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This is the third and final post that focuses on the Kerry-Lugar bill and should be read in conjunction with the first two posts with part 1 here and part two here.  

Before I begin, it is important to point out the rationale for the approach taken by this scribe to the bill and my write-up of it which has been to ponder and reflect above all other considerations.  This ponder and reflect approach allows for a calm and collected study of the key issues and allows for a better debate, away from from the hype and bluster that often accompany such issues. In terms of my write-up,  readers have deliberately been presented with different viewpoints so that an informed and reasoned debate can be held.

In terms of my views, it need not be stated that the Kerry-Lugar bill has received widespread and in my view it is justified criticism for it tramples upon the sovereignity of Pakistan and her dignity as a nation. In particular a number of statements and conditions in the bill really irk me even after the face-saving explanatory statement and they can be summarised in the following 10 points:

1. The Kerry-Lugar bill defines counterinsurgency as ‘an effort to defeat organised movements that seek to overthrow the duly constituted Governments of Pakistan and Afghanistan’. I strongly protest at the notion that the Karzai government in duly constituted as the recent debacle of a Presidential election has shown. Indeed the Karzai government (read Kabul government since his authority is restricted to this city alone) has never been legitimate born under US occupation and lacking support amongst ordinary Afghans.
2. Section 3 of the bill states that Congress finds that the US has paid Pakistan $15bn including $10bn of security related assistance and direct payments whi appears to be a huge figure but is peanuts. Since Pakistan has been paid to fight America’s war and fight it on the cheap as cannon fodder for Uncle Sam. Later on the bill draws attention to the death of Pakistani civilians and security forces, a fact barely acknowledged by the US and the West because in truth, Pakistani lives are inferior and disposable and a price worth paying no doubt, $15bn keeps it sweet!
3. The declaring of Quetta in Balochistan and Muridke in Punjab as an Al-Qaeda and a terrorist haven is the most offensive finding of the Congress in section 3. Offensive because it is not only a blatant lie but a deliberate ploy to hide US failure in Afghanistan where the Taliban govern the country with free will and move freely. The need for a Taliban haven in Quetta therefore makes no sense,  given that the Afghan Taliban can reside anywhere in Afghanistan. The mention of Muridke is noted and is probably written in Hindi for it is obviously included as a present for our Indian neighbours who permanently shiver at the mention of Kashmir and the struggle to free her from Indian occupation and is ‘Indian-inserted’ to put pressure on Pakistan to reign in the Kashmir struggle. The bill continues with its evil asking for an evaluation of efforts undertaken by the Government of Pakistan to close terrorist camps, including those of Lashkare Taiba and Jaish-e-Muhammed.
4. ”The security services of Pakistan have failed to contain a Taliban-backed insurgency’ is a throwaway statement and another pearl of wisdom from the Congress as listed in section 3. I am amazed at how the Americans can stoop so low, for it is US failure in Afghanistan that has got Pakistan embroiled in a dance of death. Let us not forget that the so-called might and fright of the West be compromising of NATO and the USA have failed to defeat a far inferior enemy. Indeed the West is on the precipe of a fantastic defeat owing to her arrogance in assuming colonial power can succeed, in the graveyard of empires that is Afghanistan.
5. The statement of principles is a laugh to read with the first statement declaring Pakistan as ‘as a critical friend and ally to the United States’ when it should clearly have read a critical foe as evidenced by our daily dose of drones and a relationship more akin to a one-night stand as it is as present based on narrow self-interests than one based on mutual interests, respect and dignity.
6. The ‘Clinton Certificate’ is another aspect of the bill that annoys as Hillary Clinton is to certify to US Congressional Committees that the Pakistani government is co-operating with the US in a number of areas from dismantling nuclear supplier networks to fighting terrorism and only then will the dollars flow!
7. One of the most offensive statements in the Kerry-Lugar bill refers to the Pakistani government being assessed via the ‘Clinton Certificate’ no less for ‘ceasing support, including by any elements within the Pakistan military or its intelligence agency, to extremisr ans terroist groups, particularly to any group that has conducted attacks against United States or coalition forces in Afghanistan, or against the territory or people of neighboring countries’. The use of the word ‘cease’ is crude and deliberate and implies that Pakistan is supporting terrorism even today as to cease means to no longer continue. Consequently there can be no doubt that the bill accuses Pakistan of deceit since it is as clear as day that Pakistan is not a supporter of terrorism, rather it is suffering from this abomination and is on the front foot against terrorism. The key point is if such views are the views of the US who pretends to be an ally then what hope is there for success given Pakistan has given its all in blood,sweat and tears.
8. The reference made in the bill to ensuring that ’the security forces of Pakistan are not materially and substantially subverting the political or judicial processes of Pakistan’ is laughable given it was the US that paid Musharraf millions for handing them over Pakistani citizens, with a blatant disregard for Pakistan’s judicial processes.
9. Worse is to come in Sec 302 Monitoring Reports inserting a micromanaging condition asking for an ‘assessment of the extent to which the Government of Pakistan exercises effective civilian control of the military, including a description of the extent to which civilian executive leaders and parliament exercise oversight and approval of military budgets, the chain of command, the process of promotion for senior military leaders, civilian involvement in strategic guidance and planning, and military involvement in civil administration’. And so the lesson of the story is that Uncle Sam  and sons not satisfying with destroying Pakistan, they now want total control of our military too!
10. The Sense of Congress makes no sense when it declares that ‘it is the sense of Congress that the achievements of United States national security goals to eliminate terrorist threats and close safe havens in Pakistan requires the development of a comprehensive plan that utlilises all elements of national power’. I say this  since before the US occupation of Afghanistan, Pakistan was in the main peaceful and at peace with herself. And so let it be said clearly that it is Uncle Sam’s dirty boots on the ground that have led us to here, with ignomy guaranteed until they stay in Afghanistan.

 I leave readers to draw their own conclusions having read the text, seen the Foreign Minister’s detailed speech and my analysis of the bill. For me the Kerry-Lugar bill is a slap in the face for Pakistan and I strongly believe Pakistan should reject it in its entirety and will end by adapting the title of a Quentin Tarantino’s classic by saying ‘kill the bill’.

This entry was posted on Wednesday, November 11th, 2009 @ 8:20 pm on the category Blog. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.