Is the Seat of General Musharraf Shaking?

Prof Dr Colonel (Retired) K Prabhakar Rao

Pakistan although was declared an Islamic republic after its birth in 1947, it was never a stable democratic republic. It had short stints of democratic rule under Prime Minister Zulfikhar Ali Bhutto ( He was hanged by Zia Ul Haq) and his daughter Begum Benazeer Bhutto (Severely persecuted and forced to leave country) and Nawaz Sheriff (Forced to leave country). It suffered military dictatorships (claiming pseudo democratic setup) right from the days of Field Marshal ( self styled) Ayub Khan, General Yahya Khan, and General Zia Ul Haq and now is suffering under General Musharraf (Falsely hoping to be another Ata Turk) (1). What went wrong in Pakistan while its neighbor India enjoyed democracy (In whatever diluted form it is as per Indian ethos and practices) all these years without interruption? Pakistan is much small in size compared to India and completely Islamic. There are hardly any Hindus or Christians in that country and most of them have been hounded out. There may be an odd man out there as an exception to keep others in good humor. It’s military is highly politicized and trigger happy. It is a well known fact and believed by many scholars that Islamic societies invariably do not believe in true democracies (Turkey is an exception) and are great obsessed lovers of Shariat and religious dictatorship that can be implemented by only rigid rule of the State and Pakistan is no exception. Democracy and Islam can not go together. Imposition of Shariat is possible through Kingship or Military rule (2). Pakistan was found fundamentally on the religious hatred against Hindus and perceived inability to co exist with Hindus in a common secular country under democratic set up and counting of adult heads called voting. Corollary is that they could co exist with Hindus, only when they were in majority and ruling too. The divide and rule policy of the Englishmen succeeded. The sub continent was bifurcated under communal holocaust. Pakistan was formed with West Punjab and unnatural East Pakistan that were separated by more than thousand miles horizontally (3). There was a great difference in the culture of people. East Pakistan had Bengali Muslims more akin to Hindus in color and build while West was dominated by Pathans, Punjabi, Pushtu, Baluchi and Sindhi Mussalamans who harbored feelings of racial superiority by virtue of their color and physical build apart from Arab, Persian, Afghan and Turani origin. Consequently, East Pakistan broke away from West Pakistan and became an independent Bangladesh after Indo Pak war of 1971 not before mass murders and rape of people that took place at the behest of Marshal Law administrator Lt General Tikka Khan in East Pakistan (4).

Pakistan was always the camp follower of America. USA has been propagating that it advocates true democracy everywhere in the world and condemns all military rules. Sadly, it has failed again as earlier to follow this principle in case of Pakistan and watched as Prime Minister Nawaz Sheriff was ousted from power by the General who engineered a coup sitting in an air craft. This could be seen as a policy of mere convenience. As a matter of fact, America has patronized and supported Pakistan as a prop against growing India that rubbed shoulders with former USSR and communist China. It saw Pakistan as a balancing power and a spear in the bed with American support against more powerful India. USA sidelined India in its recent offensive against Afghanistan. Former Presidents of USA followed the similar policy in Indian Sub continent. Democracy played hide and seek in Pakistan while USA watched the game as an umpire and every time upheld the dictatorships and recognized the military regimes (5). Pakistan thus emerged as a failed State completely dependent on American aid and umbrella at all international forums. This suited American policy in the sub continent.

It is widely known that Pakistan fundamentally survives on American aid and once this aid is drastically cut, the country would suffer and struggle like fish out of water or a frog in the mouth of snake. Pakistan did not develop industrially, remained backward, religiously medieval, and educationally backward and spent its maximum efforts in improving its military capabilities and lived precarious political life all these years. Explosion of a nuclear device by India at Pokhran in Rajasthan during the regime of Prime Minister Mrs Indira Gandhi caused greatest alarm in Pakistan and it spent all its energies in acquiring a bomb with the help of China as a deterrent to India. By diverting all its resources in military build up, it suffered internally and remained very poor and yet backward and is not self dependent. Pakistani Armed forces and business houses would starve, lament struggle and wriggle if aid is cut and this is considered to be the best way to discipline Pakistan as per many American members of the senate who are keen to hit Pakistan at the most vulnerable point obviously below the belt that causes maximum pain. At present moment, this is considered most essential (6).

America as an apostle of freedom and liberty should withdraw support to General Musharraf who is a military dictator and President in Uniform. Of late, there have been many reports of regrouping of Taliban in Afghan sector. It is also confirmed that Taliban cadres and leaders are hiding in the most lawless province of Waziristan of North West Province of Pakistan that is famous for tribal conflicts and lawlessness too. It is also generally believed that Osama Bin Laden the most wanted and sought criminal and catch prize in the world is hiding in this province to escape arrest by the NATO forces (7). Of late, there is a growing criticism against Pakistan’s inability in containing terrorism and regrouping of Taliban and AlQaeda terrorists is attributed to apathy on the side of Pakistan. In fact, American administration harbored great faith in Pakistan’s ability in combating the Taliban and AlQaeda in its land. Sadly it was a mistaken faith. Pakistan literally played double game and while swallowing American aid on grand scale abetted rise of terrorism and regrouping of these outlawed outfits in its land under its very nose. This however has been smelled by America. US senators have seriously criticized Pakistan and warned that America might be forced to take unilateral military actions against the terrorists hiding in Pakistan if it failed to deliver the goods (8). A strong warning has already been conveyed to the General through US Vice president Dick Cheney who made a flash visit to Afghanistan and Pakistan recently (9). Pakistan however denied the charge and even expressed that other countries would not be permitted to carry out Military operations in it’s territory and it’s forces were capable of dealing with situation (10). This was nothing but putting a brave face out of helplessness.

General Musharraf in fact has been playing the bogey of threat of Mullahs who are waiting in the wings to capture power and have hold on nuclear weapons in Pakistan. Withdrawal of American aid to Pakistan would destabilize its economy to such an extent that Musharraf could loose power. It is feared that Mullahs would capture power. America does not want a purely fundamentalist regime in Pakistan with nuclear weapons that are likely to be passed into the hands of Islamic terrorists and to rogue states( However Pakistan failed to protect its nuclear know how and Dr Khan sold nuclear secrets to some of the rogue states thereby undermining world interests) Thus Pakistan is literally blackmailing USA to a great extent, ever since it acquired nuclear weapons. Of late, there is news in the press claiming that Musharraf would be soon replaced as President as he has failed to deliver goods. A change in the guard is expected. In fact destiny of Pakistan is being controlled by USA and the stability of General Musharraf in Pakistan is at the mercy of America. It is generally being believed that days of power of General Musharraf are limited as the President of his country and soon would be replaced by another General with some civilian as President. Obviously America likes to have a military man at the helm of affairs keeping Mullahs at bay while a civilian President holds the post of President as a mere stooge and as a matter of convenience to military dictatorships. Such Presidential posts in Pakistan are purely ceremonial and they have no voice and toe the official military line clapping, “Yes sir, yes sir, three bags full”.

Although American Senators have pointed their guns towards President Musharraf, there are some favorable and sympathizers too. They claim that General Musharraf has done his best in the circumstances and is unable to do any thing further in Waziristan owing to the terrain and the hostile nature of tribes inhabiting these areas. It is learnt that 700 Pakistani regular army soldiers died in the operations by its army in Waziristan. This was a great loss and has been a serious blow to the morale of the troops. Thus Pakistan was compelled to sign a treaty with these tribes and this has been a matter of resentment to US administration. Pakistan is unwilling to sacrifice its troops in large numbers in the fight against the tribals. (Should USA suffer such great losses in fighting terrorists? Is it not the duty of every sane nation to fight terrorists who are holding the world to ransom? Why only America should sacrifice its sons and daughters in this war?) In the past, even the Englishmen during their rule in Sub Continent found extremely difficult to defeat these hostile tribes in North West Frontier Areas and Pakistan is finding itself in similar situation now (11). Nevertheless, Pakistan has to deliver goods and prove itself meaning business. There is always a threat of unilateral action by USA in Pakistani areas to capture or eliminate the criminals from the Taliban and AlQaeda outfits. When it could bomb Taliban and take them to task, why not now Pakistan that is harboring Taliban and AlQaeda? Justice has to be equal and universally applied. These are the grim questions on the board.

The troubles faced by the Pakistani President are not limited alone to his inability in containing AlQaeda and Taliban in his country which was the requirement of USA in the war against terrorism. There is a growing turmoil in the country over his domestic handling of issues and problems. Police raining tear gas shells and wielding batons raided the office of Geo TV station like conglamation of goons on March 16 as a sequel to suspense of Country’s top most Judge Iftikhar Mohamed Chaudhry a week ago over unspecified charges. Authorities pulled off a show of the network earlier. A crowd of 1000 people outside SC chanted ‘Down with Musharraf Dog’, ‘Go Musharraf Go’ and ‘Allah u Akbar’ and waved black banners. It is charged that military is trying to get round the judiciary by inducting favorable judicial stooges before elections in which Musharraf is trying to seek Presidency for the third time. It is claimed that the sacked judge demanded that whereabouts of certain persons allegedly held by intelligence agencies should be revealed. Thus opposition parties, hardliners, liberal politicians have now combinely raising protests against Musharraf and are seeking a change from the oppressive seven and half year military rule. Jamid Mir of Geo TV went on screen live s stating, “police have attacked our office, they are breaking windows, They are beating staff and they have used tear gas shells. Even our women staff have been hurt”. President Musharraf however has expressed deep anguish and concern over the police attack and said that he would punish all the culprits who were responsible for such an outrage and that the damage done at the station would be compensated.

The incidents in Pakistan are being watched carefully in America. “It is a situation actually that we have been monitoring very closely for some time. It is a matter of deep concern” said State Department spokesman Sean McCormack (12). Earlier administration said the matter was internal matters of Pakistan. But increased violence and resistance in Pakistan has obviously has made USA to speak against the military regime it favors while it bears down on the regimes in Sudan, Zimbabwe for small infractions. It is said, “it is not a matter of our complaining about it, it is an internal Pakistani matter. But clearly its something that in terms of Pakistan’s functioning as a democracy, that we would watch very closely and that would have initially deep concerns about what has taken place (13)

The rift between the Chief Justice of Supreme court and the President and his removal and consequent trouble in the country gives no credit to General Musharraf and administration of the General is seen in very poor light by America. The position of the Pakistani President is shaky and probably America would consider change of regime soon with a new puppet emerging on the scene in the latest puppet show in Pakistan.

A salvo has already been fired from US, warning the General to watch out and handle the situation carefully and meet US requirements on Terrorists or else…………….... The unpleasant blanks have to be filled up by President General Musharraf.

Bibliography

1. Prof Dr Colonel (retired) K Prabhakar Rao, Strategic studies into Muslim fundamentalism and it’s rise in India and its growing threat to India’s security across the borders. Ph D thesis, The International University, Independence, USA,

2003, PP 169

2. Prof Dr Colonel (retired) K Prabhakar Rao, Islam at cross roads, www.faithcommons.org, October 27, 2006, 10:29

3. Prof Dr Colonel (retired) K Prabhakar Rao, Strategic studies into Muslim fundamentalism and it’s rise in India and its growing threat to India’s security across the borders. Ph D thesis, The International University, Independence, USA,

2003, PP 155-158

4. Ibid, PP 185

5. Prof Dr Colonel (retired) K Prabhakar Rao, NATO offensive in Afghanistan to be pushed up, www.faithcommons.org, March 06, 2007, 19:08

6. Prof Dr Colonel (retired) K Prabhakar Rao, Pakistan cornered,

www.faithcommons.org, March 07, 2007, 09:01

7. Prof Dr Colonel (retired) K Prabhakar Rao, Taliban is getting stronger and reviving, www.faithcommons.org, November 22, 2006, 09:02

8. Chidanand Rajghatta, US all for ‘Hot pursuit in Pak, Deccan chronicle, Hyderabad, AP, India, Date March 03, 2007, PP 15

9. Alisa Tang, Taliban bomber targets Cheney, Deccan Chronicle, Hyderabad, AP, India, Date February, 2007, PP 10,

10. Iftikhar A Khan, US can’t strike inside Pak: Army, Deccan chronicle, Hyderabad, AP, India, Date March 5, 2007, and PP 11

11. Prof Dr Colonel (retired) K Prabhakar Rao; Taliban is getting stronger and reviving, www.faithcommons.org, November 22, 2006, 09:02

12. Pak boils over Mush TV gag (Reporter From Islamabad). Times of India, Hyderabad, AP, India, Date March 17, 2007, PP 1)

13. Chidanand Rajghatta, US to Mush: Handle with care, Escalating Crisis over ousted CJ threatens Generals Grip on power, Times of India Hyderabad, AP, India, Date March, 17 , 2007, PP 17

RELATED LINKS

www.faithcommons.org

By

Prof Dr Colonel (Retired) K Prabhakar Rao

1. Are Arabs regrouping to destroy Israel? November 24, 2006, 08:58

2. American policy in the Middle East after Republican Party debacle, November 25, 25, 2006, 07:07

3. The American President uneasy January 30, 200, 10:22

4. Religion and world peace, October 10, 2006, 0200

OTHER LINKS

1. Pak will be no more if moderates loose power, Islamabad, Tribune, on line edition, Chandigarh, India, October 13, 2006, October 12, 2006

2. Pak Cops raid TV station, Deccan Chronicle, Hyderabad, AP, India, Date March 17, 2007, PP 13

3. Correspondent from Islamabad, Attack on TV plot on me, Musharraf, Deccan Chronicle, Hyderabad, AP, India, Date March 18,2007, PP 10

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