Pakistan, US, India
Pakistan is passing through a period when it is being required to readjust relations with both the US and India. What Islamabad is trying to do is to improve ties with India and evolve a new policy which is not subservient to the US. While every responsible political party and saner elements in the establishment are keen to end hostility with the two countries, what stands in the way is the propaganda undertaken by the extremist forces as well as elements in the establishment. The DPC continues undeterred to hold rallies where its fiery speakers hold India and the US responsible for all real or imaginary ills in Pakistan. With all mainstream parties preparing for elections, their leaders tend to hedge their bets. This explains why it has taken so long to decide to give India the MFN status. This also tells why the Parliamentary Committee on National Security (PCNS) has failed to formulate consensus proposals on new terms of engagement with the US.
The improvement of relations with India and the formulation of new parameters of engagement that ensure the security of both the US and Pakistan cannot be delayed any further. Pakistan cannot fight the terrorists inside the country while keeping its army in a state of preparedness on the eastern borders. To ensure the country’s security and improve its economy Islamabad needs to eliminate the terrorist threat and reduce its burgeoning defence budget. The tragic incident at Siachen also underlines the urgency of resolving the outstanding issues. Islamabad and New Delhi have also to work together to be able to cope with the effects of the global warming. There is a need to join hands with the US to eliminate the threat of terrorism.
It was a right decision on Zardari’s part to visit India for which Washington reportedly helped prepare the ground. There is a need now on both sides to speed up the dialogue process to resolve the differences while undertaking more CBMs. The PCNS has taken enough time. It should now take its proposals to the joint sitting of parliament for a final vote. What one expects from the mainstream parties is that they would not succumb to populism and instead act with pragmatism. The statesmen are supposed to lead the masses rather than follow them.
