"Pentagonisation" of Pakistan!: The Nation

The speed at which the US is being allowed to spread its tentacles in Pakistan is simply alarming. There has been a spate of rumours regarding the unquestioned expansion of the US embassy in Islamabad with the prospect of stationing a fair number of marines in the federal capital so much so that China is reported to have raised objections to the prospect. Though denied by the foreign minister of Pakistan at one level, there have also been reports that the Chinese fears would be addressed in this regard. It is like Pakistan is being systematically converted into becoming an extension of Pentagon!

There are good reasons for the ruling conglomerate to be doing so. In the first instance, the PPP leadership owes it to the US to be residing in the corridors of power today. Raising the catchy and marketable slogan of "reconciliation", the PPP leadership cleverly manipulated the cards it had to have the National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO) promulgated by a sitting dictator, thus granting it immunity from all cases that were registered against it irrespective of their gross seriousness. But, this right to rule Pakistan could not have come without its pound of flesh. What we are witnessing today in terms of a gradual ceding of the writ of the state to outside players, most notably the US, is an unsophisticated manifestation of this compromise. The problem is that, once set into motion, this slide to subservience is difficult to contain either by way of its nature or its attending consequences which could be extremely damaging for Pakistan's inherent national interests. The reported statement of Mr Zardari that Pakistan would further expand the theatre of war in the restive tribal areas if it were given more funds is reflective of a servile mindset that is tuned to furthering the interests of its masters irrespective of the damage it may accrue to Pakistan's sovereignty considerations.

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