DREAM ON, DREAMERS
by Maliha Masood, Matrix Contributor
Imagine a war that you did not start and do not understand, but which you must fight. Imagine jubilant freedom fighters morphed into blood thirsty terrorists. Imagine pleasing your countrymen as well the country that wants them dead. Imagine a nation whose political chaos has marred from its cultural richness and physical beauty. Imagine then Pakistan as the world’s most frustrated and misunderstood hotspot.
Surely the P in Pakistan ought to stand for Paradox. Addressing Pakistani Paradoxes in a wise and astute manner is the job of politicians and policy makers. In terms of American foreign policy toward Pakistan, there are no clear answers or solutions, only careful planning and strategizing goals, which the United States, regardless of leadership, must keep in mind at all times. So what can be done?
First and foremost, do not strap aid. The gravity of the situation in Pakistan demands an increase, not a decrease in U.S. counterterrorism aid and training, including increasing intelligence and security collaboration, and the immediate delivery of much-needed equipment and hardware.
Secondly, get off the election bandwagon. The U.S. supports elections, but is not quite ready for a Pakistan without Musharraf. That’s a tough one to negotiate. Consider the likely consequences and then decide where to place your bets. And remember, this is not Monte Carlo, but a very imperfect region of the world where logic and reason are in short supply. What you need to win is counter intuitiveness, a certain go against the grain lone ranger philosophy. And here is why.
Holding Musharraf accountable to credible elections as a way of easing political pressure and revitalizing rule of law will not wipe out the very real threat of domestic terrorism that Pakistan faces today. If anything, elections will goad local political and religious power structures into bolstering their constituents determined to replace the Pakistani nation-state with extremist, closed minded, anti-Western values.
Elections will also foment ethnic strife amongst millions of Sindhis, Baluchis, and Pashtuns, giving them license to square up grievances against the Punjabi majority dominating key positions in government and business. Many of the disenfranchised ethnic groups have found refuge in separatist militant organizations. Opposition members posing as viable alternatives to Musharraf have no track record of success, other than a constant plea toward free and fair elections, which are serving a dubious purpose in the case of Pakistan.
The U.S. needs to look for internal gain over external props. Letting go of the election issue is a step in the right direction. It does not mean that democracy cannot flourish in Pakistan. It simply means that democracy in Pakistan will not bring about the desired results that occur in other parts of the world. The United States’ security objectives will be best achieved in a politically stable Pakistan and the only way to make that happen for now is with continued military support. For Pakistanis and bleeding heart liberals to brush that aside as anti-democratic is to be living in a dreamland. And we all know that dreams are not quite the stuff of reality.
Maliha Masood is a native of Karachi Pakistan. She lives and works in Seattle, WA.
by Maliha Masood, Matrix Contributor
Imagine a war that you did not start and do not understand, but which you must fight. Imagine jubilant freedom fighters morphed into blood thirsty terrorists. Imagine pleasing your countrymen as well the country that wants them dead. Imagine a nation whose political chaos has marred from its cultural richness and physical beauty. Imagine then Pakistan as the world’s most frustrated and misunderstood hotspot.
Surely the P in Pakistan ought to stand for Paradox. Addressing Pakistani Paradoxes in a wise and astute manner is the job of politicians and policy makers. In terms of American foreign policy toward Pakistan, there are no clear answers or solutions, only careful planning and strategizing goals, which the United States, regardless of leadership, must keep in mind at all times. So what can be done?
First and foremost, do not strap aid. The gravity of the situation in Pakistan demands an increase, not a decrease in U.S. counterterrorism aid and training, including increasing intelligence and security collaboration, and the immediate delivery of much-needed equipment and hardware.
Secondly, get off the election bandwagon. The U.S. supports elections, but is not quite ready for a Pakistan without Musharraf. That’s a tough one to negotiate. Consider the likely consequences and then decide where to place your bets. And remember, this is not Monte Carlo, but a very imperfect region of the world where logic and reason are in short supply. What you need to win is counter intuitiveness, a certain go against the grain lone ranger philosophy. And here is why.
Holding Musharraf accountable to credible elections as a way of easing political pressure and revitalizing rule of law will not wipe out the very real threat of domestic terrorism that Pakistan faces today. If anything, elections will goad local political and religious power structures into bolstering their constituents determined to replace the Pakistani nation-state with extremist, closed minded, anti-Western values.
Elections will also foment ethnic strife amongst millions of Sindhis, Baluchis, and Pashtuns, giving them license to square up grievances against the Punjabi majority dominating key positions in government and business. Many of the disenfranchised ethnic groups have found refuge in separatist militant organizations. Opposition members posing as viable alternatives to Musharraf have no track record of success, other than a constant plea toward free and fair elections, which are serving a dubious purpose in the case of Pakistan.
The U.S. needs to look for internal gain over external props. Letting go of the election issue is a step in the right direction. It does not mean that democracy cannot flourish in Pakistan. It simply means that democracy in Pakistan will not bring about the desired results that occur in other parts of the world. The United States’ security objectives will be best achieved in a politically stable Pakistan and the only way to make that happen for now is with continued military support. For Pakistanis and bleeding heart liberals to brush that aside as anti-democratic is to be living in a dreamland. And we all know that dreams are not quite the stuff of reality.
Maliha Masood is a native of Karachi Pakistan. She lives and works in Seattle, WA.
posted by Malik Isasis at
3:06 AM
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