Anxiety over whether Pakistan will be able to attend the NATO summit in Chicago on May 20-21 was put to rest when the trans-Atlantic alliance decided to invite Islamabad for the meeting. However, it is unclear what are the terms and conditions set for extending the invitation.
A tripartite commission consisting of NATO’s commander in Afghanistan, General Allen, and the military chiefs of Pakistan and Afghanistan kept on meeting in Rawalpindi on May 12 and May 13 to brainstorm the border control measures and how untoward incidents like the Salala tragedy of Nov. 26, 2011 can be avoided. The Defense Cabinet Committee (DCC) was expected to meet, with Prime Minister Gilani in the chair, on May 15-16, and some analysts were predicting that Pakistan will be announcing opening the NATO supply route on May 17.
The public argument shaped by the US interlocutors, diplomats and media, and something that has been wholeheartedly bought by many in the Pakistani government and the opinion making circles is that Pakistan overplayed its hand, ended up using its trump card, i.e. “NATO supplies,” and has not gained anything in return and is now forced to resume what is described as the ground lines of communications (GLOC) under NATO’s ultimatum because missing the Chicago summit means being kicked out of the important decision making in the endgame of Afghanistan.
NATO Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen’s press briefing of May 11 has added to this gloomy interpretation. Many are also worried for the imminent shortfalls in the forthcoming budget and point out that the ministry of finance has already added CSF reimbursements into its calculations. The much calculated posturing by the US House of Representatives that recommends various kinds of sanctions against Pakistan, including those involving preferential imports, certainly focuses minds on the forthcoming challenges if the impasse is not resolved before Chicago.
Since the approval of the parliamentary committee’s recommendations, the whole media discourse is built around two main points only: The US apology for Salala and end of drone strikes. Going by this, it appears that these are the only two sticking points. However, sometimes it is important to revisit the fundamentals of a problem before you could be sure of the solutions.
So let’s take a step back. Why is the Salala tragedy that led to the closure of the NATO supply routes so nerve wracking for Pakistanis? No doubt, the chilling details of the incident that appeared like an orgy of blood played with the lives of Pakistani soldiers jolted an already traumatized nation. But coming in the climate shaped by the US attack of May 2, 2011 to kill Osama Bin Laden, it convinced many that the US or perhaps more specifically, the Pentagon in its desperation in Afghanistan, and the way it builds its public narrative, has reached a stage where it sees a certain kind of solution in punishing Pakistan. Arguments like the one advanced by Prof. Stephen Krasner of Stanford only confirm this mood.
READ MORE HERE: http://www.arabnews.com/columns/what-nato-summit-means-pakistan
It can be described by these senarios: once an employee in a threatnening tone said to his employer sir if you did not increase my wages I will … [leave], employer in an angry mood asked what … [ok so you are leaving] employee replied with humilty no sir I will continue on the same wages.
Brothers querrled and one left home in anger, no one went to console him and or bring him back, he was caught up by hunger and thirst he became isolated, he then came home following his cattle, others asked him why and who asked him come back he replied he did not come back himself but has held the tail of the cattle and she brought him back
So Zardari Gilani and Kiani held the tail of the cattle in their hand and only got dunk at last.
That is the position in which Pakistan is placed in NATO Summit by the so called greedy dunk “GOBAR” collecters.
The question of opening the NATO supply route: they are doomed if they dont, a lot of trouble at home from Islamist parties if they do!! However if they do open the route happy days will return for those who vend in looted goods in a bazaar on the outskirts of Peshawar known informally as “the U.S. market”.
Phakiristan is broke without foreign aid.All what the Phakiri politicians are saying/doing is for internal PR. Much ado about nothing.
BEGGERS ARE NOT CHOOSERS.
Anwar please correct not beggars but looters