There is much to be seen behind the letter of 16 US scholars on Pakistan and South Asia affairs signed to Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton expressing concern over the “safety and well-being” of Husain Haqqani, the former Pakistani ambassador to the US who has come under fire for a controversial memo. The letter itself seems to be a manipulative instrument, which attempts to influence the apex judiciary of a sovereign country, possibly triggered by some lobbying hand for some vested interests.
We are writing today, the letter speaks, to express our deep concern over the safety and well-being of former Pakistani Ambassador to the US Husain Haqqani. It has come to our attention that Ambassador Haqqani is under intense pressure in Pakistan, including possibly threats to his life, over the so-called “Memogate” affair. The copy of letter is addressed to US Vice President Joseph R Biden, US Secretary of Defence Leon E Panetta, the US National Security Advisor Thomas E Donilon and CIA Director David H Petraeus.
The scholars include Dr Stephen P Cohen of the Brookings Institution, Ms Lisa Curtis of the Heritage Foundation, Mr Sadanand Dhume of the American Enterprise Institute, Mr Toby Dalton of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, Dr C Christine Fair of the Georgetown University, Dr Robert M Hathaway of the Woodrow Wilson International Centre, Mr Michael Krepon of the Stimson Centre, Ambassador Dennis Kux of the Woodrow Wilson International Centre, Ambassador William B Milam of the Woodrow Wilson International Centre, Dr Aparna Pande of the Hudson Institute, Dr George Perkovich of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, Mr Bruce Riedel of the Brookings Institution, Ambassador Howard B Schaffer of the Georgetown University, Ambassador Teresita C Schaffer of the Brookings Institution, Dr Ashley J Tellis of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, and Dr Marvin G Weinbaum of the Middle East Institute.
Referring to the conduct of Asma Jahanghir in Supreme Court that was in correspondence with her professional stature, the so-called bunch of scholars failed to read between the lines in the conduct of Hussain Haqqani and Asif Ali Zardari, during meeting of top echelon in which he was made to resign and later at the time of departure of Zardari for Dubai.
The recent attitude of the ruling party PPP, in response to the proceedings of Apex Court and its judgments, provided much food for thought. Haqqani’s threats to prestigious publications like Newsweek are also reflective of his manipulative tactics. In contrast, let’s see whether these people raised any voice against the unfair hand dealt to Dr Aafia’s case.
The bottom line is they are the one and united and we are not; we are paying the price of our differences and disunity. Isn’t it enough to open our eyes?
SAMINA MULLAH
Karachi