We must get it right in Pakistan

Pakistani society has never been more divided than today, not just economically, but religiously and

By Rageh Omaar Published 16 August 2007

It hasn't been the happiest of birthdays for Pakistan. Sixty years after the trauma of Partition, which created the country, it is going through one of the most uncertain and perilous times in its history.

Pakistan's beleaguered president, General Pervez Musharraf, must feel he has little to celebrate. With almost daily suicide bombings since the army's catastrophic siege last month of the Red Mosque and its madrasas in the heart of the capital, Islamabad, Musharraf found himself having to use his national independence address not to hail the country's achievements but to urge Pakistanis to unite against terrorism. He also spoke of the importance of engaging in the forthcoming elections, the first since his coup in 1999.

Pakistan is pivotal in the so-called war on terror, but "terror" is a word the president has almost never used to describe what has been happening inside Pakistan. Apart from references to "foreigners" infiltrating Pakistan to fight with al-Qaeda, "terrorism" has been, for Musharraf, a problem for Afghanistan, the Middle East, Indian-controlled Kashmir and Britons of Pakistani descent. That he used the word to describe a national problem is a measure of how much has changed since the storming of the Red Mosque.

It is also a measure of the general's desperation. He is a man battling for political survival, unable to hand power to civilians but at the same time unable to exert authority on an increasingly anarchic country that has nuclear weapons.

Power and, more importantly, credibility are ebbing away from Musharraf at such a rate that many Pakistanis believe he looks more and more like Hamid Karzai, president of neighbouring Afghanistan, a man Musharraf despised and looked down on. For him, Karzai was a puppet of the west - a leader whom Washington had imposed on Afghanistan after the ousting of the Taliban in 2001. Worse, Karzai stayed in power because of the US, with American bodyguards rather than Afghan ones. Even though Musharraf put Pakistan fully behind the war on terror, he saw himself as different from Karzai. He had real support and power within Pakistan. Now that has changed and Pakistanis see him as a man, like Karzai, ever more reliant on support from Washington and London.

Pakistani society has never been more divided than today, not just economically, but religiously and socially. The divisions between the liberal middle classes and the poor are about the role and place of religion, the madrasa system and Pakistan's relationship with the west which, ordinary Pakistanis believe, gives them nothing. Aid from the US and UK has been overwhelmingly military-based, with barely any regard to social and developmental needs. For London and Washington, Musharraf was Pakistan, and as long as he was on their side, so was the rest of the country. That delusion is now unravelling.

Britain and the UK are realising that Pakistan is a divided land, with full-blown insurgency wars under way across the north, and a parallel Islamist political system that is campaigning for the establishment of sharia rule and an open alliance with the Taliban in Afghanistan.

Comments by Gordon Brown and David Mili band about the importance of Afghanistan and Pakistan in the war on terror have been hugely encouraging. But Brown's government and the Bush administration still share dangerous misconceptions about the country. They have pandered to military rule in Pakistan for too long. They supported Musharraf blindly and were uninterested in what was happening inside his country. Continuing such a policy will ensure that millions of liberal Pakistanis come to hate the west - in addition to the millions of conservative and militant Islamists who already do so.

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8 comments

Sun, 2007-08-19 15:22 — Douglas Chalmers

Pakistan is not really pivotal in the so-called war on terror. The US Christian Zionist-supported AIPAC is though, and its influence in the US White House and the insanely ignorant Christian Zionists' influence in US politics is absolutely pivotal. At least, it was until a certain bridge collapse in Minnesota last week. Apart from that, climate-change investment opportunities have slowy dawned in Neocon minds.

As the Bush-Cheney cabal recede into iniquity, their legacy of destruction and division is not quite yet over. Can you imagine one last "grand plan"? They certainly would if they thought that they could get away with it. As a second Pearl Harbor-like "attack on the US" would be met with incredulity and outrage, Pakistan stands a significant chance of a pre-emptive strike of ludicrous proportions instead.

Sadly, the USA has other things on its mind this last week with an imminent financial collapse as its housing bubble is permanently punctured and the yen carry trade no longer supports foreign debt for the Treasury or the corporate sector. The costs of running another Iraq-scale invasion are temporarily unappealing, to say the least. Screaming about "you're either with us or against us" would only be met with a laugh from financiers in other countries these days.

No-one is interested in the $US any more and ensuring regular, reliable and affordable oil prices is seen as more of an imperative. A conflict in the Straits of Hormuz is undesirable but that is not ruling out Pakistan to the south. Any clearly perceived extremist threats to government stability would immediately see a covert agreement between the USA and India to a permanent solution on a military basis and at any cost - to the Pakistani people.

As the Obama outburst was most likely already an indirect means of applying pressure, Washington has indicated that it has little time for Musharrif to play any more games. Benazir Bhutto might not get Obama's head on a plate but she should get a chance to rein things in for the sake of her people not becoming the next nuclear holocaust victims of the USA or even of Britain if it is co-opted into a military assault again. Anything is possible this week.

Mon, 2007-08-20 16:51 — VC

Never met him, but I`ll be clearly crude and state from the outset that I don`t like Rageh Omaar. This was further hightened when he sloped off and joined the BBC/MI6 constructed Al Jazeera....Sir David Frost also found a home there.

One of the great funnies of the Bush era was when he suggested to Tony Blair that he was considering bombing Al Jazeera....imagine bombing an MI6 asset!!!

Anyway, back on track.The "sham" war on terror has taken quiet a few twists and turns. The 9/11 ignition event was alledgedly committed by 19 Saudi`s...most of whom are still alive...we all remember the US terror report with all the relevent Saudi pages blacked out. Remember all the Saudi money lines linked to terrorism...all forgotten.

Just after 9/11, we see General Musharraf giving a tv interview...a man with the fear of death writ across his face....poor Musharraf, forced to provide plenty of arrests to maintain the Western terror illusion. Even after Musharraf stated that nearly all of Al-Qaeda had been arrested, the Amerikans kept forcing the anti and now the sham war on terror has become an axis between the UK and Pakistan.

This all goes back to the exit of Russia from Afghanistan. You see, we were led to believe that Bin Laden was CIA, but in fact was MI6 and this is why the historical connection between militant Pakistan and Britain is so strong. MI6 used Bin Laden`s men in Bosnia and after that many were allowed to relocate in the UK.

The 7/7 "alledged" bombers again had links with Pakistan. The MSM told us that two of these alledged bombers had been recorded planning crimes to fund their terror plans....the same MSM messaged us that 7/7 cost about £9,000 to pull off. We are also told that all four alledged bombers made several trips to Pakistan...these were long expensive trips...yet British SIS recorded them plotting crimes for much needed funds. Other reports said the went to terror traning camps and other reports, "alledgedly" from British SIS said "they weren`t considered a threat".

After 7/7, the police told us that Shezzad Tanweer had £120,000 in his bank account....surely, if knew he was going to die, he wouldn`t leave all that money for the police to find...we are still waiting for the police/SIS to come up with their usual excusses.

Not much happens in Pakistan without the CIA giving the nod. I`ve had enough of the sham war on terror and I`m not supprised the people of Pakistan feel the same way . The tensions in Pakistan could well be CIA pressure on Musharraf....US persidential candidate Barack Obama has publically stated that he`d drop a few bombs on Pakistan if it made Amerikans feel safer at night.

Its a worrying situation when Al Jazeera receives all of Bin Ladens tapes and CIA agents can`t trace their origins back to Langley.

Sat, 2007-11-24 10:47 — Rule of Law

Moinansari has hit the nail on the head. The West interferes too much in other people's affairs. Pakistan is a great nation of 160 million people that is troubled by the meddling of others. It was a front line State against the USSR and indeed won the war jointly with the US to liberate Afghanistan from the Soviets. Unfortunately, rather than be congratulated and honoured for this bravery, courage and determination, it was abandoned and left to rot under some misguided, corrupt and nepotistic politicians.

When Afghanistan was freed from the Soviets, it was an ideal time for Democracy to be promoted and Western ideals left to proliferate and fluorish. Sadly, this didn't happen and we are now left with the enigma that is Bin Laden and his followers playing mighty hell in the region.

Pakistan needs to come into the First World Order and is well onto it's way. Musharraf has invested more into Pakistan's infrastructure in the last 8 years than any predecessor. This has resulted in 8% growth year after year. It is economic progress which will destroy the roots of terrorism. After all what good is martyrdom if you're too busy trying to earn a living for your family.

To bring people into this kind of thinking ethos, it is necessary that Pakistan's peopleare educated to Western standards and many are. However there needs to be investment in education and freedoms installed into the tribal areas. Major roads networks need to be built to connect these areas to the rest of Pakistan to allow people and trade in and out freely. Universities and Colleges need to be set up throughout the tribal regions and Pakistan's educated disapora need to return to educate these people to think about life now and tomorrow instead of eternally dreaming about the life hereafter.

Pakistan needs to work harder to bring down trade barriers with neighbouring countries with Treaties signed on free trade and human rights.

There is hope for Pakistan. Hope comes in the form of investment in education, treaties with it's neighbours and continued investment in it's infrastructure. The educated diaspora also need to contribute with ideas.

If there are corrupt politicians. Perhaps now is the time for the Government to introduce legislation that removes the incentives of corruption. I suggest a Law that allows the seizing of Criminals Assetts as a deterrent to all that Crime Does Not Pay. I suggest they call it the Proceeds of Crime Act. It would stop any would be politicians from creaming off any more ill gotten gains from the State and perhaps allow the State to recover illicit proceeds from previous politicians in power.

Fri, 2007-08-17 21:18 — simonpsc

The radical middle classes and 'nation-builders' of Pakistan have long been put down by the ruling zaminda (landlord) classes who consider themselves to be Persian rather than South Asian. These ruling and semi-feudal elites foster divide-and-rule tactics and set one religious group against another - with the poor people losing. Small wonder that fundamentalist beliefs now dominate politics.

Sat, 2007-08-18 03:54 — moinansari

Dear Editor:

The story shows a lack of historical knowledge of Pakistan and only peripheral knowledge of the political process of Pakistan. Someone needs to do his/her homework. I wonder why such shoddy “journalism” is published by a great world-class newspaper. Rageh Omaar's article is factually incorrect. Rageh Omaar’s writing has several errors in it, is biased and presents only one side of the picture. Rageh Omaar’s biased analysis has serious flaws and has factual errors in it. The sad fact is that many of your readers may read this dribble.

The allegations against Pakistan are false. They are based on anti-Pakistan bigotry and the failed policies perpetuated in the past few years. President Bush, and Prime Minister Tony Blair have repeatedly praised Pakistan for her fight against terrorism. Pakistan is a founding member of SEATO, and CENTO and was a frontline state against the USSR. She is a Non-Nato Ally (NNA) and a cold war ally. This week Pakistan suffered many blasts first initiated by the USSR and Afghanistan against Pakistan during the first Afghan war. Neither Pakistan, nor Pakistanis nor President Musharraf signed up to indentured servitude to anyone. Friendship is a two way street, and the anti-Pakistan government in Kabul is an impediment to a NATO victory and peace in Pakistan.

When an anti-Pakistan government was installed in Kabul, surely Pakistanis were not happy. The geo-strategic interests of Pakistan have to be taken into account. Neither the government, nor the people of Pakistan have signed up for indentured servitude to carry on the follies of a broken foreign policy that supports an incompetent and corrupt non-representative government in Kabul. The NATO troops are teething on annihilation by the anti-occupation insurgent (wrongly labeled as "Talibaan"). All this has created immense problems for Pakistan, and Pakistanis are not too happy fighting Pakistanis......neither Musharraf nor anyone else supports Pakistanis fighting Pakistanis. The Tribal areas are "tribal". They joined Pakistan under treaty obligations that allowed them total autonomy...that was the deal for joining the Federation. They have helped Pakistan for the past 60 years. The articles of the confederation of the constitution of Pakistan cannot be changed because of failed US policies in Afghanistan. NATO and America needs to build peace by wining the hearts and minds of Afghans not by cluster bombs and missiles.

Selective amnesia is good to hide that fact that what Rageh Omaar's refers to terrorism in the 80s was called patriotism by President Reagan and Bush 41. These were the days when the Talibaan were invited to the White House and Texas ranches. The Pakistanis, the CIA and 52 other countries were complicit in fighting and defeating the USSR in Afghanistan. The Carnegie center is known for it’s anti-Pakistan views.

Pakistanis are not indentured servants of anyone. Pakistan is a proud nation of 160 million people on the way to progress and prosperity. It is the 4th largest country on earth, and deserves respect. Pakistan has nuclear bombs and missiles to deliver them to all corners of the globe.

Violence begets violence. “He who lives by the sword, dies by the sword”.Few political scientists have fully identified the inherent risks of direct US action in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) of Pakistan. Not only will this generate a tsunami of anti-Americanism, it will also push the miscreants to the urban areas of Pakistan destabilizing the country. Al-Qaeda will thrive in chaos and threaten the government and the people of Pakistan.

The push theory (pushing miscreants out of one area) does not work. When the Police raids a street gang on a street, they simply move over to the next street. The solution is a comprehensive plan to interdict drugs and create alternative employment for the youth. Similarly fighting terror is a two pronged strategy. An unstable Pakistan is bad for the entire planet. The solution is a massive "Marshall Plan" for Pakistan, which creates incentives for the people to earn a proper living. To start with, the US should abolish the quotas and subsidies on textiles. This will enhance Pakistani exports and provide jobs to the youth.

Already all the roads to Kabul are in Talib control. America made a critical mistake in imposing a non-Pashtun Northern Alliance anti-Pakistan Karzai government in Kabul. Pakistan and Pashtuns will never tolerate a Northern Alliance government in Kabul. The worst thing America can do right now, is to invade the FATA areas. This will unite the Talibs as never before, and the fall of Kabul will be expedited.

Some biased American policy makers are blind to all this. Just like they never found WMDs in Iraq, they will never find OBL in Pakistan. Pakistani cooperation is crucial in this part of the world. They are destabilizing a country of 150 million people which will have long term consequences for India, China, the Central Asian republics and Iran. If attempts to continue the destabilization Pakistan will join Iran and create a nexus with China or even Russia.

Pakistan will move ahead and is moving ahead.

Sat, 2007-08-18 03:57 — moinansari

It is not surprising that an esteemed British newspaper writes this sort of erroneous article full of mistakes seething with bias. From Clive to Cornwallis; from Mountbatten to Blair, Pakistanis and Muslims have been used to these sort of dire consequences emanating out to London. The first governor General of India, and Nehru’s lover, Edwina predicted that Pakistan would last three months. Kashmir, Manvanagar, Junagarh, Pakistani life is full of British broken promises.

When your last general left the Subcontinent, Pakistanis felt that you would really leave. But you keep coming back to the Middle East and South Asia. Will Britannia learn her lessons ever. Neither the sun (which does set in the UK), nor the world cares for the little island North of “Le Mange”. Your editors should pay more attention to Scotland, Wales, and Ireland.

Pakistan has now become immune to British “prophecies of doom”. Pakistanis are sick of “do more” lectures from a 3rd rate country that piggy-backs on superpowers to get a kick out of beating up vulnerable populations.

2 million Muslim kids died destroying the USSR. Today, Pakistan is suffering because of the failed policies of Britain and the USA. The blowback faced by many is because of the short sighted policies of London and Washington.

Your selective amnesia is amazing. Pakistan was used by the USA in the First Afghan War against the USSR. India at the time was on the losing side of the battle and the USSR was not only defeated, it imploded.

Analysts see major cavities. Today there is an overwhelming body of evidence that a similar fate faces "India." India's major problem is not a nuclear armed Pakistan, or 160 million belligerent Pakistanis or even 160 million Bangledeshis or the 160 million Indian Muslims. India's problem is the 40 million Hindu White widows, and the Dalits and Naxalite insurrection that threatens to destroy the heart of midland. While the urban penury competes with rural poverty the plutocratic, dynastic democrats, the extremist rightists, and the megalomaniacs (Nero's) dream of a global power, the heart of India is in pain and destitution.

Once again, India is on the losing side in the war in Afghanistan. The real Afghans sick of the extremist "talibaan" and the other stooges will take power in Kabul. Soon Mr. Karzai, the Mayor of Kabul will be seeking Indian asylum again, choosing a condominium next to the Delai Lama. Afghanistan will soon be liberated again , the other traitors and non-Pashtun puppets will hang from the trees in Kabul. As the Afghans win, the Indian Consulates (the den of deceit and inequity) will once again be shut down and the Indian Embassy will again be sent packing back to old Delhi.

If the plutocrats in India do not learn their lessons, there will be another Mahmud of Ghazni and another Ahmad Shah Abdali to teach her that lesson. Missile pun intended. This time New Delhi will lose more than the peacock throne and the kohinoor.

Tue, 2007-10-16 16:11 — johnlyndon

moinansari & carl jones: You're nutters. Seriously.
Particularly you moinansari; all that grimly messianic apocolyptic pushtan supremacy, you do your whole people a disservice. I'm still not convinced you're for real. And bringing the whole thing back to India? Great! blame India for the fact that Pakistan is a kleptocratic nuthouse, where the military and the fundamentalists jostle for supremacy and cultural hegemony; joking about nuclear strikes on Delhi is a particularly nice touch. you know what, you deserve the country you live in, it's just a pity the other 160 million Pakistanis have to put up with it- and you- too

Thu, 2008-01-03 03:53 — stevenlind821

Whoever is incharge in Pakistan is just a deputy of the US, a dog. The US is the master. Whatever is happening in Pakistan now is the making of the US and everyone please don't pretend to be naive about it.

The US is currently imposing sanction against Iran. But unfortunately the $7.4billion Iran-Pakistan gas pipeline venture initiated in 2006 opposed by the US has been approved by the recalcitrant US dog- Musharraf recently in October 2007. Since the US was not able to put pressure on India to not get involve in the deal (who is the ultimate consumer of the gas), the US had no choice but to replace Musharraf, thus bringing in the two freshly annointed dogs( a dog and a b***h)- either one will do. This is to ensure that the hole in the sanction bucket is plugged.

There is more to come!