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Ms Benazir’s American Odyssey

There is no doubt that Ms Benazir’s US visit from which she returns today after completing a 10-day journey, has been a media triumph for her personally. The Prime Minister happens to be one of the more charismatic leaders of the world, having more name recognition and goodwill than any other leader of Pakistan, past and present. This has been extremely well exploited to the advantage of her person and in extension this country. If she stands as the Asia candidate for the UN Secretary General’s job, God help those who stand against her candidacy. All this has resulted in a not-so subtle pressure on her US hosts to recognize that Pakistan has a case for favoured treatment in contrast to the doghouse-status we have been consigned to. Even making others recognize a reality is some achievement.

Nothing is more becoming to Ms Benazir Bhutto than aggression and defiance, that has always been her finest moment. She has used it within the parameters of diplomatic nuances to good benefit for the country with both the US Establishment and Congress. She had the President of the US very visibly on the defensive in accepting that a fair standard was not maintained in the business of our paid-for arms and equipment (in the pipeline) that had been virtually confiscated. In a manner of speaking, she ticked off her hosts in the Thatcher-style, calling a spade a spade, maintaining viz. (1) new equipment or our money back (2) trade not aid and (3) no deal on nuclear non-proliferation unless tied with commensurate treatment to India. For good measure she brought Kashmir into international focus making India truly squirm with discomfort. Since Americans like nothing better than an underdog and are hyper-sensitive about fair-play, things went down well in Peoria, Illinois. With a better understanding of our vital necessities and reminded about our cold war role culminating in the turning of Afghanistan into Soviet Union’s Vietnam, it is to be expected that US will search some way to assuage our feelings of hurt and abandonment, one hopes by some material help rather than symbolic rhetoric only.
We are an extremely cynical lot at home. While there is definite promise about some progress on the F-16s, more likely our money back rather than the birds in the desert, there is no change in the status quo. There is then also the question of the missing squadron minus (10 F-16s) as to how 38 paid-for aircraft became 28? Or is it an adjustment as some rumours suggest for commissions paid which General Dynamics wants refunded? And who was (or were) the beneficiary/ies? The question also arises as to why the contract was so one-sided that after we paid one instalment and did not receive any delivery, we kept on reinforcing failure till we had the whole sum tied up and no aircraft to show for it? Regretfully, howsoever we add up the PM’s successes, the F-16s still remain very much in the Mojave Desert and will probably never darken Pakistani skies, the expected one-time waiver on the Pressler Amendment notwithstanding. Our PM has reiterated repeatedly on Prime Time media that while we possess the know-how, we do not possess the Bomb. Given the measure the US Government places in Ms Benazir’s credibility, why does the US President simply not give the certification necessary on her word of honour to obviate the requirement of the waiver? While the hoopla of success achieved cannot be denied, the actual proof of the pudding lies in getting the arms and equipment we need. We cannot keep on waiting till hell freezes over (or India attacks us) for promises to become reality.
Ms Benazir has certainly excited US entrepreneurs into investing in Pakistan, that is a consensus of even the most cynical. While no one accepts the volumes spoken of in the blizzard of MOUs, Pakistan is being looked at positively mainly because of our geo-political importance as an international crossroads of sorts. It would not be out of place to give due credit to the Leader of the Opposition Mian Nawaz Sharif in starting the process of opening up of the economy and giving it the initial momentum. However, for various reasons not entirely Ms Benazir’s fault the economy is in bad shape with a large deficit loosing over us like a dark shadow. Skilled on-hands economic management is required rather than policies that change like a chameleon. Coupled with the bad law and order situation, the economy in the present state will act as a disincentive rather than an encouragement. Moreover, while the rhetoric of bureaucracy is always good during foreign visits, some mechanics has to be developed to have them portray the same enthusiasm to potential entrepreneurs when they visit Pakistan rather than the Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde negative vibes they presently radiate.

Among other issues, Ms Benazir spoke about taking a frontline – status in the war against drugs and terrorism. In fact US President Clinton made a mention in the Joint Press Conference about the PM’s help in the extradition of the two drug barons and the terrorist Ramzi Yousuf. The two events were well timed to coincide with Ms Benazir’s visit and why should she not reap dividends in the resultant adulation? One hopes that she will show the same haste and purpose in dispatching PPP MNA Munawar Hassan Munj, whose driver was held with 35 kgs of heroin and 30 kgs of Hashish in the MNA’s car, to USA by a very special aircraft. What better way of showing her resolve as a front-line fighter of the drugs cartel than not allowing charity to begin at home?

The preparation for the PM’s visit to USA was creditable and if we get even a percentage of what is on offer, that is money well spent (even on the hundreds of “accidental tourists” who did NOT make up the official delegation). At the end of the day, it is not the US media Ms Benazir has to vow but Pakistanis at home. Since we have it on good authority that we have our PM back in the country for some time, we can ask her to show the same single-minded pragmatism and purpose she showed in the US and enter into a political dialogue in Karachi. When she puts her mind to it, Ms Benazir can be pretty effective, let her now focus on her (and the country’s) primary problem. The PM has repeatedly exhorted foreign entrepreneurs to invest in Pakistan, the inducement is profits for the corporate entity and not because Pakistan is Heaven-on-Earth. These entrepreneurs may be of different beliefs and ideologies, some may even be anathema to Islam but in the greater national interest, the PM persists with her yeo-woman’s burden. For a moment, let the PM imagine that those in Karachi estranged from the national mainstream are also entrepreneurs of a different kind who must be encouraged to come home and invest their time and expertise in the wholesome process of peace that the city of Karachi badly needs if we have to have any investment at all. The difference between the prodigals we want her to woo home and the multi-nationals being that these are our own brethren with the same belief in religion and ideology of Pakistan.

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