Mansoor Ijaz’s recent interview regarding Memogate seems to be still another stunt to malign Pakistan and any institutions therein which might stand in the way of US imperialist designs in the region. A banker like Mansoor Ijaz speaking about technical intelligence stuff at a level that could affect Pakistan’s security gravely is absurd. Every country’s intelligence affects it’s elections in one way or the other. America’s very own elections have been highly controversial recently. Further, almost all Pakistani election results sooner or later turned out to be far from public expectations and in favour of US policy. Does that mean ISI manipulated elections for the US? If so, what’s all the fuss about?
Mr Ijaz has referred to the ISI’s role in Afghanistan. The US first used ISI for its own cause against Russia and local lords. After their military invasion, they tried to sideline ISI and Pakistan in regional affairs. It did not work more for the reason of their incompetence, miscalculations and local temperament than lack of cooperation from Pakistan. It is just that Karzai administration and their Nato allies always find a scapegoat in Pakistan to put all the burden of their failures on.
Regarding ISI and army not in government control; there has been an utter lack of sincerity among political leadership for which governments have always been selfish, short-sighted and weak. This has created a power vacuum that is filled by security institutions like army. The time to change this is now.
IMRAN HOTIANA
Lahore
