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Morning Thread: Musharraf Serves Two Masters |
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Looks like we're not the only ones betting on the wrong horse:
Notwithstanding his weakened position at home, Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf this week flies to China , the “all weather friend” that has stood by the country through all its troubles.
Unlike its American friends, the Chinese have not blown hot and cold, although there have been challenges such as attacks on Chinese nationals in Pakistan, including the execution of three workers near Peshawar last year and concern that the Islamist fervour sweeping the northwest parts of Pakistan was spilling over to neighbouring Xinjiang, China’s troubled, predominantly Muslim region.
But the Chinese do not give Pakistan lectures on democracy, the dangers of nuclear proliferation - which arguably isn’t surprising since some of it is traced back to the Chinese, according to non-proliferation experts- or threaten to bomb them into the Stone Age , which is what Islamabad says the Bush administration did to enlist its support in its war on terrorism days after Sept 11.
China, Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani told parliament in his opening address last week, was a time-tested ally and the friendship “was deeper than the Indian Ocean and higher than the Himalayas”. On Monday, a Shanghai shipyard launched the first of four frigates to be delivered to the Pakistan navy, while the Pakistani air force has already inducted a fighter aircraft co-produced with China. Beijing has also helped Pakistan build civil nuclear plants.
Pakistan’s alliance with China is far more enduring that the one with the United States, a scholar writing for the YaleGlobal Online argued last month, characterising the relationship with Washington dating back to 1954 as an intermittent, Cold War marriage of convenience. The current U.S.-Pakistan relationship has been built on security interests and is already looking fragile following the outcome of the February elections when the party supported by ally Musharraf was routed.
Of course, friendship between China and Pakistan may rest on something more, um, material than metaphors about oceans and mountains.
The Pakistani president, Pervez Musharraf, says he is lobbying Chinese leaders to build gas and oil pipelines between his country and China.
President Musharraf, who is on a six-day visit to China, expressed confidence that the proposed pipeline was technically feasible.
The route of the pipeline will link the Gulf and China through Pakistan.
China relies heavily on imported gas and oil, and is reportedly keen to diversify its supply routes.
President Musharraf said that he hoped the proposed pipeline would enable Pakistan to be an "energy and trade corridor" to the Middle East.
I think it's safe to say our boy Musharraf is looking out for himself. China's relationship with Pakistan may go back decades, but does that mean they have to deal with a fading dictator? I wonder if he's a better businessman than he is president.
Of course, the US has a lesson to learn here. For the umpteenth time, Musharraf is not a real ally. He takes our money, does little to make good on his promises of fighting terrorists, and destabilizes Pakistan through his awkward attempts to maintain power. But don't worry, I'm sure all the hard-nosed realists in the DOD understand that…right?
A marriage of convenience indeed — especially since the Nixon administration relied on Pakistan to open channels of communication between Washington and Beijing prior to Nixon's historic visit.
I, being a Pakistani, am extremely ashamed of Musharraf. The parliament should expel him from the position of President immediately. I don%u2019t see why national interests of a rogue communist authoritarian state like China to be more important than the the security of all countries in South and Southeast Asia. Musharraf has allowed China to build a deep sea port in Gwadar and as if this was not enough he is allowing China to build rail and road links into Pakistan under the name of trade.
History is being created as we speak and if we spinelessly bow down in front of a belligerent regime of China, I have no doubt that it would be opening up the way for Chinese invasion into Pakistan for our natural resources. I hope Pakistan does not become the %u201Cnext Tibet%u201D to be occupied or rather peacefully liberated by China in a few decades.
The best solution is a Free Tibet and a Free Xinjiang. The world should give them a chance and a helping hand to come out extreme oppression at the hands of the Communists. It is possible only with a unified and coordinated attack by the whole world on diplomatic, military, economic fronts.
He'll hold on to power as long as possible, as was made evident by the last election scandal.
For the umpteenth time, people like Adeel Khan are simply lost in their own worlds. I am Pakistani, and prefer Musharraf to the monarchy of political party families that has recently taken into power. All these parties are interested in is looting the country and their wealth, and sadly, they will do it all over again.
I think Starkcontrast's opinion is quite right and Adeel Khan's opinion is very wrong. Adeel seems to be illogically biased against Musharraf and China. He needs to re-think over his political thinking.
i being a paki American, dont kno anything abt pakistan or Musharraf, but i tink hez trying to keep America from invading pakistan the way we invaded Iraq. so hez some what "fighting terrorism."