Opinion Tightening US ties

Apart from military parleys,Pakistan also presented a civil engagement wishlist to the US,as The News reported on March 22: “Pakistan seeks economic concessions from the US… These include payment of its CSF dues on time,investment in power and agriculture and for the US to persuade major global trading blocs to extend preferential treatment in trade to the country that is paying a huge price in the ongoing war against militancy…Pakistan is also to seek US intervention to help resolve its water disputes with India.” Another report added: “The army spokesman said Pakistan would be ‘conveying very clearly’ its displeasure with India’s offer to train the Afghan army at the behest of American and NATO forces.”

Dawn,on March 24 stated a possible outcome of the dialogue: “Pakistan hopes talks will lead to assurance from Washington that it no longer seeks to undo the Pakistani nuclear programme. Another result could be the announcement of US funding for a major hydel project…” Soon enough,Hillary obliged,as Daily Times reported on March 25: “She said she recognised the need for cooperation with Pakistan in dealing with the country’s water and energy shortages,and announced $125 million to help Pakistan overcome the power crisis.”

However,the most surprising statement came from an unexpected quarter,as reported by Dawn on March 26: “I told Senator John Kerry and Senator Richard Lugar that in order to make sure Pakistan’s economy and energy needs are met,we are willing to forgo the military equipment we have asked for.” The quote was attributed to none other than Gen Kayani.

Stalled reform

March 25 was expected to be a day of celebration in Pakistan,with an ambitious constitutional reforms package. Dawn laid out the groundwork in its March 22 editorial: “The special parliamentary committee tasked with drawing up recommendations on amending the constitution is said to be nearing completion of its task. Some parties have written ‘dissent notes’ but no significant hurdle to the passage of the package has been thrown up. The big unresolved problem is the renaming of NWFP… but the issue is unlikely to be a deal-breaker.” The News added on March 24: “The package envisages removing the third-time restriction on becoming PM… It also envisages removing the 37-year-old privilege of the president being the ‘Executive Authority of the Federation’,as now this power is being shifted to the PM.” On March 25,Dawn added: “In order to stop military interventions,the committee has suggested an amendment proposing that any person validating military takeovers will also be charged with treason. Besides judicial reforms,the committee also proposed changes to make the Election Commission more independent.”

Dawn broke the bad news on March 26: “ Parliament reacted with a stony silence on Thursday to a U-turn of PML-N over at least one key issue in the reforms,whose planned presentation this week now appears deadlocked.”

Inquilab zindabad!

Daily Times reported on March 24: “Citizens gathered at Shadman Chowk to mark the 79th martyrdom anniversary of Bhagat Singh Shaheed… It was here that the British hanged Singh on March 23,1931. They demanded the government rename Shadman Chowk as Bhagat Singh Chowk.”