It seems the Pakistani media has learned a couple of new chic and trendy phrases like ‘charm offensive’ and ‘trust deficit’ from the US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s visit to the highly skeptical and very paranoid Republic of Pakistan. The trip seemed to have been inspired by a long overdue initiative to ease tensions with the Pakistani masses that have been having second and third thoughts about their ‘use and abuse partnership’ with the US since its inception in 2001.
Unprecedented by the likes of such high-ranking US officials in the past, Clinton’s trip attempts to bring the highly controversial, and largely misunderstood ‘AfPak’ policies of the confused US government to the Pakistani masses in Barack Obama’s signature style of addressing town halls and public gatherings in informal question and answer sessions. While the inclusion of the public at large in the discourse on US foreign policy seems like a revolutionary step away from more clandestine approaches to manipulate political will through figureheads, for now we will only have to wait and see if this approach is fruitful in changing Pakistani public opinion about the United States.
Though clearly designed to open up dialogue on a range of issues, most of Clinton’s public and televised meetings were haunted by the $7.5 billion elephant in the room formally known as the Kerry-Lugar act. A communication disconnect was evident when the roomful of television anchors bombarded the Secretary of State with complaints on the language of the bill, prompting her to respond that the language in the bill was in fact written for a quick sell in the US Congress and wasn’t designed for endless debate on news talk shows.
The gap in communication became even more apparent when the Urdu news channel anchors attempted to use their well honed skills of conjuring highly emotional diatribes to try and melt a very pragmatic US Secretary of State into ceding all conditions. They did, however, succeed in prompting Clinton to declare that far from being dispatched, the money had only been set aside, and if the Pakistani people didn’t want the money they didn’t have to take it. The open-ended question reduced a cackling room to pin-drop silence, almost embarrassing the anchors for pursuing that line of questioning in the first place. It seems none of the haughty anchors were ready to make the billion-dollar blunder by ticking off the Secretary of State and losing all that aid money.
As much as Clinton would have liked to close the chapter on the Kerry-Lugar act, it continued to pop up in almost every subsequent discussion revealing an even deeper layer of social and cultural misunderstanding. While Clinton herself admitted that Washington was perturbed when they heard the huge public outcry over the tripling of US aid to our war-torn country, the message that the Pakistani masses were attempting to send to the Obama administration was apparently lost in cultural translation. The nuance I equate this whole media-catalysed row over the aid is more akin to the interaction between a shop-keeper and a customer, where the customer has inadvertently said something to dishonour the shop-keeper, causing the annoyed shop-keeper to tell the customer to take his money and leave as he doesn’t want to have anything to do with him or his money.
Likewise, it seems we, as a nation, are just sick and tired of the war we agreed to fight in 2001, and now we want America to keep their money, pack up, and just leave us in peace, as if that would immediately revert things back to their happy-go-lucky pre-2001 state of affairs. To add to an already perturbed American’s confusions, the issue isn’t as simple, because as soon as there is talk in Washington about cutting and running, Pakistan seems to let out a bellow filled with agony at being betrayed by those godless Americans again.
The national outcry over the US wanting to steal our much cherished sovereignty through a crafty piece of legislation must have befuddled many in Washington as well. If the idea of one country conning another out of its sovereignty through legal jargon isn’t absurd in itself, the idea of feeling more comfortable and territorially sovereign with non-state actors squatting in our front- and backyards must be mind-boggling for people in the US State Department.
In fact, the idea of a legal document taking away Pakistan’s sovereignty should strike a Pakistani Muslim as even more preposterous. Anyone who has even pursued the constitution of Pakistan should know that it is clearly stated in the Objectives Resolution that ‘Soveriegnty belongs to Allah alone but He has delegated it to the State of Pakistan through its people for being exercised within the limits prescribed by Him as a sacred trust.’ How can any bill, regardless of whether it was drafted in Washington or New Dehli, even dream of stealing something which belongs to Allah?
Legal metaphysics aside, it is a fact in political science that most pieces of international legislation, including trade deals, and membership in international organisations such as the United Nations, impinge on the idea of absolute national sovereignty. The case is similar to an individual giving up certain rights and liberties to live in a civilised society. As rational actors we should readily accept any form of monetary incentives to root out destabilising entities while gaining a foot-hold in the development queue.
In between frequent bombardments of questions relating to a range of controversial topics from drone attacks to Blackwater/Xe Securities, whenever Hillary got a chance for a breather she must have felt like a local pir or fakir as people decided to dump a wheelbarrow full of Pakistan’s numerous problems on her as if she had the magic cure for everything from Kashmir to women’s empowerment. While she must have really felt like she was in the ‘you’ve broken it, now you’ve bought it’ situation, she handled most of the questions and concerns with a calm and a poise people would have never expected from her predecessor Condaleeza Rice, who would have been more comfortable carrying out the offensive without the charm.
While a gaping US-Pakistan communication disconnect does exist, most of it seems to be caused by the deceptive practices of our own popularly elected government representatives. The confrontation of Clinton and the public at large, and given the issues that have revolved around this interaction just goes to show how much the Pakistani government dissimulates before its own people, saying one thing to US law makers, and saying something completely different to the public on issues such as drone attacks, foreign aid, private security, the power crisis, among numerous others.
Given the circumstances, this attempt by a US official at bridging the gap between Pakistani opinions and US policy is commendable. So far this Obama-style tour de force has only gone as far as to open the floodgates. It will be interesting to note in the coming months whether the US actually acts on the many suggestions Clinton has received from Pakistanis from all walks of life.
Lahore-based Asif Akhtar is interested in critical social discourse as well as the expressive facets of reactive art and is one of the schizophrenic narrators of a graphic novel. He blogs at e-scape-artist.blogspot.com and tweets at twitter.com/e_scape_artist.
The views expressed by this blogger and in the following reader comments do not necessarily represent the views and policies of the Dawn Media Group.
Nice article. USA is really piling on pressure on our country. On one hand it gives us money in the form of aid but on the other hand it puts conditions on us. It uses our resources to fight their “war on terror”. First the FATA region and now South Waziristan.
The only solution is to improve our economy and make us not dependant on America for aid. India and China are the best examples.
Problem is illiteracy in our country. That must be eradicated so literacy can improve and more people will be involved in the affairs of our country.
AS usual bomb blasts are continuing by the Taliban with one incident on Sunday-12 people dead.
GOD HELP OUR COUNTRY!
Salma
Great article. A few things I would like to mention that these so called improvement funds never make its way to the needy. I am saying this from my practical experience. All, I can say is “How these politician can sleep seeing so many have nothing to eat?
American aid has long helped keep the country afloat, emboldened its defense capability and affected the lives of many a common man and woman. May be the ones who shamelessly grilled poor Hillary Clinton do not need it but the impoverished people in Pakistan and who are intended to be the recipient of the aid, most definitely do.
As Asif mentioned, it is quite perplexing that Pakistan’s sovereignty is not perceived to be threatened when it is indiscriminately attacked by all sorts of non-state actors but somehow doom seems to be imminent if the country, which was on the verge of bankruptcy only a year ago, receives some much needed financial help from a valuable ally. Also it is preposterous to complaint about 7.5 billion dollars in non-military aid when a common refrain of all and sundry in Pakistan has been how the country was ‘abandoned’ by the U.S in the past.
Both the Kerry-Lugar bill and Hillary Clinton’s courageous visit to Pakistan were intended to change the narrative of U.S.-Pakistan relationship. If the Pakistani people would rather sing from the same hymnbook of mullahs and some hypocrite ‘leaders’ who are driven by vested interests alone, then it is their choice. But American hand for friendship with the common Pakistani people will not remain extended forever, and there are many in the region who will be more than happy to fill in the void if America severs its ties with Pakistan.
Tasawwur Says:( said below earlier
November 2nd, 2009 at 14:34
“We don’t want aid (Kerry – Lugar bill). This was our opportunity to say to the US that you guys still treat our country as a terrorist nation with the kind of language used in the bill. We don’t want your aid, we don’t want any drone attacks. Leave the nation in the hands of the people of Pakistan.”
My question to you is, how and with what?
Can you speak to a coherent strategy you would deploy ?
JR you took words away from my mouth
I am quite surprised that I am actually reading this in Dawn blog. Because for a change this is a superbly crafted commentry that eschews the run of the mill (government must do this; zardari should do that) and makes compellng points in excellent language.
My favorite bits:
‘the idea of feeling more comfortable and territorially sovereign with non-state actors squatting in our front- and backyards must be mind-boggling for people in the US State Department’
and
‘To add to an already perturbed American’s confusions, the issue isn’t as simple, because as soon as there is talk in Washington about cutting and running, Pakistan seems to let out a bellow filled with agony at being betrayed by those godless Americans again.’
Need I say more?
Beggers are not the choosers! That was the hidden message in Mrs. Clinton’s answers to our Media. They were speechless in front of her.
Basically as a nation we are corrupt. These leaders are also from our own society. They are not aliens. If you and I think that we are not corrupt but only others are than this is wrong.
The fault is at our own end. The only thing what we lack is honesty with our country as a nation.
It was refreshing and very good piece of writing. We as a nation are in the habit of blaming others for our mistakes, although it is something natural to put some blame on others. I frequently tell my friends that our lives are very simple as we put everything on God and Satan. If something good happen it is gift of God otherwise for all the evils Satan is present. Again will say very good effort.
People’s power can change everything. It was people’s power which elected Obama in the USA. Unfortunately for Pakistan the People’s power has to be demonstrated on the road as they did in restoration of the judges. It is high time that people must show their power to protect the rights of their children. What is surprising is that they are not ready to stand up for the sake of their own children and future generation? Even the animals fight for the protection of their children. If millions can change the fate of Iran, definitely millions can get rid of all the corrupt & unstable administration.
It is a very thoughtful analysis and very well written. Yeah i think she is absolutely right to say that the money is there if you want it, take it. Pakistan situation is not simple. It require time, money & strategies….
Asif Aktar’s journal is well written and well thought.
I am delighted that Pakistani Press is in good health.
I stared reading “The Dawn” to get a Pakistani perspective on the the Taliban insurgents but now I will continue to enjoy your Newspaper long after your country is free from therse terrorists.
California,
U.S.A
Man,
Gem of an article.
And a very accurate analysis in the second last para.
Now, only if we cold translate and put this in the mainstream Urdu media.
Especially to the gods of Pakistan’s largest Urdu publication powerhouse.
Thanks!
Tanveer Khan
Houston Texas
Pakistan still lacks the basic institutions that will carry the country forward. The emphasis should be on building these institutions with indigenous and/or outside help. It is one thing to ask to be left alone but the more important task for Pakistan is to rid itself of the very elements that are slowly destroying the basic institutions that are needed for the growth of the country. Do we as a nation feel confident that we can build a progressive democratic nation all by ourselves?
I was enjoying the mile long questions,our anchors would go on and tell a whole story and add few of their comments in that and atlast after a long story the actual question was put to the Secretary,just ask the question man dont give ur analysis,it gave her so much time to frame an appropriate answer to that..the punch line is that just ask brief questions
a brave lady she is…moving on from Pakistan with a heavy head, she tackles the Palestine issue in Abu Dhabi the very next day. How can they prepare on such complex issues so fast?
Amazing! Plus we just hope that she did jot down all the concerns we raised and doesn’t forget any of them
I agree with what John says That we do not have a good economy in our country and that we should not depend on other countries for dams, electricity, security and for other things.I think we are becoming very lazy asking for aid instead of working hard.Its all easy money and a luxurious life for the leaders as well as their followers,but the middle and lower classes have to’bear all the burnt’.Who needs to take care of the basic things .Every man is for himself.
Articles appearing in Dawn/The international give rest of the world a hope that Pakistan is alive. In my opinion, Pakistanis need to start another independent movement, independence from your past mistakes, US, India, Taliban, Orthodoxy, bad political leadership. They need to take their soverignity back from all of these. They need to free themselves of hatred and violence and extend a hand of friendhsip to all in the world.
With grit and determination which the people have in abundance, Pakistan will come out this nightmare.
I hope DAWN will publish this.
I find the dawn editorials and news items very refreshing and objective. It gives the hope that all is not lost. It is amazing to see with such military dictators and religious mullahs being in control for so many years, common man of Pakistan still have their sense of balance and mind is free to think. May god bring peace and progress to Pakistan. After all why would India not want Pakistan to enjoy freedom and prosperity? Trying to be one up with India has been the biggest drain on Pakistan’s resources and stumbling block on the countries progress. Pakistani youth must distance itself from outdated thinking and move ahead in life.
For the record, I am a very patriotic Pakistani but being the Pakistani that I am, i like to keep my approach realistic. We must realize that whenever you do someone a favor you always expect something back in return for that. The KLB is no different, the Americans since they are giving us some aid obviously have EVERY right to expect something in return, it’s their money after all! All i am trying to state here is the simple notion of ‘beggars cannot be choosers’. And this is the case with us too, I feel Clinton was totally justified in saying, that if we don’t want it, they don’t have to give it. The only ugly side to this is, that due to the myopia of our leaders we never really had a ‘Plan B’ for anything!.
Either we come up with a ‘Plan B’ or we quietly accept the KLB, as we are NOT the ones in a position to set conditions regarding aid, its them. The sooner we accept this, the sooner we can set our bearings right!
Interesting article! I think this was a very good first step from America. Clinton was very patient and very thorough with her answers and it did reduce a bit of anxiety here in Pakistan. I think a clear message was sent to Obama administration as well as to what the general mood in Pakistan is. We both dont like and trust each other but its a sort of relationship where you cant live or without each other! Fact of the matter is if they are to exit with dignity in Afghanistan then they need us and if we are to survive against these mindless, ruthless fanatics we need them!
Take it or leave it. When the Americans disengage we cry and when it wishes to engage this is what we do to it.The TV anchors were most immature and unnecessarily aggressive in their Q&A
Hats off to Hillary for taking the initiative and opening this dialogue. Thanks to Pakistanis for not hurling shoes at her. In all fairness Pakistan’s incompetent and corrupt leadership has turn the nation into beggars of foreign aid, thus giving US further leverage to interfere openly in Pakistani affairs. Defending all US policies, past and present, is an impossible task. Would journalists and students be significantly kinder to Mrs. Clinton in China, Iran, or France? Hillary tried to build a bridge, took flak, gave back some fair reflection, and had a meaningful interaction that got people talking in US and Pakistan. All in all a step forward.
When Bush and Musharraf agreed to fight terror, drone attracts or taking fight terror to Pakistan was agreed but these things were not told inside Pakistan for its own reasons but was widely published in US.
If any one to blame now it has to be leaders of Pakistan who has agreed for this now or then.
Until Pakistan deeply dependent on outside aid for its economic survival I think US is going to take advantage of this.
Problem is not the US, India or any other external force or nation. Problem is our invincible faith in corruption, i believe majority of Pakistanis do not think twice before an act of corruption they have become so used to it that they don’t see it different from honesty. One can blame all they want to (Americans) but when you compare honesty, social responsibility, retribution for corruption, caring for fellow beings regardless of color, creed or religious belief we (the nation of One God) dont measure up our actions don’t stack up against them.
It just shocks me when I see an army officer with pride and ego of being superior to any civilian and our leaders, president or prime minister talk at length about how the rights and sovereignty is at stake then at the same time ask Americans for aid. I was shocked to read that our leadership stated that they hope that US will disburse the funds while issues around the language of the bill is being straightened.
We need education and follow Sir Syed’s advice get educated and do not get bogged down by shame that mullah’s have set up for us. Islam is the most liberal of the religions in the world. Islam was the first to give women rights to be a witness, rights to file for divorce, to be a legal heir and eduction was mandated for every Muslim man and woman and here we sit and listen to mullah’s who gave false statements about the religion.
I wish there is a day when we are all educated and no corruption.
Very well written and wisely delivered.
Hammad
“Anyone who has even looked the constitution of Pakistan should know that it is clearly stated in the Objectives Resolution that ‘Soveriegnty belongs to Allah alone but He has delegated it to the State of Pakistan through its people for being exercised within the limits prescribed by Him as a sacred trust.’ I say how can any bill, regardless of whether it was drafted in Washington or New Dehli, even dream of stealing something which belongs to Allah?”
Please keep religion out of the constituion. It is what leads to a Taliban like mentality, eventually. As a Pakistani I would like for us to revert back to Jinnah’s vision of being a secular state. Unfortunately I realise that this is a dream for me.
Hi,
Your article exposes the downright spuriousness of both the government, and the media which always claims itself to be the ultimate upholder of democracy. Media should act as a source of firsthand information and facts unbiased, they mould the facts and display it to the public in a way that may suit the interest of the controller. Free media is the feedback mechinery of a democratic system to keep the concept of democracy intact and we the general people must rise up to keep it that way.
It truly is a cultural misunderstanding rather misinterpretation. I wonder when we are going to stop making such blunders. A nation that uses ‘the’ with almost every word, how do you expect them to understand the legislative language.
Nothing is lost yet! Please, let us turn things around. All we need is honesty, dedication and hard work (all in the order mentioned above) to make Pakistan great. Perhaps the people will have to make a lesser effort compared to the politicians in this regard; or otherwise our future generations will surely be doomed. Every decade we sink into a quagmire of our own making and expect miracles to raise us to the heavens. All the potential inspite of the political, terrorism, financial, and most importantly decency lacking crisis can be overcome with honesty, dedication and hard work that still exists in us. Rise Pakistan if not for yourself then for your future generations! Or surely be doomed not by America, or the terrorists but by yourselves!
By the way the anchors asked very legitimate questions. question that come to average non-english speaking pakistanis. Hillary’s tour only exposed the deception and a farce that our ‘elected’ leaders are. The author rightly said that they say something to the people and another to the US. As far as Kerry Lugar bill or any legislatrue is concerned, pakistanis will look at it from their own perspective no matter how ‘emotional’ and silly it is.
Its quite clear to me that they have looked at us like beggers on the street. Its like we give them money or we can scold them or say whatever we want. Where is the self esteem? We have to take care of our own country and our own economy to earn respect in the world. We have all the resources in the world and incredibly gifted people. We just have to make good use of them.
Great article!
A good article regarding the US aid pakistan should take it i dont think Usa can moniter where the money goes to a cent
regarding the Pakistan’s sovereingnity i dont think that is possible, they are occupying afganistan and still cannot control it so how can they control pakistan ?
pakistan should use usa as usa is using pakistan.
Regards
Richie.
Excellent blog. I wish more people can analyse like you. I agree with you wholeheartedly. There is one of the most sovereignty called, Economic Sovereingy. If you do not have this sovereingy, you lose respect and in danger of losing your political sovereingy. It is so sad that most of Pakistani media, print and electronic do not inform facts, just disinformation, vested interested, and propaganda. How about our all weather friends, China and Saudia Arabia, how much money they donating to save from financial crisis?
The blog in its general tone to me at least seems Pro-America cleverly disguised as a criticism of the general failing of us as a nation . I find myself lately having the same criticism of Dawn in general as well. Why are we so quick to point out our own flaws while giving the American and the British the benefit of the doubt? Why are we not as critical of them as we are of ourselves. The simple answers is that our flaws are easier to see and point as they are in front of us while other who are far away are more difficult to judge. Maybe the author and the journalist who fell silent when Hillary said it was Pakistan’s choice to take the aid should have answered can we also choose not to fight your war?
Why are we not getting the same amount of aid per person as Israel who is not even fighting America war. Why do they get American weapons without preconditions when they have clearly even used them against civilians. Its not about Sovereignty its being treated as equal it about Pakistani blood being as precious as that of an American or British Solider.
well written! it is good that Mrs. Clinton has to come to Paksiatn to find out the peoples opinion. On the other hand salute to Mrs. Clinton for facing this tough task and handling it well. I completely agree with the writer, lets see what is in action going forward from Washington.
While popular sentiment is to blame USA for saddling us with their war, I think Pakistani’s need to realize that if not now then at some point in the near future we would have been fighting this war anyway, that is unless we prefer living under Taliban style “Islam” which was slowly entrenching itself in our society anyway thanks to our wonderful army and ISI.
The fact is that Pakistan has for quite sometime harbored terrorists and provided safe haven to them. The US is not responsible for that, Pakistan is. Yes I know the CIA helped set this up in the 80’s and ditched, but since then we’ve had ample time to dismantle these networks. Instead we chose to nurture them to use them against India. Please accept some responsibility. This is our war as much as it is USA’s.
The fact is we really should be embracing US help in getting our country rid of this problem. I much prefer Obama’s style of accountability for aid money vs Bush’s blank check approach whereby Gen. M. used the money to his personal use or what so ever purpose. There is a reason our “leaders” are up in arms about Kerry-Lugar and that is because it’s harder for them to line their pockets with the people’s $$$. The intent of that bill is to provide maximum benefit to the people of pakistan not it’s corrupt politicians. Personally I’m glad Pakistani diplomats failed to get a word in about the language of the bill because I sincerely doubt they give much of a care about anything but their personal bank accounts.
Let’s us look at the FACTUAL HISTORICAL EVIDENCE rather than what Hillary is SAYING.
The main interest of the US is to gain “strategic depth” in South Asia.
Why? To threaten Iran. And monitor Russia and China. This is the new geo-political nexus of power for the US.
This is dangerous for EVERY South Asian nation-state.
In its relentless quest for dominance, (even though the US economy is in the doldrums), the US has successfully gained a foothold in South Asia.
Wake up Pakistan. Don’t blame yourselves.
Only the ordinary people of Pakistan can make that happen. Pakistani leaders are too dependent on US billions. None of the money reaches the common man.
Wake up Pakistan. Say NO to US money and US control. Say YES to SELF-RESPECT and national Sovereignty.
Chithra KarunaKaran
New York, NY
i agree with the writer on everything!we need to use our heads rather than our emotions all the time.its time to reflect where we went wrong as a nation too.
The faster Pakistani people and leaders realise that, they do not have a good economy in their country. Pakistan should not depend on other countries for dams, electricity, security and for other things. The leaders need to take care of the basic things like these.
hillary is Great women God bless her and may she live long life
Atleast we are now in a position to openly communicate our feelings as a normal citizen, thanks to the free media.
very nicely written and i agree with your analysis it was really funny to see Mrs. Clinton handling the whole bunch of media and spin them around her little finger. Mrs. Clinton on the other hand carried herself like a true diplomat and a leader !!
Hillary Clinton’s visit to pakistan and regarding its impact on pakistan and pakistani’s have left so many doubts and unsolved questions that will remain unsolved forever.
During a tv talk show with pakistani well known anchores Mr. Talat, Hussain and Mr. Hamid Mir who asked her questions regarding daily drone attackes, killing innocent, violating the sovereignty of Pakistani peoples, wandering of notorious blackwater men with heavy weapons during late night in Islamabad, would America allow any pakistani to walk on the street of their country with such illegal heavy weapons without official licence? she instead of giving a reply took a U-turn and question of Hamid Mir as well as many questions of Talat Hussain remained unanswered. Now all these questions are again before the people of pakistan.
We don’t want aid (Kerry – Lugar bill). This was our opportunity to say to the US that you guys still treat our country as a terrorist nation with the kind of language used in the bill. We don’t want your aid, we don’t want any drone attacks. Leave the nation in the hands of the people of Pakistan.
While this approach is new to us in Pakistan, its not the case in the states. The public and media questions are hard to digest in our country where the leaders regard themselves as masters and public as their servants. On the contorary, miss clinton has showed her professionlism by engaging with the masses, someone of them from our tribal region. this is something that our leaders lack.
One of the issues we face as a nation is lack of real intellectual discourse on matters that matter. In the media so called American invasion on Pakistan’s sovereignty there has been a visible lack of real discussion about the fact that Americans have a right to attach conditions to billions that they are throwing at us, we have a right to say no to those conditions and refuse that aid and that the wording in Kerry Lugar Act is failure of our foreign policy and diplomatic establishment.
i think hillary showed mirror to corrupt Pakistani society. She is right in pointing out that dont take aid if you dont want it. Why would you expect some one to respect you as nation if you will not sort all our problems .
You know, I have to tell you, I really enjoy this blog and the insight from everyone who participates. I find it to be refreshing and very informative. I wish there were more blogs like it. Anyway, I felt it was about time I post.