Friday, December 25, 2009

Zardari vs. Pak Military



The current turmoil in Pakistan basically pitches Pakistanis and their military against a combine of Zardari-Haqqani-Malik and America.

This means the President, his Ambassador to Washington, and his Interior Minister, backed by the United States, versus the judiciary, the nation of Pakistan and the military.

If you are a keen observer, you will not miss the telltale signs.

One of them was on display today, Dec. 24, on the front page of The News International, Pakistan’s largest English-language newspaper.

My colleague Mr. Rauf Klassra ran a juicy story titled, When it comes to keeping gifts, army rulers outdo civilians’. It’s about two former military rulers of Pakistan illegally retaining state gifts presented by foreign dignitaries to Pakistani presidents and prime ministers.

The story, if accurate, is fair.


But a day earlier, the same author, my colleague Mr. Klasra, ran another juicy story titled, ‘Zardari excels in keeping foreign gifts worth millions.’

See?

It’s a tit-for-tat. The paper publishes a story showing a greedy President Zardari gobbling up state gifts. The very next day, another story appears that accuses military rulers of ‘outdoing’ civilian rulers in greed.

What does this mean?

First, it shows the mindset in the Zardari camp. They do see the Pakistani military as their prime target. This, of course, is no longer a secret. Mr. Zardari and his closest aides had their sights on the military and specifically on ISI from the day the incumbent government seized power last year. And this is not about any domestic Pakistani political agenda. It is about fulfilling conditions in the secret deal brokered by US Department of State that brought Mr. Zardari to power in Pakistan.

Second, this tit-for-tat reveals the fight-back strategy of the Zardari government. And it’s simple:


1.       Move the focus of the Pakistani public opinion away from the massive corruption and ineptitude of the incumbent government by turning this into a civil-military dispute.

2.      Raise the specter of rebellion in Sindh against Pakistan if Zardari is no longer in power.


This is the outline of the Zardari comeback plan. There is one more card up Mr. Zardari's sleeve and that's US diplomats in Islamabad quietly lobbying other key public figures to support Mr. Zardari in exchange for a piece of America's soft power in favor of this or that politician.

As for whipping up sentiments against the Pakistani military, it probably is already obvious to Mr. Zardari and his aides that this won’t happen any time soon. His government is so inept that it succeeded in pushing Pakistanis toward the judiciary and the military in less than two years. No one except idealistic fools have any faith in politicians.

As for the so-called Sindh card, I couldn’t come up with a better and more shocking retort than the following paragraph by Ameer Bhutto, Benazir’s first cousin who wrote an eye-opening op-ed in today’s The News:


“Sindh today is a far cry from the Sindh of 27 December 2007 and if anyone expects Sindhis to react in the same way as they did back then, they are deluded. One example illustrates my point: On 31 May 2009 the chief minister Sindh and some of his ministers held an open kutchery of mostly their own party workers in Naodero. So enraged was the public at the government's failure to give any relief that they not only confronted the chief minister and his ministers with harsh words, but were becoming so physically aggressive that the police had to herd the VIPs inside a rest house to save them from their own party workers. The furious people attacked the rest house and shattered the windows. Fearing the worse, the rangers were summoned and the VIPs were piled into bullet-proof vehicles and rushed away to a safe location, but not before the people succeeded in pelting the vehicles with stones. If the People's Party workers can do this to their own government in Naodero, Benazir Bhutto's hometown and the epicenter of the People's Party, then one can imagine the situation in other areas of Sindh.”

I can only add this piece of advice to the trio of Mr. Zardari, Mr. Haqqani and Mr. Malik:

The American-protected NRO is over. The man who facilitated it in Pakistan, Mr. Musharraf, made a better judgment and fled. The Pakistani military was dragged into the deal along with the people of Pakistan because some [like me, in the interest of full disclosure] erred by retaining some faith in that Mr. Musharraf won’t blunder. Now it appears the military is not interested in protecting US interest when the US won’t reciprocate.

The writing is on the wall. Pakistani nation has been through hell in the past three years. We won’t allow you or anyone else to serve a foreign agenda using our tax money.

13 comments:

  1. Ahmed,

    I am surprised that you have dragged in the name of Rauf Klassra in the tussle between America's puppets and Pakistan's armed forces. I consider Rauf Klassra to be a journalist of the highest integrity. I think what he has said about Musharraf, his sidekick Shaukat Aziz, Zardari et al is fair and it is irrelevant to the subject of your post. All he is saying is: iss hamaam mei.n sabhi nangay hai.n!

    An excellent article on the current political scene in Pakistan is Haroon-ur-Rasheed's column in Jang today, "Magar daleel ke saath":

    http://www.jang.com.pk/jang/dec2009-daily/24-12-2009/col4.htm

    If this article had been published before my blog post of 22 Dec. I would have made that post more effective and hard hitting.

    ReplyDelete
  2. I didn't drag Mr. Klasra's name into anything. I mentioned his name just to give him credit for his two stories. This isn't about Mr. Klasra, who did a splendid job here like always. The focus is on Mr. Zardari and his spin masters who came into action to dig up dirt on the military as soon as Mr. Klasra published his story on Mr. Zardari's gift-grabbing.

    Maybe I should have made this point clear.

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  3. I am dishearten and disillusioned due to present state of affairs of this country. I foresee no change and worse to come in the shape of acquittal of all NRO personalities. We are heading towards a Egypt like situation where Hosni Mubarak rules cuz he is US planted. For God sake Ahmed don’t portray our military as angels they are equally responsible for this chaos in the country. Unfortunately we have no one who can stand up at the time when it is counted. Mosharraf destroyed us but not a single military high-up differs with him. At present army is fighting for its survival they damn care about this country. PPP got power after 12 years it is their turn to plunder this country. Nawaz has to wait for his turn. Who cares for country.

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  4. Sakib is right. This was one of the most pathetic attempt to mix the two. The fact is, like Sakib said, RAUF is simply saying ALL OUR LEADERSHIP including the men in unifiom are corrupt to core. Some are corrupt for POWRE and other for money and some for position.

    Dear AQ the amount of energy you waste in dragging politicians, if you had used 10% of it on the evils of our military men and do a fair analysis you will be more JUST in your opinions.

    The bottom line in the end is "es hamam mai sab hungey hain" and if you are an HONEST analyst , you better treat others equally. If you have a vested interest in saving a particular CLASS and drag just politicians, you will be known as a agent of the Pindi group then a serious , intelligent analyst.

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  5. Ahmed, we erred in placing our faith in Musharraf, we have been betraye.
    I am firm believer that the name of PPP and Pakistan can not go to gather. I have said it before and i say it again, that Bhutto was an Indian mole, to destroy Pakistan, which India could not by open aggression. BB carried out his dirty mission. We as a nation can not check this design of India, and let its viper nest prosper in our midest. Then Allah protected Pakistan, and have removed these two agents of India by voilent end, so that we be warned, but we let the worst of bhutto's clan to
    take control of Pakistanis politics, with the new pay master in the shape of United States. I hope Allah forgives our ineptness to protect our homeland, and will remove this pestilence from the face of this earth, Amen.

    ReplyDelete
  6. of CIVIL and MILITARY thieves and the common man = http://ejang.jang.com.pk/12-28-2009/pic.asp?picname=1442.gif

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  7. Dear Mr. Ahmad, I have been reading your posts and I admire your approach, but I have noticed that there is some "racial profiling" outbursts in you when you talk of Altaf Hussain and MQM. All of a sudden a polite brainy and nationalist view turns upside down and visible hatred pops up.

    Strange is that you identify the enemy, and being a nationalist you, with a stroke of a pen, reject the efforts of Mr. Altaf Hussain and MQM for this country.

    The high injustice and racial degradation by other ehtnic "sopranos" was the reason behind the creation of MQM.

    SO, is it true or I am just imagining things. Waiting for your kind response.Please expound immediately. Thanks

    ReplyDelete
  8. Sorry, Silkworm, I do not understand what you are saying. I have said nothing against MQM and Mr Altaf Hussain. Actually, I welcome the increasing popularity of MQM in the Punjab.

    Please can we conduct this conversation at my blog, say, the post titled 'The Day of the Vampires'? Also, I am just a Pakistani Muslim - not sure what you mean by 'nationalist'.

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  9. Beg pardon, Silkworm. I had too much to do and didn't read your comment carefully.

    I think you were talking to ahmEd and not to AhmAd - my apologies.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Zardari Vs Army:
    It is a war of of words is set to divert the attention of people from upcoming Af-Pak policy, a future war, for which Pakistan would be the battle ground. This is not the time to raise issues regarding failure of Zardari government or weakness of Army in respect of American policies, this is time to think and propmpt for viable precautionary measures in case of any bad impact of Af-Pak policy on Pakistan. The operation on Af-Pak policy shall start after January 2010. We have one month time to avert any ugly situation by holding direct talks with Americans to remove serious appehensions they have regarding emergence of Al-Qaeda and Taliban. There should be body of senior Pak stake holders to take guarrantee with US stake holders that there shall be no emergence or regrouping of Al-Qaeda from 2010 and full power shall be utilized to stop attacks on US Nato forces across the border of Afghanistan. Pakistani Stake holders are to take bold and serious steps to push Mr. Obama to recall US Af-Pak policy and hold back the decision of sending 30,000 thousand american troops in Aghanistan. Pakistan is in a position to avert any situation at any time and at any place in the region and can protect international interests. Pakistan has to come forward with suggestions and advise to Mr. Obama that what he is intending to do by Af-Pak policy, we have a substitute for his Af-Pak policy. The only hurdle is the Indian designs against Pak interest and US may be taken into confidence regarding Pak apprehensions in respect of Indian designs. Pak statke holders are sitting silent and watching the out come of Af-Pak operational Plan. Once the Af-Pak plan get execution the Pak stake holders may not be in a position to get any change or diversion in the line of execution. One month time is enough to get disseminate Pakistan interests and force the US authorities to hold the Af-Pak policy for a certain period and proivde an opportunity to Pakistan to take necessary actions in the line of Af-Pak policy. Mr. Obama and his administration are practical men, they shall pay sincere heed to the above promises and may give time and a chance to Pakistan stake holders to act and control the growing militancy and emergence of Al-qaeda and growing threats to US soil and western soils. ry.
    As Pakistan is also a party to Af-Pak policy and Pakistan would be in direct effect of outcome of the policy operations therefore, Pakistan has every chance to get into and convince the US stake holders regarding substitutes and available plans and actions in place of Af-Pak policy operations. A joint meeting of Senior US - Pak - AFghan- Indian stake holders may be arranged and open dicussions may be made and ideas may be floated to save the region from any possible disaster in case of failure of operations might be taken under Af-Pak policy. The meeting of all 4 countries would remove an impression that Pak is involved in providing sanctuaries to the militant and felicitating growing militancy.
    SMIQBAL. A VERY HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL READERS AND FRIENDS.

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  11. The basic problem here is simply that US is talking directly to civilian leadership for major decisions. This is new for Pak Army leadership and it will take time for them to get used to it. Meanwhile they try to spread anti-americanism in Pakistan as a sort of punishment for the Americans.
    Let me tell you the strategy of infinitely corrupt and incompetent Pakistan Army leadership and its systemic failure:-

    1. Try to play neighbours card: Delibrate infiltrations into Kashmir and Afghanistan! The ones into Afghanistan were well responded by Americans and Army learnt the lesson rather quickly. Infiltrations into Kashmir were not so successful as most Kashmiris dont trust the Army after what Musharraf did to them. Last came the Mumbai attack which was well responded by India. So Army leadership is no longer playing the neighbour card.

    2. Play US Card: This was rather a better show by our goof top khaki shits. However, this one has also started to fail miserably. Reason being US knows who is behind spreading anti-americanism: rogue big guys of PAK Army. So you can sense that is inherently counter productive. So have fun guys! Kerry Lugar shit is over. Blackwater presence has not been proved. US knows that we have to control the mujahid cult within Pak Army and ISI. It is only a matter of two or three iterations in Army high command and then Army will be as good and as loyal as the PAF. All control is mental and generals will finally learn to get instructions from the peoples' government.

    3. NRO and campaign against Zardari: This is greatest loser shot and I am happy that it continue for some time longer. It will prove beneficial for our great President in the long run as he will be acquitted of all the nonsense charges by our honorable courts.

    4. Attempt on life of the President: It is on the table but once Zardari goes... My lovely friend Nawaz Sharif is gonna come in soon. So it will be death by jojo for our generals. So its better that they choose and honorable death of their influence. Meanwhile, my all time favorite Raza Rabbani, the honorable senator, is doing well and the 17th Amendment will soon be a relic of the past :D So be ready goofs Nawaz is coming back!!!
    There is another benefit of this campaign to the PPP but I won't tell you that now.

    Actually, nobody I repeat nobody in Pakistan is in favour of these goof khaki uncles. While they love their army, their soldiers and their loyal officers they have no tolerance left for TREASON. Besides, supreme court has learnt a lesson and rather well and it wont support dictatorial regimes wherein the honorable judges work under the office of attorney generals.

    The times are much better in Pakistan. The state of accountability is much better as there is nobody to say on TV "He is our man and I will take side of our man" nobody removes honorable constables and police officers for doing their duty, nobody protects Rapists in the ranks of Army and shit like "Women get raped to get Canadian visa" is no longer available to be heard. Soldiers are no longer ordered to rape their mother (enter into the Supreme Court) and finally for the anti american propagandists "AMERICANS NO LONGER HAVE BASES IN PAKISTAN". So here you go Ahmed Quraishi and your team. Long Live Pakistan and Long live Our Armed Forces (minus the idiots). Long live even General Kayani as he doesn't seem to be that goof. (although he is a little :D sometimes you know).

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  12. Is this guy Sarmad a CIA or RAW agent who has been assigned the task of spreading lies and disinformation among Pakistanis? Silly man, don't you understand that modern technology has made it next to impossible to suppress the truth? What the Americans and the British write openly in their own publications can easily be read by Pakistanis sitting at home with access to the internet?

    You may do all you can to ferry fresh supplies of blood to the vampires who have descended on Pakistan but you will not succeed in your evil designs, insha Allah. The vampires' days are numbered - you can read more about this here:

    http://sakibahmad.blogspot.com/2009/12/day-of-vampires.html

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  13. what sarmad is saying is nonsense.he is a mole of some covert NGO working for the anti state elements.such people should be identified and taken on board.

    ReplyDelete

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