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Benazir Bhutto is returning to Pakistan mid October, seeking a bigger share of power. |
Slain Egyptian President Anwar Al-Sadat struggled along with Nasser against Western colonialism but there is a little known fact that in those days when Anwar Al-Sadat was known to be a close aide of Nasser and an anti-West zealot, he was invited by US State Department for International Visitors Leadership Program in 1969.
The events of 1970s proved how crucial was that one month overture between American officials and future Egyptian President Al-Sadat. Sadat became President in 1970 and in a matter of few years, Egypt, the strongest Soviet ally for decades in the region, became the trustee of American interests and the main contractor of "Uncle Sam's" plans in the Middle East.
In the grand chess board of international politics this is how placements are made and results are achieved.
Desperate for Americans
Only two years back, I was in Washington and learnt how desperate Benazir Bhutto was seeking an appointment with State Department officials but even third tier officials of the State Department refused to see Ms Bhutto. The corruption cases against her in the Swiss Court ruined her reputation and she seemed to lose her image as the darling of the West.
The twice elected former Pakistani premier and the leader of the largest Pakistani political party was dependent on a Pakistani academic in USA and some influential journalists to bridge contacts with the American administration.
| Two years back, desperate Benazir Bhutto was seeking an appointment with State Department officials but even third tier officials refused to see her. |
However, she was indirectly told that Musharraf is the man in Pakistan and unless she join forces with Musharraf, Washington would not support her role in Pakistan.
By the end of 2005, serious dialogue began between General Pervez Musharraf and Benazir Bhutto for a political reconciliation. The dialogue process was mediated several times by American officials. Later on, a British Foreign Office official was also involved. By mid 2007, a deal was agreed upon by both Musharraf and Benazir for a consensus national government which would change the overall national image of the country from religious extremism to secularism.
At this juncture when General Pervez Musharraf’s government is walking on a tight rope, it is irrelevant to discuss whether Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) supports Musharraf in the parliament or not. Two issues in the deal have important implications; first, PPP would not be a part of the opposition’s strategy and would not obstruct Musharraf’s election as President; the second result of the deal is that PPP and its leader Bhutto would be performing a pivotal role in the country for the cause of a liberal democratic Pakistan and in combating Islamic extremism.
Washington’s aim from guaranteeing the deal was not to safeguard Musharraf’s political interests but to secure Pakistan’s role as its contractor in the region of Central Asia and South West Asia.
Al Qaeda Obstacle
| Washington’s aim is to secure Pakistan’s role as its contractor in the region of Central Asia and South West Asia. |
Undoubtedly, Pakistan would have an unsmooth ride in coming days. However, The opposition alliance is a least threat for the government. The real threat is the new regrouping of Al-Qaeda. There are reports that some recently resigned military officers have jumped into Al-Qaeda’s bandwagon, beside Pakistani jihadi organizations and tribal warriors. They are followers of Ibn Taymiyyah’s philosophy of launching revolt if the ruler (like Taymmiyyah threatened Nasir Al-Din) is not ready for Jihad. They aim to force the Pakistani establishment to support their cause of fighting Western coalition in Afghanistan, like Ibn Tamiyyah eventually forced Nasir Al-Din to fight against Tartars.
The militants want to change the course of Pakistani domestic and external politics through their own modus operandi. This situation is constitutes a serious challenge and needs to be resolved by political measures rather than military solutions.
The Pakistan Army has been a proven failure in containing this threat. Voluntary mass surrenders in front of tribal militants by Pakistani soldiers and officers and rampant cases of defiance of orders to mount operation against Islamic militancy are indications.
Washington could read the writing of the wall while supporting Benazir Bhutto’s political role in the country. It hopes that along with other secular forces like sub-nationalist Pashtun Awami National Party in North West Frontier Province (NWFP) and Pashtunkhawa Mili Awami Party in Balochistan Province, Muttahida Qaumi Movement in Sindh Province, beside Jamiat-i-Ulema-i-Islam (JUI) of Maulana Fazlur Rahman (though a traditional religious party but is ready to support American designs in the region), PPP could lay an effective foundation of a strong national consensus government of which General Pervez Musharraf could be the civilian President and then sincerely take steps to purge the militancy in the country, as the Egyptian government did and conform its role in the line of Western interest in the region.
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The real threat is the new regrouping of Al-Qaeda, with reports of recently resigned military officers jumping into Al-Qaeda’s bandwagon.
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However, the million dollar question remains: would any secular alliance be in a position to stop the march of Islamic militancy in the country through popular support? The Militants have already broadened their influence beyond the tribal areas.
Two years ago, their influence was limited to North Waziristan and South Waziristan. Now they are calling the shots in Swat Valley and the tribal areas of Mohammand and Bajuar, beside the cities of Bannu, Tank, Kohat, and Dera Ismail Khan. The Pashtun areas of south western Pakistani province of Balochistan are completely under the hand of pro-Taliban Pakistani tribes.
Benazir Bhutto understands the ground situation and knows whatever position she acquires in the parliament, containing the militancy would be a different ball game and would never be as easy as it has been in the Egypt. Benazir Bhutto is scheduled to arrive in Karachi in mid October of this year. For the first time, she would be traveling in a bullet proof car and her party sources maintained that instead of massive welcome, she would be sent directly to home and then workers would be asked to greet her around the protective walls of her residence.
Bhutto tried to show her conviction for Washington by saying that once she is in power, she would give IAEA an access to Dr. AQ Khan to question his nuclear proliferation network but if she restarts her political career in Pakistan in bullet proof cars instead of roofless truck and jeeps and would be greeting the masses behind protective walls, would she be able to turn the tide in favor of Washington against a growing popular Islamic militancy?
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