Half the art of diplomacy is saying nothing, especially when speaking, quipped Will Durant. It’s true. Hearing diplospeak and understanding it are two different matters. The same can be said of President Karzai’s offer of help to Pakistan if it were to be attacked by the US. This was a lone bouquet thrown Pakistan’s way amongst the barrage of brickbats that usually comes from the Afghan president’s quarters.
So, what to make of this exception from the rule by the Afghan president? If situated in the larger context of tense relations between the two countries, it may mean little. With America making it like an egg to beat it, out of Afghanistan that is, all the players are in a scuffle to ensure that their interests are not compromised in the post-drawdown configuration in the region. While Pak-US relations were sour (and still are, even if on the very slow mend) in this state of uncertainty, Pak-Afghan relations were even more sour, if possible.
Afghanistan has made no secrets of who it thinks is patronising the Taliban, who was involved in the Rabbani assassination and who is undermining the regional peace process. If these strings of allegations weren’t enough, our western neighbour decided to cosy up strategically with our eastern one. Neither our civilian nor military establishment could stomach this easily. Hence, amongst this miasma between the two countries, this statement is to be taken with a pinch of salt, if not to be discounted entirely.
Moreover, the predicate of this statement is very unlikely. US-Pakistan relations may be at an all-time low, but ‘all-time lows’ are all-time constants for our transactional ties with the US. Things may get worse to worst, but they can get back from the brink. And they seem to be taking a turn for the better.
If anything, this statement recognises that if the outside possibility of an attack is realised at all, it would have disastrous consequences for the region. Indian FM, S M Krishna also acknowledged this fact recently that conflict between Pakistan and the US would be ruinous, not just for the country itself but the region. This statement is also recognition of the fact that the countries involved need to stand together if they want to get out of the mess. Indeed, we may not need Mr Karzai’s ‘help’, but we do appreciate his gesture.
