Trumped by Trump?

Implications for Pakistan

Only less than a year ago being a nobody in politics, Donald Trump virtually clinching the Republican nomination for US presidential race is no mean feat. Trump was considered an outsider by the Republican Party establishment that was too busy dealing with its own demons in the form of the so-called Tea Party Movement.

But Donald’s message — spewing xenophobia and hatred against the Muslims — has successfully resonated with an increasing number of conservative Americans. Interestingly Hillary Clinton, the Democratic candidate who had virtually no one in the Party to challenge her nomination, is being given a tough time by a formidable foe — Bernie Sanders. He is another outsider who is resonating with young Americans.

Of course Hillary Clinton is expected to clinch her Party’s nomination. Hence the stage is set for an action packed presidential race between Clinton and Trump. Depending on who secures the presidency in November, perhaps never so much was at stake for America and the world at large.

Isolationism in US foreign policy, tough immigration laws including building a wall on the US-Mexico border and “total and complete shutdown of Muslims entering the United States” are only some of the outrageous election planks espoused by Trump in his speeches and interviews.

Already Trump’s hatred filled rhetoric is taking its toll in the form of hate crimes against Muslims in the US. According to the Washington Post, the other day in the suburbs of the capital a heavyset white woman shouted at a headscarf wearing Muslim woman sitting outside a Starbucks restaurant. She called the victim a “worthless piece of Muslim trash” and a “terrorist”. The attacker said she was supporting Trump because he would send the Muslims “back to where you came from”.

Of course Hillary Clinton is expected to clinch her Party’s nomination. Hence the stage is set for an action packed presidential race between Clinton and Trump

This is not an isolated incident. Muslims have been de-planed, refused entry in restaurants or have been simply asked to leave. There have been incidents of violence against Muslims as well.

Thankfully these are only limited incidents as yet, as America by and large remains a humane and tolerant society. Nonetheless there are increasing numbers of Americans who blame Islam as a religion for incremental increase in terrorist incidents against the west.

They tend to ignore that many more Americans (35,000) die every year of gun related violence than terrorist incidents. This is not to claim that ISIS and al Qaeda mindset has helped in fomenting Islamophobia in the west. Ironically the rump of the people who have perished at the hands of those perpetrating violence in the name of a distorted interpretation of Islam are Muslims.  

However, the flip side of the coin is that the US has a very low approval rating in the Muslim world. And who is to be blamed? Largely America’s own foreign and security policies.

Take the case of president Obama’s (the co called closet Muslim according to Trump) policies for Libya, Iraq and Syria. These hapless countries under dictatorships were relatively secular and hence no major threat to the US security interests.

Nonetheless on Israel’s prodding and owing to America’s own myopic worldview they have become virtual failed states and bastions of fundamentalist terrorist groups. Ironically the US supports to the hilt oil soaked repressive Middle Eastern sheikhdoms that perennially deprive their own citizens of even the most basic human rights.

Afghanistan is another basket case. Despite spending trillions of dollars since 9/11, NATO forces led by the US are leaving the country to deal with its own problems. All this is happening literally in Pakistan’s backyard.

Obviously Islamabad and successive military establishments cannot be entirely absolved of creating the mess in Afghanistan. For far too long the Pakistani military has assiduously stuck to a flawed and outmoded strategic depth security paradigm.

Pakistani descent Sadiq Khan having been elected mayor of London is good news for Muslims, Pakistanis in particular

Under more than a decade of General Zia ul Haq’s ideological dictatorship Pakistan became a training ground for jhadists of all hues colours — in the name of the Afghan jihad and jihad in Kashmir. Thankfully under the present military leadership the ‘jihad for hire’ policies have been inexorably reversed.

But the collateral damage has already been done. No matter whether Democratic or Republican administration is ushered in next January, India will maintain its position as the new strategic partner of the US. This is not only owing to mutual economic interests but also as a bulwark against China.

Pakistan, clearly aligned with China under CPEC (China Pakistan Economic Corridor), is now on the opposite side of the spectrum. Isalamabad is now inexorably part of Beijing’s maritime and road Silk Route.

In this context it is not surprising that Washington has refused to foot the bill for the F-16 planes, it had promised. It wants its pound of flesh in the form of handing over of incarcerated Dr Shakeel Afridi, who was spying for the CIA. It also wants Islamabad to stop supporting the Haqqani Network.

It is obvious whether Trump or Clinton, it is a tough road ahead for Pakistan in its relations with the US. Dealing with Trump — if continuing with his upsurge he is elected president — will be, however, tougher.

Notwithstanding his bigotry, in his signature style, at least he calls a spade a spade. Hopefully also the formidable American establishment and military industrial complex will kick in, forcing President Trump not only to temper his policies but his rhetoric as well.  

Nevertheless Pakistan and the Muslim world at large would heave a sigh of relief if Trump was not elected president. But it is not as unlikely as it seemed a few weeks ago.

Pakistani descent Sadiq Khan having been elected mayor of London is good news for Muslims, Pakistanis in particular. It could never happen in Pakistan that a man whose father was a bus conductor could beat his blue-blooded rival Zac Goldsmith, brother of Imran Khan’s former wife Jemmima Goldsmith.

Sadiq Khan got elected purely on merit and not because or in spite of being a Muslim. Imagine a non-Muslim (leave alone a non-Muslim from a humble background) being elected to a high public office in our present political milieu. Virtually impossible.

Most of our elected lot shamefacedly ask that unless they make money how can they get elected? That perhaps justifies large business empires and as an insurance, properties abroad.

Bashing the west and blaming it for most of our ills is perhaps the favourite pastime of the rump of our media and the chattering classes. Nonetheless in our penchant to harp on the victim syndrome we lose sight of the pluralistic, inclusive and largely secular ethos of the west.