The buck passed to the parliament
Within hours of the attack on Salala checkposts, the government – which was under pressure from well-known quarters – immediately stopped Nato supplies through land routes and ordered the closure of the Shamsi airbase. Instead of playing a leading role, the government passively endorsed one hawkish decision after another taken at some other forum. It agreed to boycott the Bonn conference and suspend the trilateral dialogue. Gen Ashfaq Parvez Kayani meanwhile upped the ante in the standoff with the US by vowing to respond to any future ‘aggression’ by US and Nato troops in Afghanistan with ‘full force’ regardless of its consequences. He also permitted the troops to respond to any attack without waiting for directions from the command. As these momentous decisions were being taken, no one cared to seek the parliament’s opinion.
Now that the chickens are coming home to roost, the parliament is being asked to take the responsibility for what others want to be done. The army which has all along relied on the US for latest weapons and military aid cannot cut the umbilical cord. The prolongation of the standoff could hurt vital security interests. American military leaders are pondering over relying on India in case of failure of talks with Pakistan while some of the Congressmen are supporting the demand for the separation of Balochistan. Questions are being raised regarding the security of the Pakistani nukes arsenal. The already strong anti-US sentiment, stoked further by the DPC which has suddenly burst onto the political scene as if created by a magician’s wand, stands in the way of making up with the US. A decision seems already to have been taken by those who matter to open the Nato supply routes after some face saving announcement from Washington. What they want is that the parliament take the responsibility.
There is a need on the part of Gen Kayani to tell the parliament that wider national interests require a revival of the ties with Washington. The government should also take an identical stand in the joint session. Unless this is done, there is little likelihood of a consensus in the parliament.
