Pakistan in the Cleft of Emerging Sino-US Conflict Syed Osman Sher, Mississauga, Canada
Patriotic and warm-hearted people like Mr. Arif Hussaini will continue to cry on the downslide Pakistan has taken lately in the sphere of international relations . His concern has been very aptly addressed by Mr. Akbar Tareen in his comments on your editorial titled Diffident Pakistani Americans. May I add a few comments.
In the jargon of diplomatic relations, permanence has no meaning. Good relations among countries are built up on mutual interests. As soon as interest on the part of a member wanes, the goodwill starts to dissipate. Mutuality though makes even two unequal partners equal on the surface, but definitely less than equal if one is disproportionately small or weak. But good relations even then continue.
Pakistan’s position in the diplomatic maneuverings with our neighbors vis-à-vis the superpowers, namely, India, China, USA, and USSR, has to be analyzed in the backdrop of the above statement. On gaining independence in 1947, Pakistan was a small country, but not a weak one. As part of the erstwhile British India, with all glories, potential for growth and strategic location attached with it, the USA cultivated good relations with this newly independent country. It was all the more necessary as India had joined the Soviet camp. This friendship served our mutual interests. But as Pakistan was an unequal partner, it had to take USA’s dictation too. We joined SEATO and CENTO at the behest of the USA. The US dictates continued, off and on, such as allowing a U2 plane to spy on the Soviet Union and participating in the Afghan War. It was not Zia-ul-Haq who cooperated with the USA; it was not cooperation, in the first instance. Any ruler of Pakistan would have been forced to take part in that war. We generally take pride in thinking that we have stood up against the USA by not signing the treaty banning atomic tests. Is it our mettle? No, it is so because the USA has not been able to force India to do so, and we are taking refuge under India’s strength. So, from the beginning our relations with the USA were based on an unequal footing.
Now with the passage of time we have opted to be still smaller by discarding East Pakistan from our main body. We further opted to be weaker by being ruled by corrupt and self-perpetuating rulers, who sapped the financial, democratic and moral strength of the country. In the comity of nations we have shortened our own stature. On the other hand, to our misfortune, our neighbors like India and China went from strength to strength and have grown to be of more interest to USA than ourselves, mainly because of their newly acquired economic and democratic strength. With Pakistan, the inevitable was thus bound to happen. We have to be sidelined in international arena, unless, of course, we rebuild ourselves.
Bahadur Ali Khan, Fremont, California
Mr.Arif Husaini has done it again! He gives you a very clear picture of the situation - based on solid facts. His analysis is impeccable. He does not force his personal opinion on you . But you are forced by the solid facts to draw the proper conclusions yourself !
Yes, he is wizard in the real sense of the word - certainly not a conjurer. I always find it a great pleasure to read his articles which are truly enlightening and thought-provoking.