On the brink

On the brink

Five days after the deadly Nato attack on a check-post in Mohmand, Pakistan has changed its stance on relations with the United States. With the Nato supplies already blocked and Shamsi air base shut down, Pakistan has also decided to boycott the Bonn conference on Afghanistan.

The government and its Defence Committee of the Cabinet responded swiftly to the attack, easing down the pressure from various corners (political and otherwise) to show its disapproval.

Events in the next few days will reflect whether these bans, closures and boycotts will remain in place for the long term.

With a growing rhetoric from the public and political parties to cut all ties with the United States and its allied forces, should the government take such drastic steps?

Given the significance of border security along the Pak-Afghan border and the impending American withdrawal from Afghanistan, how should the government frame a long-term policy with the United States?

By boycotting the Bonn conference, could Pakistan possibly alienate itself from key decisions regarding Afghanistan and its future?

 

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60 Responses to “On the brink”

  1. Echo says:

    I echo what Yawar saha said
    “Pakistan must attend the Bonn conference and demand full accountability and compensation for the attack on two military posts, which killed 24 soldiers and seriously injured 15 others. Details of all previous violations must also be presented to the world. The evidence shows they were planned and not accidental, as all these border posts are clearly marked on the maps shared by Pakistan, ISAF and USA.”

  2. Sania says:

    America is already entranched in Pakistan the invasion took place the minute Zardari took office, the secret war took place and the Pakistani people did not feel a thing, going to Bonn would only be a token for Pakistan because the US will never let it’s captive influence it’s objectives. Pakistan is now without soveriegnty, without a heart or soul…take a bow Zardari, Gilani, Qureshi, Musharraf, Sharif you took away the only thing the ordinary people of Pakistan had….. their pride

  3. Amn says:

    Pakistan shall not attend the Bonn Conference and shall be firm on our decisions. High time to make the bullys knows, that we cannot be fooled more. Let the blood of our martyrs not go in vain. Let this incident be the awakening point for us all. It is not our war. Let the west fight on its own. They will be soon in a quagmire with voices raising within their masses about the cost of war that the western economies are paying. Let us stear clear away now of this ‘war to oppress’

  4. Usman says:

    In international politics, every country has a proverbial red line, when it is crossed, drastic steps are necessary to ensure the message goes to the agressor that it is not acceptable. We should not resort to any sort of military response, instead our pathetic civilian leadership should look at the following responses:

    1) Cut off NATO supplies permanently
    2) Eject all CIA based operatives and US military trainers from Pakistan
    3) Deny use of airspace to all US aircraft flying over Balochistan
    4) Deny permission to dock at Karachi Port for NATO ships
    5) Terminate any and all kinds of military cooperation w.r.t the WOT

    In short, use this golden opportunity to dissociate Pakistan from the Western front completely.

    • Observer I says:

      You think like a man. A true Pakistan. A Muslim.
      Pakistan should be proud that it has atleast one like you…hopefully others, too.

  5. Aqeel says:

    it is a good decesion to stop supplies of NATO and shut down Shamsi air base…

    • Observer I says:

      It is an excellent and courageous decision. In addition those who contracted the deal and continued to lie about is should be tried for treason againt the State of Pakistan, its Institutions and its People.

      The punishment for treason is Capital punisment and conscification of property…

  6. jilanee says:

    Why should Pakistan take or participate in taking decision on another country’s future? It should better take decision on its own future. Pakistan should reciprocate in kind with whoever takes over Afghanistan post-2014, friendship with friendship, standoff with standoff.

    As to the United States, the question presumes rethinking. But, should a policy that has kept us well-fed and some of us well-heeled be re-framed at all? What is wrong with the six-decade old one? Get the greenback supply the services.

  7. R.Kannan says:

    Boycotting the Bonn conference raises questions regarding Pakistan’s objectives. Statements from US & the western world reflect their feeling that Pakistan is working towards a different objective from the rest of the world. A more mature response would be to first formulate a clear objective 7 articulate the same. The danger with taking hardened positions is that the other side gets to decide what is the future course. A hardening of the US position, which many Americans have long been calling for, is fraught with bigger dangers for Pakistan.

  8. sarmad says:

    Foreign policy cannot be run on street wisdom. Up to some extend one can understand the rational behind blocking the supplies and vacating the base but boycotting the Bonn conference is amateurish. One cannot expect it at least from our political leadership which has gone through enough hardship and still handling such affairs on popular sentiments. I remembered the days when Z. A. Bhutto decided to come out from common wealth after seeing them recognizing Bangladesh. Later it was proven only Pakistan’s harm. Bonn conference is a political process and standing aloof will not server our interest. We need to be part of it whether we like it or not. I hope Pakistan’s elected government will withstand the running popular emotions and make right decision of attending the conference. A political government needs to take right decisions even they are not popular.

  9. A.Bajwa says:

    Pakistan is trying to do too much too suddenly.

    Review was a good idea and should be done in a cool manner.

    Till that one should not play too much into a total reversal.

    Strategic situation in South Asia has changed radically.

    Pakistan is no longer the most favored nation of US in this region.

    The thrust of reorientation should be to seek guarantees about the settlement

    in Afghanistan. That should not be left to Afghanistan, US and India.

  10. Mona says:

    Isn’t it obvious? We need to focus on our own country first. A country’s interests should dictate foreign policy. But in our case it is the other way around: foreign policy is dictating Pakistan’s interests. As a nation, we are not like the US. We don’t go looking around for enemies. I have lived in Lahore most of my life and I know for sure that temperament-wise we are just very simple, happy people. We are happy with our parathas and our payas and our niharis. Our ambitions don’t go beyond some very simple things. We inherited our non-ambitious character from the sufis of this land. We can be qalandars but we can never be cowboys. So we should have a happy foreign policy. No enemies. Friends can come and laugh and that’s that. We shouldn’t bother about their ambitions or regional plans or share their paranoia. It’s not in our character.

    • GKrishnan says:

      @Mona: Wonderful spirit. I salute you for your common-sense, and for calling upon the true values that Pakistanis should cherish as their own.

  11. Nasah (USA) says:

    It may not make a big difference for NATO but it will certainly hurt Pakistan in its current economic and political its current mess by compounding its isolation. Cool heads should prevail. Pakistan cannot live cut off from the West.

  12. SHK says:

    Pakistan should attend the BONN Conference, make it known that Govt and people of Pakistan are reasonable and civil, the borders will still be closed till such time that NATO forces are in Afghanistan. We will negotiate with Afghan Govt as and when they are free and on their own feet. NOT TILL US AND NATO is holding thier hands.

    Pakistan should also send re-enforcement on PAK-Afghan Border, making it known that we mean business.

  13. malik says:

    Pakistan first, thats how the policy should read. All Pakistanis are one, no matter what caste or creed. We all need to work for our nation, as it in turn, shelters us,feeds us,nurtures us,educates us ( so that we can stay and make Pakistan a better place and not to run away and serve as second class citizens in foreign countries). Have some dignity and self respect,learn it and then teach it.Stand up on your own two feet,come out of the cave man syndrome,its now the 21 st century. Don’t lie, cheat or steal and please don’t teach it to your kids. Learn to read the Hadith of the Prophet, learn to question and learn to listen. Our nation depends on what we do now, as time once gone will never come back.

  14. Anand says:

    The requirements on Pakistan and its people are simple:

    Voluntarily surrender the Jihad, pursue and destroy Jihadi militants, join the league of nations towards a progressive and prosperous future.

    Or see the pursuit done for Pakistan by outsiders. At great cost to Pakistan and its citizens. And its sovereignty.

    The Jihad is perished. The choices to Pakistan are stark and immediate.

    Desist and Prosper. Or Cease to exist.

  15. jd shami says:

    I believe that not going to Bonn conference is not a good decision just like ZA Bhutto tearing the UN resolution during 1970-71 war with India, That was a bad decision at that time and this decision not to go Bonn is another BLUNDER. Pakistan must participate in this conference otherwise Pakistan will be totally left out of this triangle.

    • hanif says:

      I agree with jd sami,this incident had been probably designed deliberate near Bonn Conference so Pakistan could automatically resign itserlf from it.So they can further isolate Pakistan.
      Pakistan should attend the Bonn conference and demand for soverignityand damourages for fighting for ten years for so called war on terror.Eighteen billion dollars not enough for one Pakistani killed..

  16. Karachi Lights. says:

    They say that stories are the best tools of learning and conveying a message.

    Here is one for the leaders of Pakistan:

    “There once lived three bulls, a white bull, a black bull, and a red bull. Looking for food, a lion watched them graze together and realized he could not contend with all three. So he went to the black and red bull and made a deal with them. He told them that he was very ferocious and powerful and that if they let him eat the white bull, he would leave them in peace. The black and red bull agreed, and the lion murdered and then ate the white bull.

    Time passed and the lion became hungry again. He went to the red bull and argued that he was ferocious and powerful and that if he let him eat the black bull he would leave him in peace. The red bull agreed and the lion murdered and then ate the black bull.

    As time passed and the lion became hungry, he visited the red bull again. As the red bull saw death in the lions eye, as the teeth dug deep into it’s neck, it shouted, “Verily, I was eaten the day the white bull was eaten!”

  17. Shazia says:

    The incidence needs strong diplomatic, political, public and national peaceful protest by Pakistanis and all those who need to see an end to this mindless, 3-D war game at the cost of precious human lives.
    I feel the Bonn conference boycott is justified.
    We have been the victim of US and European bullying for a long time now.
    We need to get together a United Nations of Asia and a United Nations of Islam simply for the purpose of establishing peace and prosperity to the deprived and impoverished masses. Strength lies in unity, and the bullying can only be answered by bullying, if that is the only language of the day.

    • Iftekhar Hassan says:

      I disagree with you. Pakistan should attend Bonn conference. It has nothing to do with NATO killing 24 innocent Pakistani soldiers. Its a political forum and has nothing to do with military. Whoever calling the shot of not going to Bonn is irrational. I thought Pakistan now have civilian government and days of military bureaucratic alliance rule is over.

      As far as Pakistan future is concern, Pakistan founder said it loud and clear: UNITY, FAITH & DISCIPLINE.

  18. Azi says:

    Pakistan must send a clear message to the foreign powers in question that enough is enough. We cannot be kicked around anymore. This is not the first instance of unintentional ‘friendly fire’ that has resulted in the loss of innocent life.

    It makes me sad to say this, but it must also be noted that the leaders of Pakistan are equally at fault for allowing these things to happen.

    Having said that, the nation’s leaders must frame policies keeping in mind that Pakistan’s sovereignty has repeatedly come under attack and it’s integrity, repeatedly questioned, at the hands of these foreign forces.

    There is only one long term policy. Pakistan needs to get out of this war with its neighbors, the Afghans. In that light, Pakistan must discontinue acceptance of aid, and expel all foreign forces from within the borders.

    The leaders of this nation must realize that we have lost more than we have gained through this alliance.

  19. naeem says:

    Its ironic that the ruling Zardari PPP party and Nawaz Sheriff party are now finally following what Imran Khan has been saying for years on how to deal with USA.

    • Usman says:

      I completely agree. The question remains will the genereal public fall for the same old trick or will they see the current leaders for their true face? I hear poeple asking can Imran Khan change Pakistan? I say he already has.

  20. sajid khan says:

    The policy decision requires very careful consideration weighing all the pros and cons in a dispassionate manner. The emotional decision will be catastrophic.

    Any decision will involve answers to questions like: can the economy be improved enough without aid to create jobs,will the wealthy Pakistanis pay their fair share of taxes to internally fund the infrastructure projects , can military hardware be manufactured in the country to have a well equipped army, can the reduced trade with the west be offset by increased trade with Asia and Middle East?

    Also carefully look at the Iranian situation. How are they performing despite all western sanctions. Pakistan can be the next Iran. What would Arabs do if USA uses UN
    to impose sanctions? Would China offer substantive assistance or mostly rhetoric?

    The consequences of the decision will be long lasting. However, the decision needs to be made. Business as usual can’t go on. As an intangible keep Poet Iqbal’s verse in mind
    ” Ae taere la tooti, is rizq se mot acchi, jis rizq se ati ho parvaz me kotai”

    Dignity and honour have to be major consideration.

    on Pakistan.

  21. Yawar Shah says:

    Pakistan must attend the Bonn conference and demand full accountability and compensation for the attack on two military posts, which killed 24 soldiers and seriously injured 15 others. Details of all previous violations must also be presented to the world. The evidence shows they were planned and not accidental, as all these border posts are clearly marked on the maps shared by Pakistan, ISAF and USA.

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