Back home in the sub-continent, they say you should always stay away from the cops; their friendship as well as adversity is bad for one’s health. I am reminded of the advice as the world’s chief cop, the United States, bombs its allies and friends in Pakistan. With friends like these, do you really need enemies?

When former Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf had promptly and so enthusiastically recruited Pakistan in America’s war after that call from Colin Powell, he had assured his people that this was the only option available to Pakistan. Else, the reasonable General reasoned later, the U.S. would have bombed Pakistan back to the Stone Age. Fortunately or unfortunately for Pakistan, Musharraf is not around. Otherwise we could have asked the good general why the Coalition of the Willing has turned on its own.

Or is Pakistan no longer part of Bush’s divine mission to promote Democracy and Freedom in the Muslim world now that Musharraf is not in power? Or have the new, democratic leaders of Pakistan happily relinquished the total control of the Islamic republic to Uncle Sam? Read more »

My dear Ali:

You have been bombarding me with questions about the US and NATO attack on us. Look, son, they attacked us a long time ago. The only difference is that now they have escalated and exacerbated the situation by actually putting boots on our soil. Given Admiral Mullen’s remorseless statement, its entirely possible that this will happen again. Given Bush’s statement that the next president’s biggest challenge would be Pakistan and if there were another 9/11 it would come from FATA, it is certain. Given General Kiyani’s admirable response, it is also entirely possible that Pakistan will retaliate. Then America may escalate from helicopter gunships to F-16s or even stealth bombers. I hope this doesn’t happen, for it spells near total destruction for us, or at least part of our country, all of which are equally dear to us. The situation is so dangerous that apparently European NATO has distanced itself from it, except Britain. They know that Pakistan will make Iraq look like a picnic and Afghanistan like a massage parlour. The New York Times, which reflects the US establishment’s thinking, claims that Bush authorised entry of American military personnel into Pakistan. To discredit Kiyani, whom they were lionising only a few days ago, they also claimed that he knew about the bombing of the Indian embassy in Kabul, allegedly by the ISI.

Can we stand up to them, you ask, and cite the example of Iran? I have told you that Iran has the most potent weapon in the world. It’s called Unity. They demonstrated it in their war with America’s puppet Saddam’s Iraq. They are undefeatable. So were the Vietnamese for exactly the same reason. Unity is one of the three words of our national motto, the others being faith and discipline. We have none of them. But if we can forge unity in our ranks, faith and discipline will inevitably follow. Then no power on earth can defeat us. Though we seem incapable, an American attack might do just that: bring us together as a nation like nothing ever has. I told you I am an incorrigible optimist in even the bleakest situations. So should you be. So should all young men and women.

If we cannot forge unity, then we will face a situation far more dangerous than in 1971 when our country was rend asunder. We refused to respect the verdict of the people, lost a war against India and half our country with it. Why? Because we attacked our own people for the ‘crime’ of having voted for their choice so they were not with us when war came. Then India was backed by a the Soviet Union, while our great friend and ally the United States stood by twiddling its thumbs. Now we are being attacked directly by the sole and strongest-ever superpower, our old friend and ally America. And again the people of the Frontier may not be with us for the grievous harm that has been caused to them. There is still time to reclaim their emotional allegiance.

General Kiyani’s statement was the voice of the people, just what they wanted to hear. They have become sceptical over the years, and who can blame them? If American soldiers set foot in Pakistan again and Kiyani’s words become bullets, the people will be galvanised instantaneously. It will then be for the government to mobilise a galvanised people, unify them and fire them with nationalist zeal. It will have to open many other fronts, diplomatic and media especially. Which means it will have to open the strategic communications front to manage perceptions in our favour before they are formed against us. The war will be won. So, finally, will real independence, for we would have paid a price for it. And that is when we will treasure Pakistan as more precious than our lives, not precious because it has been good to live off for a few. If we fail, then we are staring certain slavery in the face.

Let’s get down to brass tacks. The US wanted five things from Musharraf. When he wouldn’t comply they engineered his removal. Read more »