close
Thursday March 28, 2024

Time for tougher decisions

By Wajid Shamsul Hasan
January 11, 2016

Quality of leadership matters most in the life of a nation. Right decisions at a wrong time, is what leadership is known for, if the challenges are tough their response is tougher. That’s why leaders such as martyred Zulfikar Ali Bhutto leave indelible imprint on the sands of time and are remembered most when Pakistan faces a demanding situation.

Only the other day nation celebrated his 88th birthday anniversary with lot of undying enthusiasm. So did the Diaspora in the UK where he is most fondly remembered. I was asked as to what in my humble assessment was Bhutto Sahib’s most outstanding achievement. At once my thought process was crowded by many of his singular achievements.

From the defence point of view his pursuit of nuclear deterrence at the cost of his life would be the most outstanding feat. Indeed, he knew when American Secretary of State Dr Henry Kissinger warned him of horrible consequences; it was not just an empty threat. He meant it but the irony was that it was implemented by military dictator General Ziaul Haq.

Second important achievement that came to my mind was the solution of the lethal issue of provincial autonomy that had led to the partition of India in 1947 and later break-up of Pakistan in 1971. Recent developments pose a threat to the 18th Amendment by forces that believe in a strong Centre rather than unity in diversity and empowerment of the people at grassroots level.

Smaller provinces are raising hue and cry over what they call undermining of the provincial autonomy by the federal government by violating letter and spirit of the 18th Amendment. In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa its Chief Minister Pervez Khattak is threatening revolt if his province’s interests are by-passed in the implementation of China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). Excessive use of Rangers in Sindh by the federal government as opposed to Sindh’s government’s mandate is considered as subservience of the civil authority to the Praetorian diktat. It is even described as invasion of the Centre on the province.

Independent constitutional experts, however, have a different view. For them it is perhaps a calculated attempt by the establishment to undo the 18th Amendment as it stands contrary to central authority being the sole arbiter of power. I hope sanity prevails and issues are resolved without much acrimony, discontent and division. We cannot afford another East Pakistan-like situation.

Bhutto Sahib’s most tough challenge was after 1971 war. He had to have peace with India with honour and equality. He had to get 93,000 Pakistani troops, including Lt General “Tiger” Niazi, languishing in Indian PoW camps released. And most importantly, to recover 5,000 square miles of our territory lost in battle to India on the western front. With reference to the roller-coaster relationship between India and Pakistan since inspection, Simla Agreement of 1972 has proved to be harbinger of peace between the two nations not withstanding serious standoffs in between.

It was Bhutto’s masterly stroke of statesmanship and diplomatic skill that despite being the leader of a vanquished nation he negotiated with victorious Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi an agreement that has given peace to the two countries for 43 years to date.

Wisdom shown by the two leaders needs to be emulated now to bring to an end the roller-coaster relationship full of uncertainties and to put it onto a trajectory of peace, harmony and cooperation for the good of the peoples of the two countries.

I remember talks had failed in Simla between the two negotiating teams. It was only after Bhutto Sahib and Mrs Indira Gandhi met one-on-one that issues were resolved in no time. The two had risen beyond their personal selves, keeping aside their egos and grappled the reality of the hour by resolving that ever-lasting peace between the two nations was sine quo non for the progress and prosperity of the two neighbours.

It was definitely the most pleasant parting kick of 2015 when Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi—defying his internal difficulties and his party’s hawkish bearing—decided on his own to make a surprise visit to Lahore last month to meet Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to revive the suspended dialogue and to set the ball rolling for meaningful and encompassing talks -- a new date was fixed (January 15) for what was to be known as Comprehensive Dialogue between India and Pakistan.

It was definitely too good to be true. One had feared that this development must have put on the go those elements who don’t want the two nations to live and progress peacefully. Although the two prime ministers have not said anything to that effect, media has claimed that talks have been put on hold until such time Pakistan conducts inquiry on the leads given by India on the linkage of terrorists with Pakistan. I wish they are not. Stalemate in talks would mean triumph for the terrorists who have the agenda not to let process of normalisation proceed. India should give time to Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to respond by action to the evidence provided to his government by Delhi.

Bhutto Sahib’s main forte was his foreign policy. Had he been alive today Muslim world would not have been in such a disastrous situation as now with two main Muslim countries determined to destroy each other. Bhutto Sahib would not have dithered as the present leadership; he would have jumped on his jet, dashed to Riyadh and Tehran to put sense in the leadership of the daggers drawn Muslim brothers out to slaughter each other. He would have got them around to talk to each other to debate and sort out their issues with his good offices to help them.

Bhutto Sahib would have definitely intervened to stop them from taking the reckless path to doom and destruction. He would have foreseen what adverse bearing this fratricidal conflict would have on us as well rest of the Muslim world. Both the brotherly Muslims countries are gradually sinking in their deepening socio-economic problems, recession is threatening globally, some one has to tell them that the economic consequences would be colossally lethal for them.

Bhutto would have responded to this situation with his proactive role. He would not have allowed Pakistan to support this or that. He would have played the role of conciliator. Regretfully never before our Foreign Office was in such disarray as now when the need of the hour is go into top diplomacy flurry to defuse the gravity of the situation. Regretfully it is neither here nor there.

I am sure Bhutto Sahib would not have allowed Pakistan to become a pawn in such a situation. By our faulty foreign policy over the years we cannot claim that we are at the best terms with our next door neighbours except China. By choosing to be a party to the fratricidal conflict, we could earn the permanent animosity of our yet another next door neighbour.

Current leadership must play its cards sagaciously so that it is not known in history as the most inept that surrounded the country from all sides by hostile neighbours. It must learn to be strategically expedient.

The author is former High Commissioner of Pakistan to the UK