Please allow me to respond.
Lip service is not on this side of the border -- the example of 40K deaths -- is it not enough that while trying to complete an impossible mission, the same mission which brought down a super power and pushing another one close to bankruptcy? We have literally dragged this war into our homes.Where is the lip service?
Using the idiomatic meaning of "lip service" as "giving approval or support insincerely", the charge can be arguably made to stick on both sides.
USA has paid lip service to a more accountable and democratic system of government in Pakistan, while ensuring that those entrenched entities in Pakistan who can further US interests continue to be strengthened.
Pakistan has paid lip service by "walking both sides of the street", creating the false distinction between the "good" and the "bad" Taleban, hoping to continue to be able to retain these assets for covert use against India, despite the clearly recognized risks of such a strategy.
It would help if US would stop this so called "Art of Diplomacy" and get down to getting the job done. If we can not be trusted than move on otherwise walk the talk. Does it take ten years to deliver forty odd old Cobras????? When we need atleast 100 odd machines as off five years ago? Capacity building by giving us first aid kits when we need hundreds if not thousands of MRAPS? Taking NVG's off line to inspect them every other week for three days becaue the USG suspects that they are being handed over to the Talibs -- the same guy who cuts their throats in jiffy the next day.
To expect the art of diplomacy to stop would be naive, as is the expectation of trust as you imply. There are varying levels of trust, and as long as there are tangible benefits to be gained by a certain level of trust, there is no need to elevate any further, is there?
The precise logistical issues that you highlight are part of a conundrum: USA needs to be mindful of all those assets that can be diverted to uses other than the Afghan-Pakistan theater, and it is up to Pakistan to create the environment whereby USA is able to be assured that such diversion would not take place. Having said that, I recognize that it may be impossible for Pakistan to create that level of trust, given its own limitations.
Yes, I agree with you, we have been fools to play along right from the mid fifties on short term goals of various US administratinos instead of looking for a more sustainable, long term engagement with USA. To me it seems now this foolish game is comming to an end.
Thank you for that candid assessment. However, international geopolitics is a never-ending game, and the present situation means that the disadvantaged position that Pakistan has managed to dig for itself will continue for quite some time yet. Unless, of course, if there is a Herculean internal effort made, but that may be beyond the present crop of rulers there.
As far as your comment that the blame for law and order rest squarely on our government, I agee with you. But where does the blame lies for the pitched battles in the valley's of SWAT, and FATA??? What if US would have taken a more wider view of things after 9/11 and gone after Osama only instead of the whole country? What would have been the scenario today?
Once again, thank you for accepting the failure of Pakistan's internal governance. I would include the war in Swat and FATA as being yet another manifestation of that failure, not USA, for it is squarely a domestic fault for allowing radical extremism to get mixed up in the daily life of the public, the elite and the armed forces to the extent that it has been allowed to by all those responsible. Witness the roles being played by Al-Huda and Jamat-ud-Daawa even now, and encouraged by those very people who will end up paying the price - Pakistanis themselves.
Sir, the lip serivce and the drag is on the side of the US and not on our side. We have delivered in the past and would have now if we were played an even hand. When US was forth comming, we achieved, together, the impossible, brought down a super power (I am not in favour of that war at all for reasons that are obvious and it is classed as a shot in the foot moment in my book.)
I agree with you that the Paksitani armed forces have delievered when allowed to do so, but Pakistan is more than just its armed forces. The time when the failures of the state will catch up with the performance of the armed forces is coming soon, I fear.
There are lessons to be learned on both sides. On our side, be wary of US and tread very carefully when dealng with them. On the US side, you can not fool everyone, all the time. All good things must come to an end.
Agreed 100%
There is no bitterness in me towards US but a sadness that so much could have been achieved with this relationship, for the benefit of both countries if US would have played with a straight bat. It is so easy to sucker in, us Pakistani's.
Sadly, I agree with you here too.
Couple of months ago I was talking to a US AID official at a party and I asked him where is the US AID after ten years of engagement in Pakistan? He said no where because we are playing against a stacked deck. He complained that the independant media in Pakistan does not give them equal airtime. I then asked him what has US AID done this time around that was of national importance -- a single project of national significance -- he said none. There are numerous short term, small sized projects that are removed from the national eye. He than asked me what would be my chioice for a national project. I told him, the Thar Coal Project.
You make a good point, but please realize that getting infrastructure projects thorugh the civilian maze is nealry impossible, an aspect that was part of the reason for some provisions in the Kerry-Lugar bill.
I would have chosen hydroelectric power projects over Thar coal; the promise of viable, reliable, affordable, and long-term power form those coal deposits is a mirage only.
To me the whole Pakistan spin at State, Defence etc. is being played by highly incompetent people with short term goals. The in country team is also less experienced than what it should be for an area of such importance. The commanders in Afghanistan are getting tainted intel from their own operatives and the mix of Indian and Afghan assets. Hence the failure at all lveles to chart a more closer relationship with Pakistan.
If the US people that you mention are so incomptent, why is it that Paksitan cannot see this an opportunity to get it sway easier; after all, it is easier to take candy from a gullible child than an alert adult, right? India has managed to use the very same administration that you call highly incompetent, to its great advantage, wouldn't you agree?
Isn't it obvious that USG did not listen to us back when we were telling them to talk to Taliban instead of dragging this war on and on, endlessly. Now it is in the process of setting up a channel to talk to them. Should have trusted us then. We would not have been paying such a high price today in our homes if US would have listened when it mattered. AQ and Taliban will now register this negotiation as a loss of face for US and eventually, we would be holding an empty bag and trying to mop up the mess as best as we can long after the last military transport lands in US, bringing the sons and daughters back to the Land of the Free and the Home of the Brave.
I agree with your point here that regardless of how we have arrived at this juncture, what hppens now will have great importance for USA, Pakistan and the region. It behooves us all to work towards ensuring as best an outcome for our respective sides as can be realistically managed.
---------- Post added at 04:28 PM ---------- Previous post was at 04:25 PM ----------
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The ball is in the US court on this - Pakistan should not be expected to offer anything more at the altar of US war mongering and arrogance than it already has.
Actually, until the PNSC returns its formal proposal on how to take the bilateral relationship forward, the ball, presently, is in Pakistan's court.
How and in what way do you suggest Pakistan act? What do YOU suggest they do. I feel as you dilute the issue by suggesting both parties should act more and talk less. I cant see what Pakistan can do - would be good to hear your opinion
Right now, the best thing Pakistan can do is to ensure that the response of the PNSC is as realistically supportive of Pakistan's national interests as possible, frankly speaking, and then follow through properly on implementing a mutually agreed upon path forward.
