Adil Najam
The debate over the US $7.5 billion (over five years) Kerry-Lugar Bill – The Enhanced Partnership with Pakistan Act – passed by the U.S. Senate late September seems to have have generated great confusion, bemusement, anger and frustration. Sometimes, all at the same time.
The headlines in only today’s The News tell us, for example, that the Pakistan Army considers the Bill to be an “insult,” that Pakistan’s Prime Minister sees it as a “big success for democracy,” that India is “upset” about it, and that U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is chiding the Bill’s critics to “read the Bill first.” Even as the entrepreneurial classes in both Washington and Islamabad dream up big plans and salivate at impending windfalls, it is difficult to tell whether it is the political pundits in Washington who feel more insulted or the political pundits in Islamabad. Suffice to say, both are seething with anger, even when it is not at all clear why.
The Kerry-Lugar Bill is a five year commitment for up to US $7.5 Billion for developmental assistance, with up to US $ 1.5 Billion available each of the next five years, which amounts to a tripling of the U.S. civilian assistance to Pakistan. Responding to what has been a call of many Pakistanis over many years, it directs this assistance towards civilian, and especially infrastructure, uses and not towards military aid. It also tries to respond to the fears about corruption by the bureaucracy and politicians by asking for strong oversight over use and effectiveness.
So, what is there not to like about the Kerry-Lugar Bill? Speak to the Bill’s proponents in Washington and they will ask you: “Isn’t this exactly what you guys have been asking for all along? More money. Money for civilian development projects. Money that will be accounted for and used properly. So, why aren’t you all dancing in the streets and hugging us in gratitude?” Many Americans are clearly feeling insulted because what they see as a case of their generosity not being appreciated.
For its critics the answer is straight-forward and can be summarized in one word: conditionality. The critic’s wrath is not really about what the Kerry-Lugar Bill promises; it is about what the Kerry-Lugar Bill demands. Call it concerns about sovereignty, about imperialism, about national pride, or whatever else, but many Pakistanis are clearly feeling insulted because they think they have been presented with a ‘bill of demands’ and being asked to sell out cheap.
One can dissect things deep in search of hidden meanings and clues. Too many people are already doing that and it really does not help. The problem is deep. But it is not hidden.
The debate we are now seeing is one more manifestation of the deep deficits of trust that have marked all US-Pakistan relations. In the absence of trust, Pakistanis – even those who might otherwise support this Bill – simply refuse to accept that America could possibly be interested in Pakistan’s interests. For the very same reasons, Americans – even those who strongly wish to see a stronger Pakistan – simply refuse to acknowledge the intensity with which Pakistan has always sought “friends, not masters.”
The fact of the matter is that if the U.S. had any trust whatsoever in the Pakistani state or the Pakistani people, this Bill would not have been crafted in the language it is. By the same token, if Pakistanis had any trust whatsoever in the United States their reaction would not have been what it is even if the Bill were written as it is. The US-Pakistan relationship is a most reluctant international relationship. The Kerry-Lugar Bill is a good example of this. Here is support that the Americans would much rather never have been ‘made’ to give to Pakistan. Here is support that Pakistanis would much rather never have been ‘made’ to accept.
And herein lies the real problem of Pakistan-US relations. Neither trusts the other. Each can give many reasons – and some of them, in each case, are very valid – why, but that matters little. The result is a tainted and reluctant relationship.
When I visit Pakistan, I am often asked: “What do Americans think of Pakistan?” In USA, I am often asked “What do Pakistanis think of America?” The answer to both questions is exactly the same: “They think of you exactly what you think of them. They don’t really like you, they certainly don’t trust you, but right now they think they need you.”
It is no surprise, then, that there is no US-Pakistan ‘relationship’; there are only US-Pakistan transactions.
Here is a Bill that should have been, and still could be, used as a means to build that trust. The trust without which this relationship will forever be tainted, reluctant and prone to constant frustration. If the two sides (and it really is about what both sides do) continue to look at this as a transactional episode – of services provided and paid for – then five years from now Americans will find themselves asking what the point of spending (‘wasting’) all this money was, and Pakistanis would be heard questioning whether they would have been better off never having accepted this largess. Both have been there before and both are likely to end up being there again.
On the other hand, if – and this is as big an ‘if’ as you will ever find in international relations – the two sides really do get past the ugliness in the discourse right now and use this opportunity to move from transactions to a relationship then, as Humphery Bogart said in the movie Casablanca, this could well become “the start of a beautiful friendship.”
But for that to happen, too many things would first have to change in both Islamabad and Washington. At this point, unfortunately, it is not clear at all that either is interested, or capable, of those changes.
I believe Pakistan can accept this bill, and take the cash while ignoring the conditions as the US needs Pakistan in this region rather than the other way around. I believe savvy folks in Pakistan are also thinking like this.
However given that Pakistanis have a love-hate relationship with America, there will probably be a lot of posturing and babbling before matters quiet down regarding this bill. Pakistanis have never declined aid, and are not about to miss out on this juicy aid bill !
Farrukh is right.
So, what is it that the U.S.A. is asking Pakistan to do now that we are not already doing or not already being asked to do or which we will not end up doing anyhow?
If nothing, then lets at least take whatever little money we are being given. No?
Some comments from the ATP Facebook Page:
– “There are many good things in this Bill. Like the fact that teh money is for roads and schools and infrastructure and not for Army and Generals.”
– “and it won’t go in the hidden pockets of our politicians :)”
– “Are you guys serious??? this is suicide for Pakistan’s sovereignity!! CIA and every foreign agency will have absolute control on the way everthing is run in our country. This bill is the biggest threat to our national security and should be completly rejected.”
– “there must be smthng hidden…theses goray thnks for the upcmng 30yrs my frnd….the might hav sm cnditions in it…which we couldnt figure out bt tht may hav shitty thinking behind….”
– “Really? How? Can you please quote what section of the Bill says that?”
– “this is the bill which .. we should accept the policy of education ,, which they required..”
– “SEC 306 REPORTS
(E) An assessment of whether assistance provided to Pakistan pursuant to this Act has directly or indirectly aided the expansion of Pakistan’s nuclear weapons program, whether by the diversion of United States assistance or the reallocation of Pakistan financial resources that would otherwise be spent for programs and activities unrelated to its nuclear weapons program.
Shut down our Nuclear program???? you dont think thats a threat to a country that is SURROUNDED by hostility..where terrorists are being sent into Pakistani territory by CIA-MOSSAD-Raw ..through Afghanistan. Every Pakistani who has bothered to do some research other than blindly following the mainstream media knows that TTP terrorists were trained and sent into Pakistani territory by their paymasters in Afghanistan.
(G) An analysis of a suitable replacement for the AH-1F and AH-1S Cobra attack helicopters, which includes recommendations for sustainment, training, and any other matters determined to be appropriate.
So they will control every single aspect of the way Pakistan Army trains its finest ..and every other matter that shud be none of anyone’s business ..specially not the Americans.
(H) An assessment of the extent to which the Government of Pakistan exercises effective civilian control of the military, including a description of the extent to which civilian executive leaders and parliament exercise oversight and approval of military budgets, the chain of command, the process of promotion for senior military leaders, civilian involvement in strategic guidance and planning, and military involvement in civil administration
Control. Again. Complete Control over every single aspect of the way our country is run?!! So now the US Senate will tell what officers are to be promoted to higher ranks in the Army..and who is supposed to lead our Armed forces…not just that they get to decide who the chain of command will be. They get to decide what ISI can do and what they can’t do. This is ridiculous and is an attack on our dignity and sovereignity as a nation. There is NO WAY this bill will go through, nor it should.
Lets have clarity and raise our voices to tell our pathetic government to grow a backbone and do whats best for Pakistan. Not their own bloody bank accounts.”
– “If you wanna know the truth about this Bill..watch this. However, if you wanna go on believing what the Americans and this pathetic government wants us to then pls dont bother watching.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iAYcmu0NJJg&feature =player_embedded”
– “Reject karlo or phir ghar mein machine laga kar Dollar chaaap lo……………….”
– “LET IT COMES..wht ever comes… we need this money to be a part of our currency:)”
– “Yeah i have watched the program already last sunday. Everything about KL Bill is open to everyone now. But still some dollar loving creatures who were unfortunately born in pakistan, are not willing to oppose the bill, no matter what they have to put on stake, but the dollar god must come in. halankay you correctly said ‘Sinking boat’, but they dont know. Poor pakistanis.”
– “the good news is that Gen. Kiyani has now told US to shove it! :D chk this out: http://www.thenews.com.pk/top_story_detail.asp?Id= 24886”
– ““General McChrystal returned from the GHQ with an unambiguous message that the terms set in the Kerry-Lugar Bill on the national security interests of Pakistan are insulting and are unacceptable in their present formulation” hehehhee great.”
– “This is a clear indication what US wants, what is there in US 2001 agenda for setting up a new world order. Abhi b log na samjhain to tuff hai in per.”
– “Above all, we must make ourselves not dependent upon such aids. We Pakistanis are to come ahead and earn by our own our money, dignity, respect, sovereignty, self reliance and social security. We need to act unitedly now.”
– “Its like sellling our country!”
– “203 c)
the Government of Pakistan is continuing to cooperate with the United States in efforts to dismantle supplier networks relating to the acquisition of nuclear weapons-related materials, such as providing relevant information from or direct access to Pakistani nationals associated with such networks;
2)dismantling terrorist bases of operations in other parts of the country, including Quetta and “Muridke”
15)an assessment of the extent to which the Government of Pakistan exercises effective civilian control of the military, including a description of the extent to which civilian executive leaders and parliament exercise oversight and approval of military budgets, the chain of command, the process of promotion for senior military leaders, civilian involvement in strategic guidance and planning, and military involvement in civil administration.”
– “Pakistan should be mard e azad n reject it!!!”
– “simpli not accepted.”
– “is report me saaaf alfaz me kah gaya hai k yah bil pakistan ki salam ti k liyah bohat bara kahtra hai our kuty ka bacha zardari kah raha hia koye masla nahi hia yah bill pass hona chahiyah mery bahi hamare pass koye chara nahi k hum ahtyejaj karyn ????”
– “good informative write-up indeed….well balanced n analyzed esp the ” IF ” b/w Pak-America ties….”
– “This is the offical link from the US gov’t senate site for the true kerry-lugar bill. People are claiming that there are of 5 different bills being passed around on the internet and from what people are posting it looks like you are reading something else entirely., i’m sure people have their own agenda for promoting a fake bill. Why does this not surprse me?? @Summayya…you are being paranoid and going on about things not in the bill. The primary thing the bill says is how the funds are to be used for the infrastructure of Pakistan…social programs education, medical, food, clean water, rights of women protected and programs to remove the risk of gov’t corruption (which has been a big problem since forever). The bill also requires accountability to make sure that the gov’t spends the money on building a better Pakistan and a better life for Pakistanis and maintains their efforts which have already been recognized to keep terrorists from using Pakistan as a breeding ground by having Pakistan intelligence work diligently to identify potential threats to Pakistan, surrounding countries, and the US from Pakistan terrorist organizations.
http://lugar.senate.gov/sfrc/pdf/Pakistan.pdf”
– “ji tu app kiya souchti hain k yah bill hum ko laye lyena chahiyah jab k ZARDARI jasye log hamare sadar hian app kiya souchti hian k yah pasa lagye ga pakistan me ?????? rahy meri hamwatan bahn ager app cny thory din pahlye ramzan me karachi ki 18 woman ki report perhi hooo tuu app ko pata chalye ga yah jitny uper k siyasat dan hian na khasbisss voo hi chiiiniii ki factrys k malik hian sub se pahlye nawaz pahir zardari phir chudris tu app nay kasey souch liyah k yah pasa awam ko mil jaye ga lagta hai app abhi tak jagi nahi hian… pakistan ko sub se bara kahtra USA se nahi balkh us ki apni bewaqooof awaam se hia…”
– “there is no date,no letter no,no signatures on the pdf file whose link u gave…u think our military is mad that they are critisizing on the bill …if so,y not should we put notice”Pakistan for sale,jo ziada boli lagay wo lay jay””
– “The sections you quote – SEC 306 REPORTS – does NOT force Pakistan to close its nuclear program. It says that the Bill’s money should not be used to support the nuclear program. The US has always opposed the nuclear program, so why do you want them to pay for our nukes. That is not what the Bill is about!”
Just a minute. Can someone please stop the naara baazi and explain to me exactly WHY the Bill is bad.
1. First, its NOT a loan so financially there is no paying back.
2. Second, what is it that we are “surrendering” or “giving up”. Aren’t we already doing the things for the US that people are cribbing about. There is nothing new that the Bill asks Pakistan to do that it is not already being made to do. So, at least take the money.
3. Can someone please say exactly which ‘condition’ they do not like. The conditions are that we should respect human rights. And you are saying we should not? The bill says we should ensure democracy. And you are saying that the US should ask for military government? The bill says that you should reduce corruption. And you are saying that we should not?
There can be plenty discussion on whether this money will be used well or not or what it should be used for. But this silly talk which has no connection to what is in the bill is just media-infused hysteria.
My concern is more about the unintended consequences of the implementation criteria. When the onus of execution is on the giver, it implies a much more invasive approach into the sovereignty of the country. With controls come scrutiny and protection of the scrutinizer. The higher the scrutiny the greater the need of protection, and further deterioration of trust. So at the end of the day US will need a small locally employed standing security force to enforce the correct implementation of the bill. Since it will be a small security force it will need force multipliers in the form of spies, weapons and sensors. I think we went down this path with East India Company. Fooled once, shame on you, fooled twice, shame on us.