Conducting foreign policy on martyrdom
When patriotism rules the minds, thinking faculties take the backseat. Patriotism, like religion, is a conviction based on a belief system which cannot be reasoned with. It’s the biggest, all-pervasive cult that entire nation states are besotted with, some to the point of no redemption — and there is no distinction between democratic and undemocratic polities whilst succumbing to patriotism. In the US and in India, for instance, patriotism overrides all else; it is a consistent state of mind through which everything else must be seen and judged. In countries like Iran, Syria and North Korea, autocratic regimes fan patriotic sentiment to show to the world how their people are behind government policies.
In Pakistan, patriotism is an organised affair, managed and overseen by state institutions through their beneficiaries, lackeys and the right wing lobby as and when the need arises. We have a long history of patriotism of the negative variety only, which oscillates between anti-India and anti-US/West rhetoric.
There is hardly anything positive about Pakistani patriotism; it relies mainly on condemnation of the enemy, real or perceived. Once such rhetoric starts it assumes larger than life proportions; everyone everywhere feels obliged to chip in with their own vent of anger until the brinkmen calling the shots decide that tactical results have been achieved. Whilst the fit lasts, nothing can hold back its fury, not even genuine national interest.
The way Pakistan has reacted to the killing of 24 soldiers by Nato air strikes is the most recent case in point, following the Memogate scandal. Granted it’s intolerable and unacceptable that our so-called allies should attack our army posts, but while our military is able to take armed assaults on the GHQ and the Mehran Naval Base from home-grown militants with some calm, western forces attacking our soldiers is somehow much more outrageous. Similarly, hundreds killed in American drone attacks, mostly terrorists, is more disgraceful than over 20,000 civilian lives lost, including those of women and children, in terrorist attacks on shrines, mosques, schools and in the bazaars. Were those not the sons and daughters of Pakistan, who were killed not in the line of duty defending their country on remote hilltops but whilst going about their daily, innocent routine in our cities? They were not even in the war zone, where bloody accidents can happen.
One is not saying that the latest Nato attack was an accident or a terrible miscalculation on the part of the foreign troops and their Afghan hosts, because if truth be told under these charged up conditions, we don’t really know that. The inflexible reaction shown by the ISPR tells us that it has totally rejected such an explanation and called the assault deliberate. The government too has stood firmly behind the armed forces’ stand on the issue, and the media just picked up the story and ran with it, with war songs blaring from TV sets and anchors baying for enemy blood. Cable operators have done their bit for the country and taken western news channels off the air. Under whose orders and under what rules and regulations, no one is willing to ask.
Is this a well thought out stance, especially when an inquiry into the air strikes is underway across the border? Even if it is held that the Nato attack was not a mistake but a deliberate move, it has to be asked what was Nato’s motive behind attacking Pakistan Army check posts? If the motive was to pit the Pakistan Army against the foreign troops based in Afghanistan and make that an excuse to extend the theatre of war into Pakistani territory, then the sinister mind that cast the bait must now feel vindicated because we have taken the bait.
Nato supplies have been cut off from Pakistan and the US has been told to vacate the Shamsi air base in Balochistan, perhaps a fitting response to the provocation, but what is next, you may well ask. Where do we go from here? When nations become angry, they behave like the individuals who run them, and this isn’t the best frame of mind in which to rush to conclusions and take action. The past 10 years show us that the hubris displayed by the US in its ‘war on terror’, whose battle cry is vengeance, is not the way to go, because it has got them nowhere. Is that the destination Pakistan also wants to embark upon?
A saner response would have been to use the Bonn conference to put across Pakistan’s point of view much more aggressively to convince the world that Pakistanis have borne the brunt of this war which is going nowhere. A forceful argument based on logic would perhaps still work better than the knee-jerk reaction shown so far. Islamabad should reconsider boycotting the Bonn moot and not opt for diplomatic isolation by being absent from it. Being absent from Bonn can lead to further estrangement from the international community that can spill over to the economic and military domains — a spectre Pakistanis can ill-afford to grapple with on their own, all alone.
It is time to save Pakistan from international isolation even as we damn Nato and demand retribution for the outrageous attack on our border check posts. The soldiers died in the line of duty in a war zone defending their country, which was their job, and have been duly and rightfully honoured. It would be wrong to conduct foreign policy on their martyrdom.
The writer is a member of the staff at Dawn Newspaper.
There seems to be no policy driving such responses, only emotions that are easily manipulated by the army via its media stooges. Fanning hatred is not a new phenomenon, striving for a sane response is neither possible nor anticipated by a riled up public. Spewing vitriol on the west and India cannot make Pakistan achieve its goals.
It has been well publicised that the US has injected a large sum of money into the pak media to curtail anti-American stories. Patriotism is irrelevant in this case. I am an Indian Muslim. The US has time and time violated pak sovereignty and pak is paralysed to do anything. Its political system has failed and needs to be replaced with caliphate.
An excellent and analytic article. I agree that "In Pakistan, patriotism is an organised affair, managed and overseen by state institutions through their beneficiaries, lackeys and the right wing lobby as and when the need arises. We have a long history of patriotism of the negative variety only, which oscillates between anti-India and anti-US/West rhetoric." In the present charged atmosphere people may not listen to reason but I would like to point out a news item in today's Dawn that says " Defence Department press secretary George Little said the US asked Pakistan to be part of the investigation, but the Pakistanis have ''elected to date'' not to participate. " It may be worth pondering why Pakistan is refusing to be part of Bonn conference and the inquiry about killing of soldiers in gunship attack. Is there any thing to hide or the truth may not serve the purpose.
I donot agree with the writer.
If Pak doesnt take tough action against this agression. It will demoralize the Pak army, which is the strongest institution in Pak.
It wil b an incentive to the psychological war being waged against Pak.
civilians were killed by terrorist and drone attacks and govt haven't take any action against that. It resulted in the loss of hope and demoralisation among the Pakistani public.
If same silence is repeated, when it comes to killing of military personals, that also by foreign military(nato). It will result in the demoralisation and mistrust between the Army and Political institutions and that is wht U.S. wants to do before invading Pak directly.
Very thoughtful analysis!! Countries cannot afford to run their foreign policy on a singular issue. War cries as the first response, without even starting any kind of diplomatic communications either directly or indirectly to address the issues, will make any country and isolated one. As was mentioned in many commnets so far, when US with it's mighty economic and defense power has proved this point, Pakistan with it's economy on the brink, can ill afford to go down that path. Hope saner minds will prevail in Pakistan's defense establishment and allow government to use diplomacy to resolve issues with US/NATO.
Dont you know the history. They are the enemy at the gate just like the crusaders from the past with camps outside the castle. We have suffered enough. I think the army is giving the right message. The government is a pack of corrupt wolves and are incapable of taking right decisions for the future of the country. The USA i waging unfair wars in muslim lands and you want words to counter their crimes against humanity. Millions killed so far for what ???????? Did they conduct any inquiries before waging war in Afghanistan and Iraq. All were assumptions and millions were decimated. No matter what the internal conflicts may be but we need to send a signal accross that we shall fight and die till the last drop of blood rather than cut ourselves with the axes handed by them i.e co-operation in the so called war on terror. May Allah have mercy on us. Ameen
Well said mr. Razvi. Pakistanis are great at bravado, and talk a lot about intangibles such as 'ghairat' (pride) 'izzat' (respect) but do the reality is that we are a bankrupt country propped up by our benefactors in the West. Its all good to beat your chest and stand up for yourself but only if you have the wherewithal to look your opponent in the eye. In a country where the elite don't want to pay their taxes, have parked their money outside of the country and where the military's raison-de-etre is to usurp its frugal resources, Pakistan really can't play hardball with the country that gives it sustenance.
Sad but true my fellow countrymen.
Excellent article. Totally agree with it. I wish we had some competent people in the Government. What does Pakistan and Pakistanis need right now? Isnt it education, good governance, economic prsperity and security of life, limb and property? Or is it to fight a war with NATO and the US?
If some one has got it all wrong, it’s for sure, Murtaza Razvi. Razvi is simply paddling “do more”. Has Pakistan not suffered enough due to the fraudulent American war? Now is the time that Pakistan must get itself out of this hoax, called, ‘war on terror’ which is in fact war of terror being waged not only in Afghanistan but also in Pakistan. Irrespective of who was write or wrong and how and why the American attack took place, the question is what is Pakistan’s gain by being in this American war. What a pity, Razvi wants the Americans to carry on the drone attacks on Pakistani people while using Pakistani air strip. The main reason for the terrorism in Pakistan is the reaction of the FATA people against the drone attacks, supported by people like Razvi.
J. Chaudry
what you say is politically correct. I think the army saw the Bonn conference would be used to corner the army, not a resolution of the Afghanistan problem. The army has a pov on Afghanistan, the West or the US and its allies are not comfortable with. Sending civilians to Bonn and then try and manage them from behind the scene would have been whole lot difficult than making a deal with the US behind the scenes. I think the army just wants a deal and that is what they are gunning for. Will the US give in? I think yes, partially due to various other factors.
It is interesting that no moral outrage in Pakistan occurs when the Talibans deliberately target and kill innocent army cadets and law enforcement personnel in droves — but when the NATO accidentally hits the army border camps it raises such a countrywide raucous. Bonn is not for Afghans and the NATO only it is essentially to prevent such border killings on the Pakistan side as well. It is a monumental folly of mount K2 proportions for Pakistani diplomacy not to present its just case before the World Forum. Has the country lost its faith in world diplomacy — or does it think war with West is the solution?
Pakistan's sovereignity is the new found catch phrase since Osama was found close to the cantonment town living next to the military.
The army has lost face due to Mehran and Abbottabad.
Martyrs are dead and gone, so cannot speak for themselves, convenient to use them for foreign policy via jingoism, who cares about sensible national policy.
I agree to some of the points raised especially the inappropriate use of patriotism, but lets not ignore the fact that Pakistan wants to draft new policies towards war on so called terror. The incident, similar to the Raymond Davis episode, backed by patriotism provides a vital opportunity to Pakistan to redraw/reshape its alliance with west which will eventually run away and leave the mess for Pakistan to take care of. Please appreciate the fact that Pakistan is in a better negotiation position, especially after Russia’s claim that they will stop NATO supply as well. I wish the decision makers find the will and courage to do the right thing, once for all.. ofcourse using the patriotism of ignorant men and women without uniform.
I would go as far as to say that the soldiers were put in the harms way by the Generals to "sacrifice a few for the good of all". Now they have the moral ammo to push NATO into a retreat.
While I agree to the fact that one should act in a sane manner, I would also like to point out there time when words take the back seat while the actions speak. I am also for the fact that this should not be limited to the 24 soldiers but we should take up the matter of drone attacks as well as they too are our brothers and sisters and have every right that the army or anyone else has.
The boycott is a good move, who are we kidding here? Will they listen to us? Just like they listened to us in the past. The so called logical arguments can be communicated to them via diplomatic channels like the embassy here.
Thirdly, I wonder why is everyone so concerned about the attack being truly in persuit of terrorists or not. The fact remains that they were in our area and have killed 24 soldiers and it is not the first time this has happened. We, as a nation, need to decide what we want out of this co-operation.
I think not going to Bonn conference is unwise and plain foolish. This will further isolate Pakistan. I would argue that anger will not take U anywhere whereas U can accomplish a lot while talking with each other. Closing all doors will eventually hurt Pakistan in the long run. I know our politicians and PPP establishment is intellectually challenged and they are not thinking for Pakistan but just playing with emotions.
Razvi sahib, is right. Instead of behaving like a kid, we should have taken part in the Bonn conference. We could have put our case across the people concerned and gained friends. What is more astounding is that for two hours the helicopters and jets straffed and bombed those border post. Where was Pakistan's response. why did they not scramble some jets at least to check it out.
argue that anger will not take U anywhere whereas U can accomplish a lot while talking with each other. Closing all doors will eventually hurt Pakistan in the long run. I know our politicians and PPP establishment is intellectually challenged and they are not thinking for Pakistan but just playing with emotions.
The article while well thought out yet overlooks a simple point i.e. there is a different between
Mr Razvi is missing a very simple point – "Blatant disregard of soverignity" of a country. A nation at some point has to wake up and reaccess its future. There were plenty of Razvi types during the British rule of the subcontinent. I was shocked by his "very subtle and carefuly couched" disrespect for the fallen soldiers.
Nice Article…I feel Pak is destroying itself. More people are killed by the terrorists in Pak.
Troops jobs are to defend from militants crossing over the border not getting hit from so called Friendly Fire of NATO forces when they knew the post is there occupied by Pakistani Forces. It was a good DRAWING ROOM article meant for distortion of facts and figures. Writer has mentioned one side of the picture what about the other side………..
I would love to see from the writer as hundreds of lives saved by these army men and intelligence officials by foiling the terrorist activities, No Credit or article was written about them just ready to disgrace only.
Warm Regards
Excellent! But I am afraid, in the present charged atmosphere, this sane advice shall fall on collectively deaf ears! Am sadly reminded of the words of poet Malcom Lowry : "When the doomed are most eloquent in their sinking, / It seems we are least strong to save."
Lakshmidhar Malaviya,
Kyoto, Japan.
" but while our military is able to take armed assaults on the GHQ and the Mehran Naval Base from home-grown militants with some calm, western forces attacking our soldiers is somehow much more outrageous."
I understand the writers point but I would also think that the reason Pakistan shows more anger to attacks carried out by NATO is because it's like being stabbed in the back by someone who claims to be your ally. It's seen like an act of betrayal. On the other hand, the Pakistani Taliban and militants openly classify themselves as the enemy. Taking the news that your countrymen died at the hands of your enemy is much easier to accept as you can expect nothing more from them. When the unexpected happens, like these soldiers dying at the hands of NATO, that comes as more of a shock, hence the comparatively more outrage and anger.