do pakistanis agree with view of the following article. can pakistan become really independant without depending on west?
Slaves forever
Masud Akhtar Shaikh
Pakistan achieved independence more than fifty years ago, but it seems
we are destined to go on living as slaves forever. This is what our track
record of over half a century indicates, and this is what the menacing
omens about our future predict. Two centuries of serfdom have had
such a devastating impact on our psyche as a nation that we have not
yet been able to rid ourselves of political, economic, and mental slavery.
Like a bird which forgets the art of flying when released from the cage
after prolonged captivity, we too have forgotten how to live as a
dignified, independent nation. Even today, long after having successfully
broken the mortifying chains in which we had been rotting, we are quite
content to continue living as born slaves.
For many years after Partition, we kept hanging on to the apron strings
of the British, knowing fully well that they were by no means our
well-wishers. And yet, we remained dependent upon them even in the
most sensitive matters affecting our defence and national security. Our
unexcelled skill at deceiving ourselves did not allow us to realise that the
primary concern of our crafty foreign masters was their own national
interest which prevented them from providing us nothing more than a
false sense of security.
For many years, they had a complete control over Pakistan's foreign
policy, so much so that whenever some international developments
necessitated an expression of our views or the line of action our
government was going to follow, we kept waiting for a signal from the
British government, and then said whatever was in line with the wishes
of the latter. A classic example of this was the British aggression against
Egypt over the Suez Canal issue. It was immediately condemned by all
freedom loving countries except Pakistan which kept mum till the British
came up with some lame excuses justifying their hostile excursion.
Disappointed with the British, Ayub Khan decided to change the
country's de facto masters. This is how we fell into the American trap
which meant all-round slavery. So perfect was the American control over
Pakistan that none of our governments could dare defy the wishes of
the US government.
By the time Ayub Khan raised the slogan of `Friends, not masters', our
slavery to the Americans had been perpetuated in all fields. Apart from
mental captivity to their social norms, we had become subservient to
them in political, economic, and military affairs as well. That situation
continues to exist, albeit in a much worse form, till today. Thanks to the
liberal economic aid we have been getting with the kind courtesy of our
American friends, we now find ourselves permanently mortgaged to the
World Bank and the IMF. Both these US-controlled financial institutions
are holding the noose so tightly around Pakistan's neck that we cannot
even think of deviating from any course set for us by America,
howsoever dangerous it may be from the point of view of our own
national interests. We now have no choice but to remain Uncle Sam's
most obedient servants and keep obeying his direct and indirect dictates
for all times to come.
This is the background that explains many of the major policy decisions
taken by various governments in this country from time to time. Let us
recall a few such decisions, especially those which damaged our own
national interests beyond repair. Allowing America to monitor the Soviet
communication networks from our territory; consenting to allow the US
Air Force to use Badabher air base for flying out hush hush U-2 missions
over the Soviet air space; joining Cento and Seato, the two
US-sponsored defence pacts meant primarily to protect America's
strategic interests; promptly complying with American order to hand over
Pakistani nationals to the US authorities for trial in the US courts without
any formal extradition treaty with that country; and more recently,
handing over the strategic heights of Kargil to India on a platter.
Again, neutral political analysts have reasons to believe that the military
regime is pursuing an overly harsh policy towards the religious parties
merely to assure Washington, that the government of Pakistan is quite
averse to fundamentalism, a term that has assumed the dimensions of
an anathema for America and all its Western allies. This could well be the
reason why repeated attempts are being made by the authorities in
Pakistan to rein religious parties by exercising an effective control over
the religious seminaries throughout the country. The recent ban on the
raising of funds for jihad may also be a part of the same deal.
There are a number of other important decisions of the present military
rulers also which people are attributing to the same cause. The pardon
granted to Nawaz Sharif and his kith and kin and their packing off to the
so-called exile in Saudi Arabia is one such decision. Another pertains to
the readiness of the rulers to yield to IMF pressure in connection with
the prices of petrol and petroleum products, tax survey, downsizing, etc,
even on the risk of losing popularity with the masses and with other
important segments of society. Similarly, the government's latest
decision to make the teaching of English as a compulsory subject right
from class one, in all schools in the country, smacks of our lasting
slavery.
What is disappointing about this whole affair is our inability to win over
the Americans despite all the sacrifices the people of Pakistan have been
forced to make over the years. Will our continued conduct as slaves
ever help?
The author is a retired Colonel and freelance columnist
Slaves forever
Masud Akhtar Shaikh
Pakistan achieved independence more than fifty years ago, but it seems
we are destined to go on living as slaves forever. This is what our track
record of over half a century indicates, and this is what the menacing
omens about our future predict. Two centuries of serfdom have had
such a devastating impact on our psyche as a nation that we have not
yet been able to rid ourselves of political, economic, and mental slavery.
Like a bird which forgets the art of flying when released from the cage
after prolonged captivity, we too have forgotten how to live as a
dignified, independent nation. Even today, long after having successfully
broken the mortifying chains in which we had been rotting, we are quite
content to continue living as born slaves.
For many years after Partition, we kept hanging on to the apron strings
of the British, knowing fully well that they were by no means our
well-wishers. And yet, we remained dependent upon them even in the
most sensitive matters affecting our defence and national security. Our
unexcelled skill at deceiving ourselves did not allow us to realise that the
primary concern of our crafty foreign masters was their own national
interest which prevented them from providing us nothing more than a
false sense of security.
For many years, they had a complete control over Pakistan's foreign
policy, so much so that whenever some international developments
necessitated an expression of our views or the line of action our
government was going to follow, we kept waiting for a signal from the
British government, and then said whatever was in line with the wishes
of the latter. A classic example of this was the British aggression against
Egypt over the Suez Canal issue. It was immediately condemned by all
freedom loving countries except Pakistan which kept mum till the British
came up with some lame excuses justifying their hostile excursion.
Disappointed with the British, Ayub Khan decided to change the
country's de facto masters. This is how we fell into the American trap
which meant all-round slavery. So perfect was the American control over
Pakistan that none of our governments could dare defy the wishes of
the US government.
By the time Ayub Khan raised the slogan of `Friends, not masters', our
slavery to the Americans had been perpetuated in all fields. Apart from
mental captivity to their social norms, we had become subservient to
them in political, economic, and military affairs as well. That situation
continues to exist, albeit in a much worse form, till today. Thanks to the
liberal economic aid we have been getting with the kind courtesy of our
American friends, we now find ourselves permanently mortgaged to the
World Bank and the IMF. Both these US-controlled financial institutions
are holding the noose so tightly around Pakistan's neck that we cannot
even think of deviating from any course set for us by America,
howsoever dangerous it may be from the point of view of our own
national interests. We now have no choice but to remain Uncle Sam's
most obedient servants and keep obeying his direct and indirect dictates
for all times to come.
This is the background that explains many of the major policy decisions
taken by various governments in this country from time to time. Let us
recall a few such decisions, especially those which damaged our own
national interests beyond repair. Allowing America to monitor the Soviet
communication networks from our territory; consenting to allow the US
Air Force to use Badabher air base for flying out hush hush U-2 missions
over the Soviet air space; joining Cento and Seato, the two
US-sponsored defence pacts meant primarily to protect America's
strategic interests; promptly complying with American order to hand over
Pakistani nationals to the US authorities for trial in the US courts without
any formal extradition treaty with that country; and more recently,
handing over the strategic heights of Kargil to India on a platter.
Again, neutral political analysts have reasons to believe that the military
regime is pursuing an overly harsh policy towards the religious parties
merely to assure Washington, that the government of Pakistan is quite
averse to fundamentalism, a term that has assumed the dimensions of
an anathema for America and all its Western allies. This could well be the
reason why repeated attempts are being made by the authorities in
Pakistan to rein religious parties by exercising an effective control over
the religious seminaries throughout the country. The recent ban on the
raising of funds for jihad may also be a part of the same deal.
There are a number of other important decisions of the present military
rulers also which people are attributing to the same cause. The pardon
granted to Nawaz Sharif and his kith and kin and their packing off to the
so-called exile in Saudi Arabia is one such decision. Another pertains to
the readiness of the rulers to yield to IMF pressure in connection with
the prices of petrol and petroleum products, tax survey, downsizing, etc,
even on the risk of losing popularity with the masses and with other
important segments of society. Similarly, the government's latest
decision to make the teaching of English as a compulsory subject right
from class one, in all schools in the country, smacks of our lasting
slavery.
What is disappointing about this whole affair is our inability to win over
the Americans despite all the sacrifices the people of Pakistan have been
forced to make over the years. Will our continued conduct as slaves
ever help?
The author is a retired Colonel and freelance columnist