Ascribing to the horse's mouth, sections of Pakistani press recently made a disclosure that in the aftermath of 9/11, Washington conveyed to Islamabad its intention of attacking and destroying terrorist camps in Pakistan with or without her formal permission. Stunning as the news was, its mystery deepened further as bizarre and conflicting deniability flowed from US State Department spokesperson(s).
US - Pakistan relations have never been along an even and discreetly intended path. Nevertheless, given the contours of a culture of contemporary realpolitik, both countries have been opportunistically exploiting each other with or without success. In totality, this relationship demonstrates the acme of heartless diplomacy based on acutely selfish interests on either side entailing denials, understatements, circumlocutions and even benign lies. Once General Zia defended his managerial style by telling the American Ambassador that his (Zia's) faith "permitted him to lie for a good cause". The Ambassador later remarked privately " and he had lied to us about his nuclear programme".
The Denver Post of 25 September reported, "The President last week abruptly abandoned five years of rhetoric about respecting Pakistan's territorial sovereignty and brashly declared that he was ready to send U.S. forces into Pakistan without Pakistan's permission, if the fugitive terrorist ring-leader was spotted there". "We will let the tactics speak for themselves-- after it happens", he added.
As the story of Washington's intended attacks on Pakistan terrorist training camps in post 9/11 episode swirled belatedly, many eye brows were raised in Pakistan. Why had General Musharraf chosen the time for subtle leakage of the bombshell news?
Madness is seldom without a method. US growing dilemma or indecision on Iran nuclear issue and mounting pressure from European powers to replace force by dialogue, Bush's declining popularity at home and abroad owing to Iraq debacle, signs of reassembling of the Taliban in Kandahar region, and finally the worldwide public demonstration of the faithful against the utterances of the Pope that has resulted in vengeful attacks on several churches in the Muslim world, all converged to help General Musharraf put his best foot forward with the double purpose of intimidating the US and winning the favour of the Muslim States especially those known for their hostility towards the US.
Nor is General Musharraf oblivious to the impact of November 7 mid-term congressional elections in the US. The latest nationwide Gallup Poll showed 44 per cent of respondents approved of Bush's job performance, compared with 51 per cent who disapproved.
Stung by this subtle but lethal move of the Pakistani President, viciously aiming at undermining his and Republican profile in the impending congressional bye-elections, President Bush retaliated by signalling his change in policy during a CNN interview last week. He said, " I would absolutely order U.S. forces into Pakistan over the objections of he Pakistani government, if U.S. intelligence located bin Laden or his lieutenants."
This blatant statement stands diametrically opposite to what he had said on 15 September, barely a week earlier in a news conference," Pakistan is a sovereign nation. In order for us to send thousands of troops into a sovereign nation, we've got to be invited by the government of Pakistan."
The abrupt change in stance is carefully meant to boost Republican profile with the electorate and thus retain control of the House and Senate. He might have taken the cue from the capture of the fugitive Saddam Hussain on December 13, 2003, which had sharply increased his job approval rating from 56 to 63 per cent.
The high watermark of this diplomacy of seek and hide is the response of Pakistani President. Sections of American press believe that during a news conference, the General gave a virtual green signal to the intended action of he US raid. After a private meeting with Bush, Pakistani President dismissed reporter's questions about whether the U.S. had to get permission to enter Pakistan in pursuit of bin Laden. "We are in the hunt together against these people. So let's not get involved in how it ought to be done or by whom it ought to be done," he said.
Undoubtedly Washington is convinced that it cannot push Pakistan any further either to scale down the surrogate support of her radical originations to the Taliban or to grab Osama hiding in the tribal areas. Imagine with what alacrity both Islamabad and Washington regimes have formed the camaraderie to hoodwink the unsuspecting American tax payer.
The author is the former Director of Centre of Central Asian Studies, Kashmir University, India.
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