Leverage

Ours and theirs

States use their leverage in whatever manner possible when negotiating with other states in the international arena. There are no permanent friends or foes, goes the mantra of the realists, but only interests. Hard-nosed patriots within Pakistan take this line when discussing our not-what-it-seems gameplan in Afghanistan. To those criticising this allegedly cloak and dagger policy, our hypernationalists chime: don’t hate the player, hate the game.

Fair enough. But this does mean we would be in no position to complain when other countries use their own sets of leverages. If we pull no punches, we can’t expect them to be Gandhian in their approach either. And there is considerable leverage that they can use. The US government’s cutting aid to Pakistan is perhaps one of the milder weapons in its arsenal. Yes, linking aid, it appears, to supply routes will definitely kill our manoeuvrable space. But there is more, much more that they can do.

Consider one of the Pakistani security establishment’s biggest fears: another operation like the one in Abbottabad on the 2nd of May. Would the US think twice before undertaking such an operation were it to get actionable intelligence about the presence of other extremely high-profile targets within the country? Some time ago we used to show indignation at accusations about Osama Bin Laden being present in the country. It is surprising we show a similar disdain when such speculations are made about the likes of Mullah Omar and Ayman al Zawahiri.

For all their talk about realism and the cold pursuit of interests, the “realists” forget the most important aspect of the mantra: sizing up one’s adversary. Economically, militarily, politically, socially, are we in any position to take on the US? The saccharine sweet language of formal diplomacy might talk about equal relationships and the like but are we stupid enough to actually believe all this talk?