Obama Signs 'Kill Bill'. What Can Pakistan Do?
PakNationalists
© 2007-2009. All rights reserved. AhmedQuraishi.com & PakNationalists
Verbatim copying and distribution of this entire article is permitted in any medium
without royalty provided this notice is preserved.
Obama Signs 'Kill Bill'. What Can Pakistan Do?
AHMED QURAISHI
President
Obama has signed the 'Kill Bill' [Kerry-Lugar bill] despite the reservations of
most Pakistanis on offensive language in some clauses.
Pakistanis
do not doubt the intentions of President Obama, Vice President Biden, and
Senator Kerry. We know they are friends of Pakistan. We just do not
trust the Washington establishment. Exhibit A: political
conditions embedded in a bill that is packaged as a token of sincere
friendship.
Washington
rejected Pakistani concerns saying that's what Congress wants. But no
word about the heated and passionate debate in the Pakistani parliament where
the pro-US government is dangerously isolated. Pakistani
parliament wanted to pass a resolution making the will of Pakistanis clear
before President Obama signed the bill. In ignoring the Pakistani
parliament and rushing to sign the bill, Washington sent a clear message.
America will do what it wants. If it thinks that Quetta and Muridke are centers
of terror, then that is it. Pakistan needs to accept it and move on. And
don't dare ask Washington for evidence.
American
politicians are smart people. But so are Pakistanis.
The
Pakistani parliament can still pass a strong resolution rejecting the
anti-Pakistan conditions in the bill and affirming that Pakistan will not be
bound by them.
This
way, US will give aid to our government at its own discretion. This way no one
in the future will be able to say, 'Hey, you accepted in the Kill Bill that
Quetta and Muridke are centers of terror,' or 'Hand over so and so nuclear
scientist because you agreed to in the Kill Bill'. Pakistan will be able
to point to the parliament resolution and say, 'You know what, we made our
position and intention clear and still you gave us the money. That was your
choice. We never accepted your claims and we told you so and yet you paid
us.'
Let
the Americans pay aid with a clear message from Pakistani parliament that we're
not bound by your conditions.
This
way, clauses in the Kerry-Lugar bill [Pakistanis are exchanging text messages
calling it 'Kill Bill'] that seek to contain Pakistani military and strategic
capabilites in exchange for aid will be rendered ineffective. Washington
will also be put to the test: Will it still give aid to Pakistan?
After
all, if this bill is really a 'true reflection' of American friendship with the
people of Pakistan, then what's a few cumbersome conditions between friends,
right Mr. Kerry and Mr. Lugar?
THIS COLUMN IS POSTED AT AHMED QURAISHI'S THE LOUNGE.
© 2007-2009. All rights reserved. AhmedQuraishi.com & PakNationalists
Verbatim copying and distribution of this entire article is permitted in any medium
without royalty provided this notice is preserved.
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