The Pakistani Spectator

In February, The Brookings Institution hosted a discussion on the future of the U.S.-Pakistan military relationship with three distinguished speakers: General Jehangir Karamat, Pakistan’s Army Chief of Staff from 1996 to 1998 and its Ambassador to the United States from 2004 to 2006; General Anthony Zinni, a former Marine general who served as Commander, United States Central Command (CENTCOM) from 1997 to 2000 and as the U.S. Special Envoy to the Middle East; and Richard Armitage, who served as U.S. Deputy Secretary of State from 2001 to 2005. The event was moderated by Brookings Senior Fellow Philip Gordon.

According to Zinni, Pakistan has been doing a great job as a very important U.S. partner since the events of September 11, assisting in the hunt for al Qaeda and Taliban leaders in its Western frontier regions, but the country is not given full credit it deserves in the States for its sacrifices. It’s interesting to restate that Zinni was the first important individual among President Bill Clinton colleagues whom Musharraf called after he over threw Nawaz government in Pakistan by calling Zinni by his nick-name, Tony.

Appreciating Pakistan army’s role in fighting U.S. war, Zinni said that the criticism in the States of Pak army is very disappointing given it has done a lot more than its share in fighting the War on Terror.

It’s well-known that generally it’s Pentagon’s generals who don’t support whole- heartily a democratic system in Pakistan because it hinders achieving the department’s objectives more efficiently in South Asia in the absence of military regime in Pakistan.

However, since pro-Musharraf atmosphere has changed in Washington, even a man like Zinni felt forced to say that it’s very important for us to be very concerned about the Pakistani political, social, and economic interests as well, if America wants to protect its security interests in that part of the world.

General Jehangir Karamat defended Zenni’s pro democratic position by acknowledging   the weaken cause of democracy in Pakistan temporarily after the Supreme Court crisis and Ms. Bhutto’s assassination.

These unfortunate events were a big blow to the democratic process but the freedom the media gained during Musharraf regime, the reestablishment of a very self-confident civilian society, and reemergence of Pakistani lawyer’s moments in the result of these crisis are the phenomenon that are not going to go away, the retired General claimed.

These socio-political moments are going to stay there as a very potent force in Pakistan, which gives a sense of hope and optimism to the people devoted to these good causes, the retired General Karamat said.

Answering to a question of keeping a pro-Pakistan regime in Afghanistan for the sake of having strategic depth to face any potential Indian aggression, the retired General said the concept has become a trivial matter in the presence of current better Pakistani relationship with India.

Responding to an Indian journalist named Goyal about the size of Pakistani budget devoted to its nuclear projects, Mr. Karamat said he didn’t know about the amount in dollar terms, but addressing to the matter of allocation of the budget to an important civilian sector like education he said some political parties have claimed that they would increase educational budget from its current 2.4% of the GDP to 4% of Pakistani GDP once they come into power, which is a good omen.

This reporter asked a question to Secretary Richard Armitage as to why U.S. pays only $700 per soldier per month to Pakistan for the troops fighting a war for America on Pak-Afghan border whereas for the same services America has to pay at least $1,400, if she retains UNO’s troops.

This reporter made a strong statement that U.S is spending between 6 to 7 thousand dollar for the same purpose in Iraq for hiring the troops from other countries, which is defined as the dollar cost on the War on Terror.  However, whereas the money paid to Pakistani government– for the services its troops are providing to the States—is defined as U.S. aid to Pakistan rather than cost of Pentagon’s operation in Afghanistan.

This reporter further contended with Secretary Arimtage that Musharraf was selling Pakistan too cheap in return for having American blessing to stay in power.

This reporter also suggested that the other reason Musharraf got scared enough to give in to Secretary Armitage’s threat because he warned Musharraf of turning Pakistan into a stones age land by bombing it.

The reporter further claimed that whatever made Pakistan to get exploited by post 9/11 America, the ordinary Pakistanis have a reason to become bitter and angry toward the Bush regime.

“I don’t say something which I am not capable of doing, and I didn’t say that,” Secretary Armitage said.

Responding to a question about supporting the restoration of judiciary in Pakistan Secretary Armitage said, “We need to support democracy in Pakistan, but we must be careful how we present ourselves in that country.”

Linking the destiny of two Muslim neighbor countries, Armitage said he didn’t know how Afghanistan could become a success case without having a successful Pakistan.

Alluding to the infamous Pakistani army’s corruption and its exploitation of its very poor masses on the name of defending the country from India, Munawr Lughari of World Sindhi Institute (WSI) asked a very loaded question to General Karamat as to why and how so much money Pakistan was wasting from her very precious economic resources on making and maintaining the atomic bombs and then blackmailing to West about getting them in the wrong hands of Islamic fundamentalists, while the Sindhis and Baluchis are deprived of from very basic needs of life.

General Karamat expressed his ignorance about the amount of the money being spent on the development and maintenance of atomic bombs. In addition, responding to a question about Pakistan’s successful efforts of dismantling terror groups, Karamat said “that so far the country had broken up 15 terror network groups in Pakistan.”

At the end of the seminar, General Karamat expressed his appreciation to this reporter for making a statement about the feelings of average Pakistani among the Washington policy makers.