Ominous signals

When there are ominous signals from government functionaries, think tanks and army generals of our so-called allies that Pakistan could collapse within six months then it is the time that our political leaders forget about their power-sharing equation and focus on meeting the challenges confronting the nation. They have to realise that Pakistan is on the horns of dilemma. If our government and the armed forces try to quell the violence by the use of force there are voices that they are killing their own people.

On the other hand, if they show laxity the extremists and terrorists are emboldened and tend to expand their area of operations. In the face of threats to our internal and external security, the elected and military leadership should put their act together and use their collective wisdom to meet those threats. They should not listen to the propaganda of the US and the West that army is still powerful or government is weak because they want to divide them so that they could not focus on ensuring integrity, solidarity and sovereignty of the country. It was not a reaction to Pakistan's foreign minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi's resolve not to give a 'blank cheque' to US regarding drone attacks, that US envoy Holbrooke visited India and talked of India being an important power in the region and visualized its bigger role in Afghanistan.

It was in fact reflective of a clearly-defined US policy, which is articulated by US Generals, think tanks, former members of US administration to prove that Pakistan government and the army cannot control the militants and terrorists. Then they express their concern that terrorists could lay their hands on nukes, which will be dangerous for the region and the world at large. Whatever is happening in FATA and Balochistan and who could be behind the tragic events demand focused attention of government and the opposition, as enemies of Pakistan wish to implement their sinister agenda. And the goals of the US, India and Israel converge so far as denuclearization of Pakistan is concerned. If one carefully analyses the very recent statements of two former top American officials - former national security advisor Zbigniew Brzezinski and former secretary of state Henry Kissinger - visualizing a situation beyond Pakistan's existence read with US Generals' conjectures, it is not difficult to understand the US intentions. Instead of addressing Pakistan's security concerns, the US wants to involve India militarily.

The time has come that our leadership should establish the writ of the state by defeating extremists and terrorists otherwise Pakistan could implode from within. Of course, it is also the time to take measures to address the grievances of the federating units and unite the people of Pakistan. Having done so, no power on earth can dismember Pakistan. Anyhow, giving India yet a bigger role in Afghanistan is a sure recipe for losing a war on terror. But in case anything happens to Pakistan, India rather the entire region is bound to suffer from the fallout. Brzeznski said: "We fear that the US may face defeat in Pakistan and Afghanistan. There is a strong possibility of defeat which is a real threat." He said that if the US failed in Pakistan, then "we will have to choose unsuitable things," which, he added, would be very painful. There is veiled threat that Pakistan could disintegrate. Interestingly, Kissinger said, "ours and Iran interests are similar, not to let Afghanistan become the land of guerrilla fighters." Similarly, he added, Russia had also interests like the US. "It's a combination of military and political strategy". He admitted that Pakistan faces threat from India but does not suggest addressing Pakistan's concerns.

Pakistan's political and military leaders should decide whether they want to live in trepidation and fear or want to live as sovereign and independent nation. Of course there would be difficulties, and the nation would have to make sacrifices; but once they opt for living without grant and aid and making Pakistan a self-reliant economy, no harm could be done to Pakistan. After having taken this decision, Pakistan can then ask the US to go ahead and give bigger role to India and face the consequences.