Adil Najam
Flicking through Pakistani TV channels I note that all of Pakistan’s mediadom seems to be waiting for imminent release of new documents on WikiLeaks, reportedly including communication from US officials on Pakistan, Pakistanis, Pakistani politicians, and Pakistani agencies and officials.
News junkie that I am, I must confess that I, too, am waiting for Wikileaks. But I am not really sure ‘what’ I am waiting for – or anticipating to hear – from Wikileaks. Nor, do I think, does anyone else. At least any Pakistani. Maybe that is what makes the entire episode so enticing. But it also shows just how messed up US-Pakistan relations really are today.
Amidst all the talk about how dangerous the leaks might be and how they might spoil relations between the US and its supposed ‘allies,’ I wonder exactly what we might find from the leaked documents that would really ‘surprise’ any Pakistani leader, or Pakistani journalist, or any Pakistani for that matter?
Would we, for example, learn that US officials have no trust in or respect for any Pakistani leader, or for Pakistanis, or for Pakistan? And if we did, would that really be a surprise or ‘news’ for anyone in Pakistan or in the US?
Or, maybe, the leaked documents will tell us that the US has continued and plans to continue an illegal, immoral and ineffective campaign of drone attacks into the territory of one of its closest ‘allies’? That despite their apparent protestations the Pakistan government has remained cognizant but acted ignorant of this campaign? That these attacks have consumed more civilian life than military targets, increased anti-Americanism in Pakistan? And if they did, would that be a surprise for anyone who has watched TV news or opened a Pakistani newspaper at anytime in the last year?
Maybe they will reveal that the amount of contempt that Pakistani institutions and officials have for the US is matched only by the contempt that US institutions and officials have for Pakistan? Or that the Pakistan’s favorite pundit sport of ‘blame it on America’ is no different from America’s favorite pundit sport of ‘blame it on Pakistan’? And if it does, who, pray tell me, is supposed to be surprised by that?
Of course, I do realize that the entire point of a ‘surprise’ is that it cannot be anticipated. That, after all, is the point of calling it a surprise. Indeed, there will be surprises. More than that there will be validation of that which we already believed. And most of all there will be details. All of these will keep the news wheels grinding – in their different styles and rhythms, but with equal but inconsequential fervor – in both Pakistan and USA.
But the real and most important revelation that these particular Wikileaks could make about US-Pakistan relations has already come out in the run-up frenzy to the leaks: The US-Pakistan relationship is at such a low point in both USA and in Pakistan that nothing – well, maybe ‘nearly’ nothing – can make the trust deficit too much worse than it already is.
Can we please have some sanity here.
So, what has been leaked?
Memos from often unnamed US embassy officials and CIA and intelligence operatives.
So what is being said is NOT being said by the Saudi King, it is being said by some low level, low intellegence, intelligence official who claims that this is what the Saudi King said.
Such intelligence officials routinely lie and make up stories to support whatever their political views of the time are.
Why is everyone so ready to believe them until we hear from the Saudis themselves whether this nonsense is even true or not.
I think these reports were made up to justify attacks on Iran and the Saudis may never have said anything like that.
I also seriously doubt that the Saudi King (who has been quite ill) would ever talk like that to lowly US intelligence officers.
Dawn article summarizing information specific to Pakistan:
http://www.dawn.com/2010/11/29/wikileaks-unleashes -flood-of-confidential-us-cables.html
Nothing of consequence with respect to Pakistan as yet, it seems.
King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia on Zardari:
The king called President Asif Ali Zardari of Pakistan the greatest obstacle to that country’s progress. “When the head is rotten,” he said, “it affects the whole body.”
Source: New York Times
Also, I’m quite surprised at the sheer extent of pressure the Arabs have been exerting to get the U.S. to strike against Iran.
@Pakistani:
You didn’t read my comment clearly. I said civilian deaths as a result of drone attacks are much lower than the Pakistan media claims. And the alternative to drone attacks would be military operations in FATA.
Ideally, drone attacks should stop, NATO should go home, and everybody return to their normal lives– such as it is. But Pakistan must be realistic: the war is not ending today or tomorrow, but somewhere around 2014, presuming there is no civil war afterwards.
Either way, Pakistan is screwed.
Three points only:
1. It may be an act of USA only for de-stabilization of Pakistan and nations that they want to work on…. Wikileaks might be part of USA setup … bring the so called “New World Order”.
2. I agree with Drone Attacks…. they are an insult on paksitan’s integrity which we have to bear due to our weak political and armed forces leadership and this should be stopped at all cost…. I dont think any USA or Coalation force will even think of ramaging into a Nuclear State (If our Goovernment or Armed Forces have any sense of self respect left).
3. Atleast somebody in USA and Europe is doing job which our media and people should be doing…. bringing out the facts that who are the Traders selling Pakistan bit by bit and for what… may be this will act as wake up call for all of us.