Pakistan was carved out in Allah’s name.Then the army took over the country’s controls i Allah’s name. Allah who is all merciful would npot leave the country to its fate. So in stepped America.Uncle Sam’s generosity was at the cost of the big neighbour., India. This story, believe me, is not apocryphal.Jawaharlal Nehru, on his first visit to US, was felicitated by a trade chamber. in the course of the welcome speech, it appears , there was a reference to the aggregate wealth of the members gathered there. And the tlling sentence:Mr Prime Minister, you are dining with xxx dolllars. Nehru was puzzled by the referencer and asked the iIndian ambassador present there what it meant. When the explanation was given, he was shocked. What kind of culture is this, he wondered aloud.In this context one may recall the quip of Mahatma Gandhi when he was asked what he thought of the American civilisation."It is a good idea", was the response.
Nehru’s (read India’s) alienation from this superpower was born of this unhappy encounter. And the later American tilt towards Pakistan, especially during the Nixon era, is contemporary history
What has this to do with the present crisis in Pakistan? The proKashmir, anti-India rhetoric keeps the politicians and the army generals going fullsteam ahead.Naturally in the race for socalled security the army’s role is predominant.And the elected leaders’ minimal.Later came the turn towards fundamentalism,and the links with the champions of Islamic cause.Afghanistan too came in handy. The region was flooded with arms and ammunition to contain the Russian bear. Yes, the Russianbear was subdued
The new threat was theIslamic fundamentalists unleashed by ZiaulHaq. Zia died a gruesome death but th3 evil in one form or another pursues Pakistan.America dare not cross the line in Pakistan..Who knows where lies the islamic bomb? or that elusive terrorist leader Osama bin Laden?
Power corrupts absolutely and Musharaff is the living example of power stretched to its utmost limit.Musharaff’s days are numbered, according to analysts. But will the superpower ever learn its lesson?