No other way out
Proceedings of the joint sitting of the parliament which were postponed amid sharp differences would hopefully produce meaningful results now for two reasons. First, the PML(N) has returned to the meetings of the Parliamentary Committee on National Security after a boycott of three days. Second, talks held between US envoy Nides and Finance Minister Sheikh on issues that included military reimbursements and the price to be charged on Nato supplies have been described by the FO as positive. What remains to be done is the formulation of a policy by parliament which balances the security-cum-national interests of Pakistan and the US.
The five month long stalemate hit the vital interests of both Pakistan and the US. The army leaderships from the two countries which did not fully realise the consequences of the cessation of mutual cooperation have gradually understood that the terrorists were the only gainers from the five month long standoff. The propaganda by Pakistan-baiters in the US and the US-haters in Pakistan has meanwhile raised the temperature in both countries which would take time and efforts before it is brought to the normal. Washington has to realise that announcing the head money for Hafiz Saeed without providing Islamabad enough evidence to try him can only create problems for the government. But the Pakistani establishment also has to understand that giving a free hand to the banned outfits gathered under the flag of the DPC would not create an environment conducive to normalisation of relations with the US.
While re-joining the PCNS, the PML(N) is expected to work together with the ruling alliance to help formulate a policy that takes care of the paramount concerns of Pakistan and the US. Keeping in view the expectations both sides have developed, this may not be a cake walk. A sincere attempt to undertake it would, however, send a message that the PML(N) is acting as a responsible mainstream party. This would not be an easy decision for a party whose CM in Punjab appealed to the terrorists to spare Punjab as his government did not support the US policies. The party leadership will have to convince those in its ranks with a soft corner for the extremists that peace and stability in the region requires the two countries to work together.
