15 - 21 November 2001
Issue No.560
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Al-Ahram Weekly Online 15 - 21 November 2001 Issue No.560 |
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Grip and grin
A whirlwind tour ending in New York was a public relations coup for Musharraf. But will photo-ops translate into real aid? Iffat Malek writes from Islamabad
Ever since the terror attacks of 11 September, Pakistan has been playing host to a seemingly endless stream of international visitors: British Prime Minister Tony Blair, US Secretary of State Colin Powell, Germany's Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder, Turkish President Ahmet Cesar and many more. The reason, of course, is Pakistan's vital role in the so-called war on terrorism and its strategic support for the US military campaign in Afghanistan. Foreign leaders have crowded into Islamabad to express their support for Musharraf's "principled stance", but the Pakistani President has used these visits to impress on international leaders the concerns of his government about the current political situation in the region.
School children take part in a rally protesting the war in Afghanistan
On 8 November this pattern was reversed and President Musharraf set out on a five-day international tour. The official reason for his trip was to address the special session of the UN General Assembly, postponed in the aftermath of the terrorist attacks. The real reason, though, was to put Pakistan's case to the world.
That case, having already been put to so many leaders, is now well-rehearsed: Pakistan did not join the international coalition against terrorism for material gain, but it is suffering a result of it and needs financial help. Exports have dropped sharply because of higher war insurance, flight cancellations are rampant and the country is struggling with a refugee influx. Musharraf has also stressed the need for a short, targeted military campaign to conclude by Ramadan, or at least pause during the holy month. The importance of a broad-based post-Taliban government in Afghanistan is also high on his agenda.
President Musharraf started his trip with short stopovers in Iran and Turkey, both countries that have important, albeit different, roles in the current crisis. Iran hosts approximately one million Afghan refugees and is a long-time supporter of the Northern Alliance, providing arms and strategic support. Pakistan will need Iranian backing to achieve a "broad-based" post-Taliban government. Turkey is important because it is the only Muslim country, so far, to have committed troops to the US-led operation against Afghanistan.
From Turkey, Musharraf headed to Paris, where he had an evening meeting with President Jacques Chirac and a working breakfast with Prime Minister Lionel Jospin. Pakistan owes France around $1 billion -- one of its biggest bilateral debts. Musharraf must undoubtedly have asked France to consider writing off this debt and though the French president did not say he would do so, he did pledge "material support" to Pakistan.
The next stop was London for the second meeting in as many months with Prime Minister Tony Blair, before moving on to key meetings in New York. Because of Pakistan's current international prominence, Musharraf received rapt attention for his address to the UN General Assembly on Saturday. Starting off with the mandatory condemnation of the attacks on 11 September, Musharraf went on to point out that all forms of terrorism, including state terrorism, should be addressed in the war on terror. Echoing statements he has made repeatedly on other occasions, Musharraf noted that it is important to recognise that terrorism will never be eradicated if its causes were ignored. He identified these root causes as poverty and endemic political disputes.
Musharraf also stressed that Pakistan's nuclear assets were well under control. After attacking Indian policies in Kashmir, he declared that he was willing to discuss improving relations with Delhi. Regarding the war in Afghanistan, Musharraf called for a short, targeted campaign. He reminded world leaders how Pakistan had suffered in the last Afghan war and pleaded: "We need financial and commercial support on an urgent basis, and hope that this will be forthcoming." He also stressed the need for a political strategy to accompany the military one.
Musharraf ended his address with the pledge that elections in Pakistan would be held on time "despite the prevailing environment in the region."
Musharraf's reference to Pakistan's nuclear assets was a tactical response to ongoing media speculation about the country's nuclear power. Two retired Pakistani nuclear scientists, sympathetic to the Taliban, were taken in for questioning a few weeks ago, and an American newspaper recently carried a report about a planned US-Israeli commando operation to "kidnap" Pakistan's nuclear weapons. The alleged plot was denied by US officials. Most recently, Osama Bin Laden threatened to respond with nuclear and chemical weapons should the US use these against Afghanistan.
At the UN, Musharraf addressed the international community. But his biggest expectations were for a sympathetic ear in talks with US President George W Bush. In a joint news conference following their two-hour meeting on Saturday, Bush said the US was providing up to $1 billion of aid for Pakistan. He also expressed support for debt relief and backed President Musharraf's call for the Northern Alliance not to take Kabul.
All of which sounds impressive, but it is still unclear what the $1 billion comprises -- whether it includes aid already promised or additional aid. And nothing concrete was said about Pakistan's $3 billion debt to the US. Furthermore, Colin Powell ruled out something else on Musharraf's "wish list": the release of 28 F-16s paid for by Pakistan but as yet undelivered because of US concerns over Pakistan's nuclear programme.
While offering him the opportunity to put Pakistan's case to the world, Musharraf's trip was also significant for domestic reasons. Speculation before his departure about whether the tense situation at home would allow him to leave the country made the trip abroad a symbol of his strength in power. Asked in London about threats to his regime, Musharraf responded: "I'm sitting here now. If I felt there was a threat at home, I wouldn't be."
This trip could boost domestic support for the president as most Pakistanis, while deeply cynical about the durability of international interest in their country, would admit to feeling some pride in seeing Musharraf address the UN and being feted by President Bush. They are also bound to be pleased with the content of his address, especially the stress on state terrorism in Indian Kashmir and his blunt declaration that Pakistan had been abandoned in the past.
Musharraf's trip might have strengthened his hand at home, but in terms of concrete results, he must be disappointed. Pakistan desperately needs solid material aid rather than sound-bites and photo ops.
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