Pragmatic Euphony  

Smart idea from Washington. Will it succeed?

Other than the US, there are three other countries that Pakistan considers its foremost allies: China, Saudi Arabia and Iran. While the US is directing all its energies on to Pakistan, it is also looking at these countries for asking Pakistan to do more in its fight against the jehadis.

Iran organised a tripartite Af-Pak-Iran meet over the weekend but with little to show for the outcome. Iran might aspire for a great power status in the region, but it has little leeway over its turbulent neighbours other than as a cheap provider of cheap energy. The meeting, nevertheless, culminated with Iran and Pakistan signing the now defunct IPI gas pipeline deal, which still hopes to involve India at a later stage.

The other big story is of Obama administration impressing upon China to provide military equipment and training to Pakistan army so that it can successfully undertake counterinsurgency operations against the jehadis. Even if China agrees to this request by the US, such cooperation will be extended in a very discreet manner and far away from the limelight. Little is in fact known about the counterinsurgency capabilities of the Red army and there are genuine doubts about the applicability of the communist model to a feudal-religious-flawed democratic state like Pakistan.

However, if and when it happens, this will be an interesting development on many counts. Firstly, it will defuse the unvoiced Pakistani threat to Washington  — to counter the US pressure on Islamabad to do more — of eventually walking away from the US and in to China’s lap.  Secondly, such aid and training from China will push the global jehadi network to find more avenues of cooperation with Islamist rebels fighting against the Chinese government in Xinjiang province. This will further motivate Beijing to press Pakistan to act even more strongly against the jehadis in its backyard. Eventually, this will end up in Pakistan army being forced by both US and China to take on the jehadis with all its might.

It is a clever plan devised by Holbrooke, but there is a big if… if China will agree to the US request. And how will Pakistan respond to such a request from Beijing.

Well, little is being heard about Saudi Arabia and its role in Pakistan. There is strong intelligence and military cooperation between Riyadh and Islamabad. But the major issue is the funding provided by the Saudis to the various madrassas that have given birth to the Taliban and still continue to breed radical Islamists  inside Pakistan. It is certain that the US would have impressed upon the Saudis on two fronts; one, to press Pakistan to do more against the jehadis and two, to stop the funding to these madrassas.

The latest buzzword in the US state department being Smart Power, US is trying very hard to achieve its aims inside Pakistan with out getting its own hands dirty. If it can succed in arraying the closest allies of Pakistan — China, Saudi Arabia and Iran — to press Pakistan to do more against the jehadis, Washington would have done India — and the world community — a great favour.