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From wearing Green-white attire to visiting Allama iqbal’s mausoleum, Hillary Clinton’s well calculated and sincere gestures in an effort to restore trust deficit that has been widened due to the war against terrorism appreciated through out the country.
Ms. Clinton’s Three-day “charm offensive” to win hearts and minds of Pakistanis sounds quite much successful specially her frank discussions with the civil society, media, parliamentarians, artists, COAS and despite threats her visits to the public places of the most sensitive cities of Pakistan speak volume. On short yet comprehensive trip to Pakistan Ms. Hillary has successfully addressed many issues and misperceptions created between the people of two countries her logical replies to our journalists and intellectuals have helped Pakistanis changing negative views about American policy towards Pakistan; during her sessions with the Pakistani think tanks Ms. Clinton tried her level best to communicate the efforts USA is doing to strengthen Pakistan on various fronts, from the energy sector to education sector, she vowed to help their allies in all genuine causes but what she demanded was transparency, her major concerned was to transparently let US Aid reach to the right avenues.
An interesting situation was created when Hillary posed a question towards audience as how much money US has spent on Swat IDPs resulting pin drop silence in the auditorium, not even from journalists’ panel could anyone come up with the answer which proved her point right. A $ 300 Million aid gone unchecked.
For Americans it’s very frustrating to spend huge amount of money on Pakistan but Pakistanis just don’t know where the money is invested and this is exactly the demand of Obama administration to at least let people of Pakistan aware what US is doing for them and this could only be done through proper accountability which has mentioned in Kerry Lugar Bill.
In response to drone attacks she said there is a war going on there. If we look at what has to be done. Pakistani military using F16s in this war which are even deadlier than drones and in a war forces go after the people who are your enemies, but given the nature to this war, the enemy is very hard to catch who bomb markets of women, shops and schools and winning this war is in Pakistan’s national security interest. A lot of masterminds of insurgency are in the eye of Pakistani military because they know there are certain people who instrument these attacks and frequently move between two borders and there exactly drones help Pakistan with the help of Pakistani intelligence sharing.
In the end she admitted that she loved coming to Pakistan but words are not enough US have to build confidence and trust and I believe they have started out.
The conclusion I have drawn from secretary of states revelations is that Pakistani people have high hopes from US and there is a huge sense of misperception developed between people of Pakistan for the US Government which could only be addressed if Pakistani media and intellectuals play a fair role when reporting US-Pakistan issues and let public know how much America spending on Pakistan.
Is this the time to change the way we think about America, or is it just another eyewash ?!
Your analysis has a horde of significant partiality. You should have integrated both sides of the picture.
You failed to synthesize the questions she has been asked by our journalists, and her super beating around the bush while continuously saying “we are at war”, it was prominent in her all talkses.
You also failed to synthesize her response to the KLB and other financial doles coming from US with conditions; while some journalist cited an example of Bush’s phone call to Musharraf saying “Either you’re with us or against us”, and Musharraf, without invoking any ‘condition(s)’, accepted to be an ally of US in war. Now that was sincerity of upholding relations — if you talk about a super bilateral friendship in the light of a general scenario. Each time Pakistan got those doses of annual and occasional doles, it largely had the inclusion of unacceptable and controversial conditions. Why ‘conditions’ in friendship?
When she was asked about the ‘Drone Technology’ to be given to Pakistan, she ran out of a proper answer.
The same way, they have put conditions that Pakistan can’t spend the money on the acquisition of Nuclear capability through the Bill’s money. Fine, for a moment, I agree, their money, their condition.
But then there is another condition, accordingly, you can’t USE your own resources for acquisition of Nuclear capabilities.
That’s not a true friendship. And it’s a prima facie example of unilateral selfish friendship.
I detected the commonality of those endorsing this so heavily is for the cause that for them matters the “money” in form of dollars. Just Dollars, let it come in any condition …
Tanzeel,
What you have written would all probably be true, but i (being frequent newspaper reader) have seen very less of it covered in mainstream Urdu media. And thus you deserve credit for compiling such comprehensive, to some extent revealing and yet an objective article.
Pakistani elites, intelligentsia and decision makers have been aware since ages of what Hillary have rather repeatedly said in her trip. Unfortunately, common public is still pretty much influenced by the anti-American articles/talk shows and would never come to know what Hillary have said or how much money USA have spent on Pakistan so far.
And while we are on this topic, i think the better way to remove misconceptions about US (and US Culture) amongst Pakistanis is to allow more & more common Pakistanis to visit US. More then 95% of Pakistanis does not hold extremist views and their visit to USA (via Student exchange or Employment program) would go a long way in clarifying ideas about Americans amongst most Pakistanis (and vice versa) whose soul information sources are Zaid Hamid, Jamat-e-Islami and Hamid Mir.
Very good points raised. Very well written, Tanzeel!
For the first, I have seen that the United States of America is very honest and true in developing, cementing and strengthening its relationship with Pakistan. Intentions of United States of America regarding Pakistan are very sincere and honest.
The problem lies in religious parties and anti-US elements in Pakistan, who ignore even the sincere gestures from the United States of America.
Friends of Pakistan have done nothing for Pakistan. Only United States of America is doing great for Pakistan.
Silence from China and Saudi Arabia is clearly showing that these countries are not interested in genuinely helping Pakistan.
In these mounting crises, only United States of America has emerged as a true friend of Pakistan. Personally, I am really thankful to United States of America for helping Pakistan.
Long live Pak-US friendship!
Hammad, very good points!
I would just remember that “Gillani is a magician”. :D
Sharjeel, :D LoL
Absar, not alone drone technology transfer but there were lots of demands Pakistanis were making but let me tell you why she could not convince you on drone technology transfer. She being the secretary of state has certain limitations unlike Pakistan where only man is incharge of country’s fate. Defence demands are fulfilled through proper channels and that’s why she has assured the journalist that she ll put technology transfer issue to the concerned department back home.
As for “You can’t use your money for your own nuclear acquisition” I would want you to elaborate this point –couldn’t get you.
US is one of the biggest donor to Pakistan, and it is good that they will now monitor the spendings. Tanzeel you missed one thing, the recent hate wave against US is due to their increased intruding in our country’s affairs, who would like to see US marines roaming around in our capital with guns?
Mariam US Marines are not “roaming” in our capital. Please don’t believe in propaganda all the time. Some Blackwater officials have been found in ISB but they are enjoying diplomatic immunity under International law. They are there to protect US diplomats which is fair enough.
Mariam, I would like to supplement that some responsibility of the recent hate wave against US goes to Urdu Print & Electronic Media. As Hammad mentioned Hamid Mir, Ansar Abbasi, Zaid Hamid etc. Urdu Print & Electronic Media have demonized the image of US. Their reporting simply creates fire-works.
trust deficit , it was the term used , mending fences …etc…..etc..etc.
Pakistan US relationship is a relationship between the Elites of the two countries , its not a relationship between the people of the two countries, in fact peoples of the two countries are poles apart .
American people are not really interested in pakistan they are indifferent, their govt is , it Needs Pakistan for its strategic interests , Pakistan people only bear them because they are a ladder for the improvement of their living standards ….. American Education, American MNC ,…Pay in Dollars ..thats all .
Elites of any nation listen talk,and understand only Money …ie Dollars.
Pakistan is perceived as a nation for available for rent , greedy for dollars …. so the measure is Dollars.
One US soldier costs the USA about 80,000 Dollars per year , a better qualified , in terms of strategy , Pakistan soldier costs about 9000 US dollars per year …any thing above that , then become ” a Ehsan ” on Pakistan .
and she was here to tell that , without mincing any words , and she did that.
but the common people have different perception , a perception based on hard core reality of their lives , USED by their own elites for the interests of US Elites .
I said somewhere , there has been a silent quantum change in Pakistani society .
Pakistan now a different Pakistan ….Period.
@ Tanzeel
//They are there to protect US diplomats which is fair enough.//
Nope. Under the International Laws and as per the Guineva Convention — if I’m not wrong in naming the right convention — it’s purely and solely the responsibility of the state to provide security to the diplomats, not the outlandish private companies like Black Water.
Besides the explanation of “You can’t use your money for your own nuclear acquisition”, you need to listen to the in-depth analysis of KLB by Maria Sultan with Dr. Moeed Pirzada. Here’s the link lest you need it.
h t t p : // www . friendskorner . com / forum / f262 /talk- show-dunya-today-24th-october-2009-a-145390 /
*Geneva
And I assume everyone here knows very well how the evil eyes are vigilant about our Nuclear Program. One apex pride of Pakistanis is its Nuclear Assets.
Instead of estimating things through one eye i.e. thinking of Dollars ‘only’, look things from strategic outlook too. As I said earlier, Pakistan needs to step very carefully before it leaps.
Sorry, it was Vienna Convention. Just read a news.
LAHORE, Pakistan, 7 November 2009 (The News) – The Lahore High Court [LHC] on Friday directed the Interior Ministry and the Inspector General Police, Islamabad, to file reply by November 20 [2009] on a petition seeking to disarm the U.S. diplomats, officials in Pakistan, besides registration of criminal cases against those found involved in spying and other anti-state acts in violation of diplomatic codes and the laws of the land, who were caught red-handed but released on the pressure of the Interior Ministry.
More details can be read from here:
h t t p : / / w w w. thenews . com. pk / daily_detail. asp? id= 207162