Hearty declarations by the government on the floor of the house of independence from foreign pressures might lead to a measure of desk-thumping but they belie the truth. The premieres bravado in response to a speech by the leader of the opposition about not taking dictations from foreign powers might be all well and good but even the cheering legislators from the treasury benches knew what the deal is. As the recent WikiLeaks scandal shows, foreign powers, specifically the Americans are deep in the thick of things. The Saudis have the audacity to remark to western diplomats that they are not just observers in Pakistan but active participants. The Chinese government could also get just about anything done, notwithstanding the fact that they havent yet been as overbearing as the Americans vis–vis Pakistan.
There are, of course, some distinctions to be made. The governments support for the war against terror, contrary to what major sections of the press might have you believe, is not at anyones behest. The PPP has maintained on its own that though this was the wests war, now it is decidedly our war as well. To the north in terrorism hit-KP, the ANP goes one step further by saying it was always our war, it is the now the wests war as well. Moving on, in matters economic, tax reform and the RGST (or VAT, whatever you choose to call it) was always the declared policy statement of our major political parties, including those who are currently opposing it.
This is in no way to take attention away from the fact that our independence, through successive tinpot rulers, has been curtailed severely. The only instances, in fact, when the west seems to be unable to carry out its will, is when the directives are unacceptable to the military. Very ironic considering the military establishment has been, in the past, the principle US ally and the political class, its arch nemesis.
Reciprocity and respect is the key to any relationship. We should be a valuable player in the comity of nations when it comes to the pursuit of peace but under no circumstances should we let any nation, friend or foe, walk all over us.
