A convenient escape route

I think I’ve heard the phrase “violation of sovereignty” a fair few dozen times over the last 20 or so hours. The context is Pakistan’s response to the Kerry-Lugar bill passed by the US Senate that “aims” to create better ties with Pakistan. This bill that is to be debated now by Pakistan’s national assembly, promises $1.5 billion every year for five years to Pakistan as a grant.

As always, take a few moments to catch your breath and re-read that last part. That’s right. A country with debts of $1.4 trillion is now set to hand out grants to Pakistan. I don’t believe I need to go into any details about the fact that that country is today not only known as, but also widely acknowledged as the the World Terror Hub. Places across the world are known as World Technology Hubs or World Tourist Hubs or even World Heavy Metal Hubs. I’ve never known any country to just sit there so brazenly about being called the World Terror Hub. It could be argued that they want to get rid of terrorism just as badly as the rest of the world does, but I just don’t see it.

From that slight detour and back on track, the US Senate passed the Kerry-Lugar bill, which has apparently been amended since it was first tabled. Among some of the conditions, of which there are a fair few, the most important part I saw was that the US would only commence the cash flow once the following conditions were met.

• The Pakistani military or its intelligence agency — ISI — ceases to support terrorist groups that have conducted attacks against the US or its coalition forces in Afghanistan or the people of neighbouring countries. (The ISI has long been known to support terror groups and this fact came out into the mainstream when a leaked British defence ministry document in 2006 substantiated just how the agency was behind the 7/7 serial blasts and other such attack. As for the attacks on neighbouring countries, Pakistan is in this wonderful position where it can condemn attacks on one hand and yet, fund people to do a 26/11 and then dilly-dally with the prosecution process. I doubt they’ll agree to this one.)
  
• Pakistan prevents Al-Qaeda, Taliban, Laskhar-e-Tayyaba and Jaish-e-Mohammed from operating in its territory, including cross-border raids into neighbouring countries. (I’m sorry, but I just don’t see that happening. Cross-border raids into Kashmir are unlikely to ever stop.)
• Pakistan dismantles terror training camps across the country including those in Quetta and Muridke (A section allegedly chucked into the bill by an Indian lobby. Read below for details on this section)
• Pakistan strengthens counter-terrorist and anti-money laundering laws.
• Pakistani security forces do not “materially and substantially” subvert the political or judicial processes of the country. (Vague vague vague. What is the defining characteristic of a material and substantial subversion? How is it different from an immaterial and unsubstantial one? And at what degree of subversion does the difference lie?)
• Pakistan continues to cooperate with the United States in an effort to dismantle supplier networks that relate to the acquisition of nuclear weapon related materials AND provides the US to direct access to Pakistani nationals like A.Q. Khan who are associated with such networks. (A.Q. Khan is one of Pakistan’s most valued resources. I cannot believe the country would allow anyone direct access to him. Just as they haven’t given anyone any access to Dawood Ibrahim for years and years, when the world knows he lives in Pakistan. Also he’s not even a Pakistani national)

Certain political leaders and sections of the media have taken to referring to this particular bill as a “strait jacket”, which is designed to prevent Pakistan from harming itself or others. Further, parts of the media also believe that the Pakistani government has been ignorant to the contents of the bill or has surrendered to the American diktat.

A matter of hours (I don’t believe it got to even days) after voices in Pakistan blamed India (or the BCCI) for the latest match-fixing conspiracy theory surrounding the former’s loss in the Champion’s Trophy, more voices emerged from within Pakistan blaming an “Indian lobby” for having pressurised the US into including the clause about “terrorists in Muridke and Quetta” (as I had mentioned above).

Now, Pakistani political parties are asking for the US to make further amendments to the bill before the national assembly in Pakistan can debate it. And there you have it folks, by using the most convenient escape route known to Pakistan for the past 62 years, which is also known as the “Blame India” policy, the country to the northwest seems all set to get itself out of another sticky situation with the rest of the world. And it’ll probably get its grants too. And continue to shoot the shit out of our citizens.

Appendix: The last time I recall hearing this “violation of sovereignty” thing so many times was when India was about to sign the Hyde Pact, also known as the 123 Agreement in 2006. In the face of many parties that disagreed with a lot of the conditions — including one about giving the US access to all India’s nuclear facilities, I think — a no-confidence motion was called, resulting in the trust vote and that infamous “cash for votes” scam.

One could well say, “Well India was indulging in the same antics as Pakistan is, right now. It’s exactly the same thing.” And while one may be partially correct, the facts are as follows: India will be spending $100 billion on American technology and Pakistan will be getting $7.5 billion... as a grant. That makes it a completely different thing.