Islamabad's Policy Shift?
The international media is beating the drums on the newly acquired confidence of Pakistan’s Foreign Minister, Shah Mehmood Qureshi, that he flaunted at the joint press conference with Admiral Mullen and Richard Holbrooke. Some analysts are cautiously claiming it to be the end of US-Pak marriage and that the relations are likely to sour further.
The BBC, in an article titled ‘Tensions emerge in Pakistan-US relations’ began with the following lines.
The body language said it all.
The normally urbane and mild-mannered Pakistani Foreign Minister, Shah Mahmood Qureshi, was firm and spoke in categorical terms.
Meanwhile, Richard Holbrooke chatted quietly with Admiral Mike Mullen – an act that, whatever the intention, was perceived as rude and contemptuous by those present.
Whereas, despite ISPR’s denials of ISI chief’s refusal to meet the American guests, the US think-tank Stratfor has called it a “carefully stage-managed snub..” There are also reports that Pakistan has made it clear that drone attacks must stop, while the US administration rebuked that demand.
The visit by Admiral Mullen and Richard Holbrooke was expected to be a crucial one where Pakistan was expected to be asked to, yet again, “do more.” Instead, it turned out to be complete shock for the Americans.
Pakistan has also demanded to be given the drone technology in order to do more. Meanwhile, according to BBC’s sources “Americans had been given a sharp message to back off” on the issue of maligning the ISI.
Now where has this sudden change of tone come from? Is it just symbolic or does it really have weight? Also it is interesting to note the timing of the recommendations made by the Parliamentary Committee regarding national security. Apparently, the government, Parliament and the army are finally thinking on the same lines. It may be the case that they have decided to shun the differences in order to present a united, brave face to the US.
While commending the government and the army, lets hope that this little hope of policy change doesn’t blow up in the air.
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Its good n all but the US can play so many cards against us, its scary.
Finally…
hmmmmm…..i cannot trust Zardari government. There is a very chance that in this shift there is a hidden deal. We should pray that this shift is permanent.
Yeah agreed with MAK. This might have some ulterior hidden agenda!
politics is such a nasty stinking gooey ****