GOOD MORNING: can we really say no to the US?
ARTICLE (March 12 2008): Of the numerous disturbing (political) signs, symbols and stories that are around us today, this one about the United States making demands on Pakistan is that I would like to begin with.
Not only disturbing, but a matter of deepest concern, even though there are such people who wouldn't be surprised, given the existing nature of the bilateral relationship in which Pakistan continues to stand by the Superpower in its war against terror. Does this news story indicate in any measure which way the winds will blow in the days ahead.?
And what are these demands? According to the lead story in "The News" on 8th March "US yearns for Pak Capitulation" and "Islamabad rejects new demand," datelined Islamabad, it has been reported that there are eleven demands that the United States has put to the Government of Pakistan through the Ministry of Defence. The demands that they are, wondered one citizen angrily why these have come at a time when a new government and power base is in the offing, after the February 18 polls.
Now the first demand is for the granting of a status that is accorded to the technical and administrative staff of the US embassy; the second demand is that these personnel be allowed to enter and exit Pakistan on mere National Identification (for example a driving licence) that is without any visas; the third is that Pakistan should accept the legality of all US licences, which would include arms licences; the fourth demand is that all these personnel be allowed to carry arms and wear uniforms as they wish, across Pakistan.
I would like to believe that a Pakistani citizen would be shocked at all this I have reproduced, but there is more that needs to be mentioned here. The next demand states that the "US criminal jurisdiction be applicable in Pakistan to US nationals." (It is argued that the Pakistani laws would not be applicable to the US nationals); then the US has demanded an exemption from all taxes, including indirect taxes, like excise duty etc; then the next demand states that is for free import and export of all goods and materials, then comes the demand for a free movement of vehicles vessels, including aircraft without landing or parking fees; then the next demand is that selected US contractors should also be exempted from paying taxes in Pakistan; then there is the demand that says that there should be free of cost use of US telecommunication systems and using all necessary radio spectrum; and the final demand in the list has been described as "most dangerous".
It is linked to the demand for non-applicability of Pakistani law for US personnel. There is a demand for a waiver of all claims to damage or loss or destruction of other's property, or death to personnel or armed forces or civilians.
What next? What is happening in this country? That is one thought. Curiosity made one refer to the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary for two words for exactitude. One of these words was obviously sovereignty, as it was natural to think along these lines, in a world of perceptible and imperceptible change. Says the dictionary sovereignty is "a state of being a country with full freedom to govern itself." Admittedly Pakistan's sovereignty is much focused upon these days - and even after the elections last month.
The other word is "suzerainty" and the dictionary mentioned above says that it means "the right of a country to rule over another country." It is certain that were there not so many serious and grim issues confronting and challenging the country and the people, this list of US demands would have been focused upon much more than what it does in reality.
One wonders why the United States has made these demands. Is it anticipated that there could be a stage when at least some of them could be acceded to? And that there would be such individuals who could consent to them? The news report has said that one official source has feared that "this is just the opening salvo of demands and the US can be expected to bargain in order to seek the most critical; of these demands."
The new National Assembly must certainly have a long list of urgencies and priorities on its checklist, which Pakistanis are familiar with. This list of US demands should be on its agenda too. Or am I stating the obvious? What happens to these demands is something that would be watched with extraordinary interest.
Business Recorder [Pakistan's First Financial Daily]
even after saying YES to uncle SAM, i think we must change the name of Pakistan to crisestan, Wheat and floor crises, Electricity Crises, Water crises, Oil crises, Fuel crises, security chaos and what not, we are already heading towards stone age, i think we are almost there 
