition parties including diehard religious groups which have mass support, are promoting anti American phobia and openly supporting terrorist elements. The government too, has not been able to bring these elements under control and promote pro-American feelings among the masses. The media too is promoting anti American bias openly trough venomous anti US programs.

American electronic media which is widely watched in Pakistan is also adding fuel to the fire. America has a persistent feeling that Pakistan is not doing enough to root out terrorism which has seeped into its soil. Hillary Clinton is somehow or other convinced that Osama bin Laden and Mullah Omer are hiding in Pakistan’s belligerent Balochistan province. She has said this many times but Pakistan has consistently denied. Hafiz Said, the chief of Lashkar-e-Tayyaba, India alleges masterminded the Mumbai attacks, is freely living in Lahore. Likewise, recent terrorist attacks on most sensitive places which caused huge loss of human life could not be controlled by Punjab government either due to incompetence or by design. This has shaken America’s belief that Pakistan is not doing enough to contain the onslaught of terrorists on its own heartland. That is probably the reason that America has flatly refused to give its civilian nuclear energy to Pakistan. It has also expressed its concerns over the Sino-Pakistan nuclear cooperation. Mrs. Clinton clearly said that America is deeply concerned over Pakistan-China deal. She also expressed US reservations on any possible reconciliation with Taliban’s Haqqani group. Referring to Pakistan’s recent failed talks with India, she said the US would continue its hands off policy over the Kashmir issue.

Mrs. Clinton also saw the signing of Pak-Afghan accord on transit trade between Afghanistan and India through Wagah border. This fulfills America’s ‘long cherished desire’ to bring Pakistan and Afghanistan together. According to New York Times the accord has cost a positive glow over Mrs. Clinton’s visit which was meant to ease suspicions between Pakistan and the US. The paper further says American aid announced by Mrs. Clinton for several projects in different sectors, however beneficial in economically fragile country; does not dispel other nagging sources of friction between the two countries. In addition to US doubts about Pakistan’s commitment to rooting out Taliban insurgents, there are new fears about Pakistan’s nuclear program. Pakistan plans to buy two nuclear reactors from China, a deal which alarms the US. Relations could be further tested if the Obama administration decides to place leaders of a major Pakistan insurgent group, the Haqqani network on the State Department’s terrorist list. Pakistan maintains ties to this group through its intelligence agencies and is seeking to exploit those contacts.

Shortly, before Hillary Clinton’s visit, Indo-Pak Foreign Minister level talks were held in Islamabad which ended in a deadlock in a chilly atmosphere of trust deficit and the only outcome was the decision to remain engaged. Both ministers blamed each other for the deadlock. But the Pakistan Foreign Minister crossed all limits of decent diplomacy by saying that the Indian Foreign Minister Mr. Krishna was selective in his approach and it seemed he had no mandate for the talks as he kept ringing New Delhi for briefing quite frequently. He said that the narrow minded approach adopted by India cannot take us forward. The Indian Foreign Minister on his return to New Delhi did not spell out all the topics he discussed with Pakistan, but categorized some as burning issues that confronted both the nation.

—The writer is former Director News, PTV and a senior political analyst.