By Zubair Khan

As a result of shortsighted and bit pre-mature reaction to the NATO areal attack on Salala military check post, on the pressure of Pakistan Army, the NATO supply route passing through Pakistan was blocked by the Pakistani Government. Attached to it the forced vacation of Shamsi Air Base by US troops was also ensured. US and NATO officials, from their long experience of working with Pakistan Army, took it as a routine reaction of Pakistan Military and were expecting reinstatement of both the aspects to previous state with in short span of time. However this time it did not occur that way. Army playing very intelligently and cleverly for the first time termed the whole affair, a matter of national security, and pushed the ball in the court of civil Political Government. However military top brass never forgot to dictate the guidelines, comprising which, the frame work of national security should be designed by the political government. Mr Zardari who is considered to be an other political genius pushed the national security matter further to the parliamentary committee comprising of members of various political parties. At the same time normal masses of Pakistan were fooled on the pretext that now the task of formulation of foreign and national security policies has been assigned to elected parliament of the country. Political government propagated it lot and to some extent benefited from it.  Since Parliamentary Committee members knew their limits and tight compartments of guide lines provided by Army as such started working under strangulated compulsions. At back door diplomacy channel,collaboration and consultation between top notches of US, NATO and Pakistan Army continued. All sides were satisfied and it was expected to settle all the matters by the end of March-2012. During the recent visit of US Generals Pakistani COAS assured them all the cooperation and hinted a green signal for resumption of NATO supplies.  It was also agreed that drone attacks for the time being will be acceptable. Unfortunately the opposition parties now have started creating problems for the Peoples Party Government. President, Prime Minister and COAS who are on same grid are now facing difficulties to convince the heads of opposition parties. President is trying his bid and same efforts under way by PM Gilani. Visit of Gen Kyani to Saudia also looks part of it to get some pressure on PML (N) and JUI (F). After analysing the current deadlock one suggestion can be presented which if considered seriously may assure some satisfaction for all the Pakistani players.  It pertains to task the parliamentary committee just to outline the broad guide lines for the foreign and security policies of the country. The details how to formulate practical policies and how to get these policies implemented  may by left to the Government which, in Pakistan, definitely includes the military establishment also. In all notable countries of the world, executive of the country formulates the security and foreign polices and get it implemented.  Such important matters are not left to the street leaders or to those have nothing to say in the routine government affairs. It is hoped that such an arrangement will also help in normalizing the relations with US and NATO allies.

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