Manmohan Singh’s sojourn to USA
PakistanPal
Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh will be on a visit to USA from 23
November onwards to hold wide ranging talks of mutual interest. The
visit assumes significance since it is the first visit of any head of
state to USA on the request of Obama Administration. The latter's
endeavor would be to give a message to the world in general and China
in particular that India is its strategic partner and a bulwark
against China and hence deserves special handling and concessions.
In the wake of the planned visit, India had started to play upon
issues of threats of nuclear and terrorism to India emanating from
Pakistan. It was stated that another terrorist attack against India on
the pattern of Mumbai was in the offing. Pakistan's linkage with
Taliban was played up. Dissatisfaction on Pakistan's response to
culprits of Mumbai carnage was drummed up. Pakistan was projected as a
terrorist and a failing state. ISI and Pakistan Army were maligned. It
was stated that Taliban were planning to attack Indian nuclear
installation(s). All this was done to project Pakistan in worst
possible light and to paint itself as an innocent victim of terror.
Purpose is to hide RAW's clandestine operations against Pakistan.
Singh's primary endeavor will be to seek greater benefits and
concessions from USA. Permanent seat in UNSC for India and more access
to superior nuclear technology will be upper most. More importantly,
poison the minds of Obama led Administration and others who matter
against Pakistan. Spice will be sprinkled on existing doubts and
apprehensions to widen chasm as well as mistrust between USA and
Pakistan. Indian diplomatic staff in Washington coupled with Indian
and Jewish lobbies in USA must have done their groundwork in
energizing pro-Indian officials within Obama Administration, Congress,
State Department, Senate and Pentagon and neutralized negative
influences so as to make the visit a roaring success. The Jewish
controlled media must have been fully tapped and charged up to project
Indian viewpoint positively and to portray Pakistan poorly. Governed
by age-old mindset, pro-Indian and anti-Pakistan Washington Post, New
York Times, Wall Street newspapers, Times and Newsweek magazines in
particular together with electronic media would come out with
contrasting stories projecting India and Pakistan divergently.
Jaundiced US media and think tanks have been continuously writing
scandalous and cooked up stories about Pakistan military, ISI and
nuclear program. Indo-US-Israeli-western rancorous propaganda campaign
against Pakistan under a well orchestrated plan has been going on
relentlessly for the last so many years and is still continuing to
spit out venom. Conversely, India has been spared of US-western
invectives and all its sins are covered up.
Sticking to its stance, no US newspaper would project Manmohan Singh
in poor light. He would not be harried and embarrassed by asking
pointed questions. The tone and tenor of Manmohan's visit has already
been set by his interview to CNN on 22 November. In response to
questions asked by the interviewer, he said Kashmir border cannot be
redrawn, Pakistan has not done enough on Mumbai carnage, terrorism in
Pakistan can spill into India, Pakistan is selective in its dealing
with terrorists and would do only that much which suits its own
interests and not that of USA or India, Pakistan continues to retain
links with Afghan Taliban to cater for post US departure from
Afghanistan, democracy in Pakistan is weak and Pak Army is the real
strength which calls the shots, Indian record on nuclear is free of
accidents and proliferation and as such it qualifies to draw maximum
benefits from Indo-US nuclear accord.
After exchanging pleasantries and thanking Obama and his team for all
the graces bestowed upon India, Manmohan would assure his hosts that
India would remain beholden to USA and would look forward to act as
its humble proxy to guard American regional interests with utmost
loyalty and devotion. Praying for mutually sustaining ever lasting and
ever growing Indo-US friendship, he will become somber and broach the
touchy subject of Afghanistan. He would laud the good work done by US
military in Iraq and in Afghanistan in trying to bottle the genie of
terrorism which in his view affects USA, western world and India the
most. He would urge Obama not to commit the mistake of quitting
Afghanistan for another five years if not more otherwise all the
sacrifices rendered would go waste. He will build up a frightening
scenario to impress upon Obama that abandonment of Afghanistan at this
crucial juncture would spell disaster for the whole region including
India.
He will urge him not to trust monstrous Afghan Taliban and enter into
any kind of negotiations and let them share power. With folded hands
he would beseech Obama to quickly make up his mind and cede to the
request of Gen Stanley McChrystal for additional 40,000 troops to
steady the rocking boat of Afghanistan. This suggestion will be made
in the hope of wining the goodwill of Gen Chrystal who has started to
have serious reservations over the expanding and intrusive influence
of India in Afghanistan having negative fallout effect on regional
security. He will also put in a good word for Karzai led regime with
whom India is having best of relations and is anti-Pakistan and urge
Obama to continue with present arrangement irrespective of Karzai's
compromised and weakened position because of fraudulent elections. He
will reassure him that USA would not find a better alternative than
Karzai and that given US patronage he would come out of the woods
sooner than later. He will advise Obama not to consult untrustworthy
Pakistan while rehashing new Afghan policy.
Having discussed Afghanistan he will then turn the course of his talks
towards Pakistan and while doing so he would tend to become more
gloomy and dejected. Instead of feeling sheepish and apologetic after
RAW's blatant involvement in all the troubled spots of Pakistan
getting thoroughly exposed, he would attempt to cover up by asserting
that Pakistan is indulging in a vilification campaign to despoil the
reputation and image of India. Terming the allegations as white lies,
he would put up an innocent face saying it was not possible for RAW to
indulge in covert operations from Afghanistan in the presence of
military forces of 37 countries and five other intelligence agencies
stationed there since late 2001. He would rouse his audience by
stressing that Pakistan's frivolous allegations amounts to casting
aspersions on USA and other allied countries that all are jointly
indulging in cross border terrorism against Pakistan. He might quote
the maxim of 'kettle calling the pot black' to lighten up the
atmosphere. He will jokingly ask his hosts whether he looks like a
terrorist or an abettor of terrorism.
He will whine that Pakistan has so far not taken any steps against
Mumbai carnage despite India providing all possible evidence and
giving names of the culprits. He will try to incite Obama that
Pakistan's attitude is non-cooperative and defiant and has not paid
any heed to US counsels in this regard. He will quote the example of
Hafiz Saeed, whom India has declared as the master mind behind Mumbai
attacks, having been let off by Pakistani courts. He will skip Indian
negative and non-cooperative role in providing real evidence and
refusing to carry out joint investigation or making available Ajmal
Kasab, the lone witness in custody of Indian authorities either to
Interpol or anyone from Pakistan for questioning. He will not disclose
the series of steps taken by Pakistan to appease India and
commencement of trial against seven members of Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT).
In hushed and secretive tones he would whisper into the ears of Obama
that RAW has found out that ISI is linked with LeT and Jaish-e-
Muhammad (JM) and that it is in league with Afghan Taliban and Al-
Qaeda and is surely abetting terrorism in Indian Held Kashmir (IHK)
and in Afghanistan. To lend authenticity to his revelations he will
hasten to add that even Mossad, MI-6, CIA, FBI and RAAM corroborate
it.
He will whisper another lie fed to him by RAW that Muredke and Azad
Kashmir have become dens of terrorist camps where terrorists are
trained under the patronage of ISI and army and that infiltration into
IHK has of late been stepped up. With trembling voice and eyes welled
up with tears he would add that he has received intelligence that
Pakistan is planning yet another Mumbai like attack in India. His
voice almost choking, he would grudge that while India has been and
still is the victim of terrorism, but Pakistan has the audacity to
allege that India is indulging in terrorism in Balochistan, FATA, Swat
and other parts of Pakistan. Continuing with his wailing, he will
speak of insensitivity and heartlessness of Pakistani leaders that
whereas India is seeking recommencement of peace talks which it had to
perforce stall, Pakistan is indulging in blame game and is stubbornly
rejecting genuine request of India that Pakistan should not allow its
territory for cross border terrorism into India.
He will remind Obama of the negative role by Pakistan Army in the
aftermath of traumatic Mumbai incident when it arrogantly stopped
India from carrying out aerial strikes against terrorist camps in
Pakistan and refused to listen to Adm. Mike Mullen, Gen Petraeus and
Holbrooke. To project Pakistan as an aggressive state he would remind
him how the defiant PAF had made the F-16s airborne to scare away
Indian jets that were on a routine flight near Azad Kashmir and
Muredke and how madly Pakistani troops had been rushed forward towards
the eastern border and were all set to clash with Indian strike
formations that had moved up only as a precautionary measure. He will
also jog his memory about the perverse role played by Gen Kayani in
disallowing the ISI to come under the wings of Rahman Malik led
Ministry of Interior. With a sense of deep regret he would cry out
that accomplishment of that plan would have clipped the wings of ISI
for good and thus paved their way to reach up to their much sought
nuclear treasure. Overwhelmed by feelings of sadness he will moan in
pain that but for the ISI and Pak Army, they could have accomplished
all their objectives by now. He will once again drill into the minds
of US leadership that until and unless Pakistan army and the ISI are
reined in, the security situation in the region will remain fluid and
insecure.
Continuing with his anxiety ridden grievances, he will mutter his
grave concerns about growing strength of Taliban in Pakistan,
instability of Pakistan and vulnerability of Pakistan nuclear program.
He will bring to light Indian fears about the possibility of extremist
elements within Pak Army and nuclear establishments taking over nukes,
emphasizing that such a threat was far more dangerous than threat from
Taliban. He will try to scare his listeners by saying that in case
some nukes are whisked away by these elements, they would use them
against India, or American installations in Afghanistan. He will urge
the attentive addressees that before the nukes fall into wrong hands;
the US must act fast before it is too late. He will candidly point out
that unless Pakistan is denuclearized and turned into a vassal state
of India, it will not be possible for India to assume the role of a
proxy super power of the region to protect US interests. He will
inform them that but for softness of Obama Administration; Pakistan
could have been netted by now. He will insist that provision of
counter terrorism equipment to Pakistan Army would not only bolster
its capability but would enable it to use the equipment against India.
He will persist not to relent on laid down conditions in the Kerry-
Lugar Bill and to ensure compliance in letter and spirit. He will
express his unhappiness over the successes achieved by Pakistan Army
against militant forces in Swat and South Waziristan giving his weird
logic that the runaway militants are now homing towards India and IHK
and a cause of great worry.
He will convey his concerns over US-China joint communiqué issued on
Obama's maiden visit to Beijing in which it was stated that the two
countries would help sort out Kashmir dispute. He will complain that
rather than quizzing China about Dr AQ Khan's revelation on Chinese
assistance in fuel and technology to Pakistan nuclear program, Obama
chose to touch upon Kashmir which is integral part of India and over
which there is no dispute and Bill Clinton as well as George W. Bush
were in agreement with Indian contention. Obama might offer a lollypop
of UNSC seat to India, for which Indian leadership is desperate, in
return for an amicable settlement of Kashmir dispute acceptable to
India, Pakistan and people of Kashmir. But Singh would insist upon
UNSC seat as well as settlement of Kashmir dispute on Indian terms and
speeding up of denuclearization and balkanization of Pakistan in
return for India standing up as a bulwark against China.
Among several causes of defeat of Germany in 2nd World war, one reason
was Hitler's wrong choice of Italy as an ally. Likewise, France was a
liability for the Allied forces. USA is blindly and myopically
trusting India which is well-known for its cunningness, selfishness,
small-heartedness, falsehood, broken promises and double standards. It
also has a poor track record of its military exploits be it wars with
Pakistan and China, its misadventure in Sri Lanka, counter insurgency
operations or UN missions. 1971 Indo-Pakistan war was a one-sided
exercise with troops in which India enjoyed all the strategic,
tactical, technical and administrative advantages and was fully
supported by USSR while Pakistan suffered from countless limitations
and handicaps.
India excels only in intrigues and machinations. To expect that India
would stand up to Chinese challenge is like wishing for the moon.
Eight years of close collaboration with India in Afghanistan should
have been an eye opener for US leadership as to what it achieved and
what all it lost. Like Israel, India too wouldn't mind if USA sinks in
the quagmire of Afghanistan so that the two natural allies having far
too many similarities emerge as future super powers. If the US
leadership intoxicated with power has become tunnel-vision and its
rational thinking has got blurred, isn't it high time for the saner
elements among the Americans to guide their leaders and restrain them
from committing Hara Kari. Likewise, shouldn't the saner elements in
India rein in 2% cruel and callous Brahmans and 8% of their
opportunist companions who are ruining the lives of 90% Indians living
in utter misery?
Pakistanis have already taken up the challenge. They proved their
resilience during the lawyers movement and are now eagerly demanding
accountability of the corrupt and the criminals. The judiciary is
reasserting its authority and independence to provide justice to all.
Fully motivated Army is robustly fighting the scourge of terrorism and
achieving commendable results. There is complete harmony within the
three services and nuclear assets are in safe hands.
Vile propaganda has further steeled the resolve of guardians of
nuclear arsenal to protect it from all evil forces at the peril of
their lives. Civil-military relations are harmonious and the army
looked at with respect. The general public braved load shedding in the
scorching heat and shortage of commodities composedly. The people are
putting up with almost daily acts of terrorism and back breaking price
spiral courageously while lashkars in restive areas are combating the
terrorists boldly. Hustle and bustle of cities goes on as usual.
Mosques are getting crowded and God fearing Muslims pray five times
seeking forgiveness of Almighty Allah and thanking Him for His
bounties. They pray for those who have lost direction and fallen in
the trap of our adversaries to revert to the righteous path. Political
parties are getting together and shedding their traditional
antagonism. Media is free and playing its role to highlight grey areas
and to keep the people updated. It is this kind of awakening which is
direly needed in USA and in India.
- Asian Tribune -
PakistanPal
The writer is a defence and political analyst based at Rawalpindi and
author of several books.
Article Source : http://www.markthetruth.com/current-affairs/215-manmohan-singh-sojourn-to-usa.html