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By Rizwan Ghani
PM should ask for accountability not apology on the violation of Pakistan’s sovereignty. Gillani should demand for handing over of US led NATO political and military leadership and pilots for illegal NATO airstrikes in northern Pakistan and dozens of deaths and injuries. The diplomatic ties with US and Brussels should be downgraded and linked to the handing over of the culprits. According to country’s constitution based on Shariah, PM cannot legally condone deaths because does not represent aggrieved families. Dr. Afia Siddique was given 86 years for allegedly pointing weapon against American soldiers. Therefore, Islamabad should ensure that international law is implemented to bring the rogue political and military leadership and personnel to justice in Pakistan.
Islamabad should explain its failure to end drone attacks to protect its sovereignty. The nation must be explained the red carpet treatment of American political, military and intelligence leadership executing Obama’s illegal drone attacks in Pakistan. UN’s human rights body has called drone attack deaths extra-judicial killings. The failure of Islamabad and Washington to end this crime against humanity merits accountability including those piloting, fueling and maintaining the drones. It is hoped that international human rights watch groups and Pakistan will file cases in the Hague to bring culprits to book. The failure of Islamabad stop drone attacks has encouraged Washington and Brussels to violate Pakistan’s sovereignty with use of military helicopters.
Islamabad should also come clean on media reports that America is running private army in Pakistan. It has raised serious concerns about safety of the public, security and sovereignty of the state. There is a need to order public inquiry to determine facts about attacks on GHQ, other important installations of the country and religious processions and Al-Quds Day Procession held to show solidarity with the Palestinians. Washington has to clarify its position under freedom information act which is part of democratic accountability and strengthen public faith in rule of law.
The Afghan NATO supply route should be permanently closed to secure Pakistan. Senator John Kerry’s vague statement to New York Times before phoning PM Gillani and Holbrook’s statement that it will have wider implications show that Washington will not hesitate from illegally attacking Pakistan. According to “Obama’s Wars”, the US has a “retribution” plan calling for brutal punishing attack on Pakistan. Islamabad should therefore scrap its NATO supply line to secure its citizens, sovereignty and end hostility of Afghan public’s who takes Pakistan as its enemy for supporting Afghan occupation forces. Otherwise, also, NATO’s Russia supply route is already operational. It would be unfortunate if Islamabad reopens the supply. It will harm Pakistan’s safety, security and interests in the region and rest of the world. Pakistan like America will be further isolated internationally.
Alternately, Pakistan should secure its border with help of multipronged strategy. The border can be sealed with a mix of fences, mines, modern technology and troops. UN has authorized the Afghan war therefore its forces should be deployed on Afghan side of Pak-Afghan border to protect Pakistan’s interests against US led NATO forces. Pakistan should file a case in UN to protect its sovereignty and citizens. International media should be involved to expose NATO’s double standards.
International media has rejected last terror alerts in Europe. NATO strikes followed the terror alerts in UK, Germany and France. However, the article “Be very afraid-we are being fleeced by purveyors”, (The Guardian Oct. 1) writes that in 70s IRA staged 50 explosions in London but public survived. The threat to freedom today comes not from terrorists but from the government’s response to them. Britain’s security/industrial complex has been allowed to run berserk under the long shadow of 9/11 and 7/7. The writer opines that it is just another lobby seeking money. Reportedly, the government officials were involved in nine explosions carried out simultaneously in nine American states to win public support in fight against communism and protect capitalism. The Afghan occupation is part of controlling “Silk Route” to secure America’s geo-strategic and geo-economic interests in the region. Obama has already promised to double American exports to rest of the world.
The use of military force should never be the solution. The occupation of Afghanistan by US led NATO is a flawed approach towards national security. Obama has to withdraw American forces from Afghanistan if he is serious to win hearts and minds in the region. The growing China-Afghan trade shows that Kabul can no longer be controlled militarily. It confirms that Washington has lost to Beijing which has won Afghan trust through trade. In other words, America is part of the problem which is holding Afghanistan from reaping the benefits of bilateral relations with China. Similarly, Washington is blocking Pak-Afghan-CARS-China trade route that in turn is keeping Gulf States tolink with China, Russia and European markets.
In “Military should never be the solution” (China Daily 28 September) it has been shown that for past fifty years America has used military garrisons to protect its interests. The article quotes two American writers calling America to review its use of military because it is bankrupting the nation and risking the liberty of its own people. The writer reminds America that people of China have not forgotten humiliation by western powers due to their weak military in the past. The writer rejects partitioning of Earth under territorial military commands as failed policy. Obama should therefore gather courage and end Afghan and Iraq occupation. It will end 50-year old American military-industrial “status quo” and allow him to use the money to rebuild Detroit and feed America where every 7th American is living in abject poverty.
Islamabad should reject $831 million Kerry-Lugar Bill grant to protect Pakistan. American aid is undermining country’s economic policies, trade prospects, influencing energy and foreign policy. Pakistan needs to adopt pro-regional approach in these areas. Therefore, Pakistan has to get rid of American aid to end foreign meddling in local affairs, corruption and puppet regimes.
International media is questioning legitimacy of America’s use of force against civilians and economic model. In “Stench of Dictatorship” (Oct. 1, www.wsws.org) it was opined that Obama is now leading a bloody offensive in Afghanistan and Pakistan and is ratcheting up tensions with China and other powers, threatening a global conflagration. It is standard procedure for any imperialist power to seek to criminalize opposition to its interests with the label of “terrorism.” American democracy is inextricably linked to the growing social crisis in the United States itself. Inequality in the US is at record heights. The financial aristocracy has exploited a crisis of its own making to vastly enrich itself. It is now demanding that the working class pay the bill in the form of wage cuts, mass unemployment and austerity. Pakistan therefore has to protect its public, interests and friends in the region.
Finally, PM must demand accountability not apology for loss of life and violation of national sovereignty. Islamabad should not restore NATO supply in national interest and it would be unfortunate it is restored. Pakistan needs to approach UN to protect its and its friends interests in the region. World media has shown that west is using war against terrorism to secure its interests-military, economic and trade. History has shown that Politicians in Washington need scapegoats to win the upcoming senate, Congressional and governor elections in America. Pakistan therefore has to take a firm stand at all levels and be prepared militarily to stop America and its allies from attacking Pakistan.
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