Following the death of Osama Bin Laden, Pakistan has become something of a whipping boy for the international community. As a result, rather than debating the pros and cons of the demise of the al-Qaeda chief, many Pakistanis are instead focusing on the repercussions of foreign forces violating their country’s sovereignty.
India certainly isn’t missing any opportunities to bash Pakistan over its track record in dealing with terrorists. Home Minister P Chidambaram, for example, has reiterated his earlier position that Pakistan has become a sanctuary for radical groups. He has also renewed New Delhi’s demands for the handing over those believed responsible for the 2008 Mumbai terrorist attacks. The numerous Indian commentators who have in the past claimed that Pakistan is a hotbed of terrorist activity must feel vindicated by these latest developments.
Western commentators and politicians have also largely been united in their condemnation of Pakistan. A number of US lawmakers, for example, have raised doubts about the country’s sincerity in its fight against terrorism, underscoring a general international scepticism about the calculations of the Pakistani establishment.
But just how far should we go in isolating Pakistan? By humiliating a sovereign nation and its people, are we really going to achieve the goal of eliminating terrorist networks? And why aren’t we willing to look at why Pakistan might see some so-called terror groups as a geo-political asset that can help extend the country’s leverage in Afghanistan?
The fact is that the Taliban likely offers the Pakistani establishment its best bargaining chip for lasting influence in Afghanistan, where a pliable government is obviously in its larger interests. By continuing to attack Pakistan, we’re also running the risk of pushing the nation to the psychological edge, and alienating its liberal voices in the process.
Popular Pakistani politician Imran Khan has said following the death of bin Laden that ‘there is not just confusion in Pakistan, but also national depression at the loss of dignity, self esteem and sovereignty.’ If Khan, one of the best-known liberal and modern political faces of Pakistan, can think out loud in this way, what must many others be thinking?
The constant haranguing of Islamabad could marginalize the elected government, embolden radical Islamic groups, and lead lawmakers in Pakistan to question whether they should reduce co-operation with the West in the war on terrorism.
Khan, who heads the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party, recently wrote in an opinion piece in the Independent: ‘Pakistan can no longer afford the human and financial costs and must along with the rest of the world, realize that ultimately the solutions to these problems are political—and the weaker the state becomes, the less likely it will be to tackle the menace of extremism.’
It’s clear that a victory over al-Qaeda and the Taliban can’t come at the cost of humiliating Pakistan and undermining its independence. But as the debate rages over whether some Pakistani officials assisted in concealing bin Laden’s whereabouts, it’s also important to consider that Pakistan may well have played a supporting role in the killing of the al-Qaeda leader.
Although the possibility that Pakistan was involved in any way in the operation in Abbottabad has been widely dismissed on the US side, China’s official news agency, Xinhua, has reported that electricity was cut off to the area as the operation to kill Osama began. This could suggest that there was some kind of implicit understanding between the United States and Pakistani forces. In addition, according to Xinhua, the area was cordoned off by Pakistani security forces before the Americans attacked it, with some local residents apparently saying they were unable to enter or leave during the siege. If confirmed to be true, this suggests that Pakistan was aware that an operation of some sort was being conducted.
Yet regardless of what Pakistan did or didn’t know about this operation, India should still be careful not to overdo the rhetorical attacks on its neighbour. A disturbed and unstable Pakistan is far from in the best interests of regional peace and economic prosperity—or the war on terror.
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EAM
Good article. Hopefully, there are decision makers in New Delhi who will listen.
Pakistan is one of the most misunderstood countries in the world – even in other Muslim countries. I have heard Iranians and people from the Arab countries peddling the same stereotypes imagining that everyone there is a terrorist. They do have some deep seated problems including harbouring all sorts of dodgy outfits and using “unconventional” methods of warfare right from the start in 1948. They really need to clean up their act but there is a lot more to the country than that. Unlike North Korea (I think the comparison is off the mark) there is a large part of Pakistani society that is Western oriented and also judging by the large amounts of Indian popular culture they consume, also engaged with India.
Rather than isolating Pakistan, it is better to engage with those parts of Pakistan that want interaction – as the Indian PM advocates. If they end up being completely isolated, we possibly have another Iran on our hands – with nukes.
It is also wrongly assumed that they have an “all weather” relationship with China. This too glosses over some of the problems with that relationship that few Pakistanis will talk about. Sometimes they do. See http://www.himalmag.com/component/content/article/288.html
Unlike Bangladesh and Sri Lanka (and increasingly Nepal and Burma), Pakistan does not have the ability to deal with both China and India and extract as much as they can from both – and do very well. This too is perhaps a major constraint on their strategic options – especially as India grows.
Baloch
If you think Imran Khan is “popular”, “modern”, liberal then you’ve got your facts wrong my friend.
Richa Rajesh
One wonders how did they kill him and bury him in such a haste and then inform the world. Sudden and too much haste is involved in this news. Some years ago one had heard that Osama was suffering from Kidney disease and was “probably” dead.
Also,if an operation was carried on in Pakistan, surely they must have needed hundreds of soldiers to carry on the operation to catch hold of the man once they found his whereabouts. They entered the country and killed the most wanted man in the world in an area very close to a place where prominent Pakistani officials live and Pakistan did not get a whiff about it. One wonders if Pakistan being cornered and angry is a drama. One just wonders if the entire news is fabricated.
Sunil
Excellent article. This pakistan-bashing among Indian establishment must stop, and we need to realize that a better and stronger pakistan is in our interest.
T Rama Bhat
1) “India certainly isn’t missing any opportunities to bash Pakistan over its track record in dealing with terrorists.” :- Pray what else can it do ? It has openly announced to the world that coercion is not an option and stated that talks are the only option available to it. Pakistan has noted the stance of India regarding coercion, and is not doing anything to book the culprits of 26/11 who are in Pakistan. The Indian government has to play act that they are serious about 26/11; otherwise, they will lose domestic support. If they do not even release hot air, then they will appear to be totally impotent. Let us not crib about this bashing business.
2) “By humiliating a sovereign nation and its people, are we really going to achieve the goal of eliminating terrorist networks?’ :- They are not feeling the humiliation because of “oral” bashing. They feel humiliated because their duplicity has been exposed, and the US action inside their territory has violated their sovereignty. They are especially upset that US has publicized this violation. They would have not felt the humiliation if the operation had been conducted in secret.
3) Regarding the goal of eliminating terrorist networks, it can be achieved only when Pakistan feels the economic costs of supporting these groups. Currently they are not feeling the economic pinch because US is subsidizing it’s military modernization and giving it aid to keep it afloat. Alternately, they will think about it if the anti-India terrorist organizations turn back on Pakistan and attack them to sieze control of their government. This alternative is highly unlikely. Let us not day-dream that they will dismantle terror networks, after we keep on taking with them and induce a spiritual change of heart.
4) “…. electricity was cut off to the area as the operation …… began. This could suggest that there was some kind of implicit understanding between the United States and Pakistani forces….” If this were true, it could also suggest that CIA has penetrated into Pakistan official machinery and, not necessarily that thare was an implicit undertanding.
If there was implicit understanding, then the author’s case that Pakistan is feeling humiliated and isolated does not arise.
Peter Certo
Well put… it’s a real sign of the times that what amounts to a brief invasion of Pakistan is in fact a remarkably marginal issue outside of the country.
But if Pakistan was in fact aware of the operation, the denial on the U.S. end of any cooperation is probably designed expressly to insulate the fragile civilian government from extremist backlash. See http://www.fpif.org/blog/could_the_death_of_bin_laden_become_cornerstone_of_peace_in_afghanistan.
Ryaan
@ baloch. the author remains spot on about imran khan. hes the only hope pakistan have got. but the problem is he represents whats good in pakistan…and the shameful thing is that in the electorals hes still not a major player? what does it say about pakistanis then? any other country would love to have imran khan as an asset. and im not even his supporter.
wake up.
Mukul
If Pakistan has really contributed in hunting down Bin Laden, as has been presumed by many, they should not feel humiliated at the breach of their sovereignty by the US. They must have had previous knowledge of what was going to happen. There is no use in crying foul over what they bargained for.
kriti
very true..we need to plan our actions to eradicate terrorism rather than supressing a nation’s independenceas there are innocent people also residing in Pakistan, they should not be the sufferers by any means!
Tariq
Pakistan has played a vital role in this war against terrorism. It costed 35000 peple’s life including 5000 security forces’. So it will be unfair saying that Pakistan is not serious in bringing peace to this region.
And about light goes off around the same time, I think it does not imply implicity, because here in Pakistan load-shedding has become a severe issues, in some areas it remains off more than 16 hours a day, especially in villages. And it’s a normal observation that whenever you are going to do something important light will go off for sure (merphy’s law) :P … I just thought to contribute such that people should know that getting power off may not be intentional.