News
Tuesday, March 11, 2008
Kissinger advises US not to manipulate Pakistan’s politics
By Khalid Hasan
WASHINGTON: Henry Kissinger has called on US leadership to focus on international security objectives in dealing with an emerging Pakistani leadership. According to the former US foreign policy wizard, “At this point, any attempt to manipulate the political process that we have urged is likely to backfire. A wise policy must recognise that the internal structure of Pakistani politics is essentially out of control of American political decision-making. Construction of a centrist coalition is a commendable goal, but the conditions for it can only be nurtured by Pakistani political forces and, in the absence of a centre, require patience over a period of time.” In an op-ed piece carried by Washington Post on Monday, Kissinger writes, “Our democratic principles should be clearly conveyed, but we should have learned by now that the evolution of the immediate political process is beyond our reach. Common approaches on the security issues are necessary, including an end of ambiguity towards terrorist enclaves.” He notes that for most of its history, Pakistani leaders have acted on the principle that good relations with the US were in Pakistan’s national interest. He adds, “A strategic consensus remains imperative. If that effort fails, many countries will be affected, and, perhaps more immediately, Pakistan’s stability should not be viewed as an exclusively American challenge.” He also calls for reconciling “ambivalent attitudes at home”, but warns that the two objectives many only be attainable “on different time scales.”
Courtesy Daily Times