No Compromise On Sovereignty
Rahil Yasin
October 12, 2008
LAHORE: When we think of sovereign countries, certain characteristics come to mind. We think of political figures with personal charisma and rhetorical skills. We think of civility and honouring democratic principles - of someone who stands above the fray. They might be small countries with small area and population or big countries without nuclear weapons. But they do not bear any fear from the superpowers in defence of their country. Venezuela, Bolivia, Cuba, Vietnam, Honduras, North Korea and Iran are the few praiseworthy examples of these sovereign nations who did not feel any pressure from the present-day superpower. The decisions by Bolivia and Venezuela to expel their US ambassadors and by Honduras to refuse to accept the credentials of a new US envoy, and Iran´s fair stand to get civil nuclear energy as its absolute right identify the way for countries like Pakistan to think that sovereignty, national security and national interest should always remain forefront from all the other matters.
National security refers to the requirement to maintain the survival of the nation-state through the use of economic, military and political power and the exercise of diplomacy.
The late political scientist Hans Morgenthau, author of "Politics Among Nations", defines national security as the integrity of the national territory and its institutions.
Measures taken to ensure national security include: using diplomacy to rally allies and isolate threats maintaining effective armed forces implementing civil defence and emergency preparedness measures (including anti-terrorism legislation) ensuring the resilience and redundancy of critical infrastructure using intelligence services to detect and defeat or avoid threats and espionage, and to protect classified information using counterintelligence services or secret police to protect the nation from internal threats.
Pakistan is not Afghanistan or Iraq. It is a huge country with respect to area and population and is the only Muslim nuclear power. Approximately 620,000 personnel are on active duty in the military which is the world's 7th largest armed force as of 2007. Combined with the 302,000 strong Paramilitary forces and the Coast Guard, the Military of Pakistan has a total size of nearly 1,000,000 personnel. They can fight for the survival of their country.
The people of Pakistan have felt outraged over the daily attacks including incursion into the village of Angoor Ada by US ground forces, which left at least 20 people including women and children dead.
It is the first time, the US Special Forces attacked inside Pakistan to hunt Taliban and al Qaeda militants on the orders of US president George W Bush without the prior permission from Pakistani authorities.
The question of transgression of sovereignty has been raised by Gen Ashfaq Parvez Kayani, Pakistan´s Army Chief, as well as by Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gillani. Many in this country may be expected to be in sympathy with that sentiment. Pakistan´s pride is also certain to be hurt since it has been widely viewed as America´s frontline ally in the ´war on terror´.
Pakistani forces are fighting with militants in these areas from seven years and have lost almost 1,400 soldiers and 4,000 injured. These days, operations in Swat and Bajaur Agency have been intensified to counter the accusation made by the US and allies that Pakistan is not doing enough to wipe out militants hidden in its tribal areas.
Pakistani forces have for weeks been targeting militant positions in Bajaur, in a major operation that has seen nearly 700 people killed, mostly militants, and 260,000 displaced. Violence linked to Pakistan's role in the "war on terror" has claimed the lives of more than 1,200 people in suicide and bomb attacks across the country in the past year.
The US wants to distance us from our best and true friend China, especially from our strategic relationship with it, like Gwadar Port. Gwadar is a deep-sea port that can house nuclear submarines and is closest to the mouth of the Straits of Hormuz, the main shipping lane on which oil from the Middle East and the Caspian Basin goes to the world.
On the other hand, would the Iranians like America to reinforce its presence in the region by establishing itself on their left flank? The Russians still have the scar of defeat on their face. China is a growing economic and military superpower and would certainly like to have no problem for at least a decade. The Americans have a lot at stake. Their miscalculations in Iraq have meant huge political and military costs. At the same time, they probably would like to avoid a Vietnam-type withdrawal. So their interest in Afghanistan is enhanced which makes the situation more precarious.
Pakistan should take some genuine steps to keep the US away from the country. It should first of all raise this issue in the parliament. There should be a comprehensive debate on the issue of these US assaults on Pakistani soil and consensus should be reached how to deal the crisis.
The leaders should adopt an extensive policy to solve this issue. They also should change their foreign policy. American economic system has been collapsed or on the brink of collapse. It´s true that Pakistan´s economy mostly depends on America but there are a large number of Muslim Arab states who can help Pakistan in this time of isolation. Pakistan should send powerful delegates to the brethren Islamic states to put this issue before them. And also this is the time to strengthen the relations with Russia. China will certainly help Pakistan as it always assisted in the past.
Pakistan should not allow foreign troops onto its soil and its sovereignty and territorial integrity should be defended at all cost.
Rahil Yasin is a freelance columnist and researcher based in Lahore, Pakistan. He can be reached at rahil.yasin@gmail.com
National security refers to the requirement to maintain the survival of the nation-state through the use of economic, military and political power and the exercise of diplomacy.
The late political scientist Hans Morgenthau, author of "Politics Among Nations", defines national security as the integrity of the national territory and its institutions.
Measures taken to ensure national security include: using diplomacy to rally allies and isolate threats maintaining effective armed forces implementing civil defence and emergency preparedness measures (including anti-terrorism legislation) ensuring the resilience and redundancy of critical infrastructure using intelligence services to detect and defeat or avoid threats and espionage, and to protect classified information using counterintelligence services or secret police to protect the nation from internal threats.
Pakistan is not Afghanistan or Iraq. It is a huge country with respect to area and population and is the only Muslim nuclear power. Approximately 620,000 personnel are on active duty in the military which is the world's 7th largest armed force as of 2007. Combined with the 302,000 strong Paramilitary forces and the Coast Guard, the Military of Pakistan has a total size of nearly 1,000,000 personnel. They can fight for the survival of their country.
The people of Pakistan have felt outraged over the daily attacks including incursion into the village of Angoor Ada by US ground forces, which left at least 20 people including women and children dead.
It is the first time, the US Special Forces attacked inside Pakistan to hunt Taliban and al Qaeda militants on the orders of US president George W Bush without the prior permission from Pakistani authorities.
The question of transgression of sovereignty has been raised by Gen Ashfaq Parvez Kayani, Pakistan´s Army Chief, as well as by Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gillani. Many in this country may be expected to be in sympathy with that sentiment. Pakistan´s pride is also certain to be hurt since it has been widely viewed as America´s frontline ally in the ´war on terror´.
Pakistani forces are fighting with militants in these areas from seven years and have lost almost 1,400 soldiers and 4,000 injured. These days, operations in Swat and Bajaur Agency have been intensified to counter the accusation made by the US and allies that Pakistan is not doing enough to wipe out militants hidden in its tribal areas.
Pakistani forces have for weeks been targeting militant positions in Bajaur, in a major operation that has seen nearly 700 people killed, mostly militants, and 260,000 displaced. Violence linked to Pakistan's role in the "war on terror" has claimed the lives of more than 1,200 people in suicide and bomb attacks across the country in the past year.
The US wants to distance us from our best and true friend China, especially from our strategic relationship with it, like Gwadar Port. Gwadar is a deep-sea port that can house nuclear submarines and is closest to the mouth of the Straits of Hormuz, the main shipping lane on which oil from the Middle East and the Caspian Basin goes to the world.
On the other hand, would the Iranians like America to reinforce its presence in the region by establishing itself on their left flank? The Russians still have the scar of defeat on their face. China is a growing economic and military superpower and would certainly like to have no problem for at least a decade. The Americans have a lot at stake. Their miscalculations in Iraq have meant huge political and military costs. At the same time, they probably would like to avoid a Vietnam-type withdrawal. So their interest in Afghanistan is enhanced which makes the situation more precarious.
Pakistan should take some genuine steps to keep the US away from the country. It should first of all raise this issue in the parliament. There should be a comprehensive debate on the issue of these US assaults on Pakistani soil and consensus should be reached how to deal the crisis.
The leaders should adopt an extensive policy to solve this issue. They also should change their foreign policy. American economic system has been collapsed or on the brink of collapse. It´s true that Pakistan´s economy mostly depends on America but there are a large number of Muslim Arab states who can help Pakistan in this time of isolation. Pakistan should send powerful delegates to the brethren Islamic states to put this issue before them. And also this is the time to strengthen the relations with Russia. China will certainly help Pakistan as it always assisted in the past.
Pakistan should not allow foreign troops onto its soil and its sovereignty and territorial integrity should be defended at all cost.
Rahil Yasin is a freelance columnist and researcher based in Lahore, Pakistan. He can be reached at rahil.yasin@gmail.com