Pakistan-China Friendship: Gilani Visits Beijing

Reiterating friendship with Pakistan during the recent visit of Pakistan Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani, China warned in clear terms that the international community should respect integrity and sovereignty of Pakistan and should not forget its contribution to the war on terror. China has announced to supply 50 JF-Thunder warplanes to meet Pakistan's defense requirements. It has also announced 700 million yuan as aid for reconstruction of the flood-affected area and 100 million yuan loan on soft terms. It has signed nine memorandums of understanding in banking, trade, industry, agriculture, information technology sectors, and implementation on Saindak projects.
Strained Pakistan-US Relations
The announcement and the agreement that China made during the visit of Prime Minister Gilani, where he met his Chinese counterpart Wen Jiabao regarding Pakistan's defense and economic assistance are the outcome of the everlasting Pakistan-China friendship that has become a strong bond over the past 60 years and it is not in the power of anyone to break or weaken this chain now. The Pakistani prime minister paid visit to China at a critical time when relations between Pakistan and the United States were at their lowest ebb because of the Abbottabad operation and drone attacks. As a result of the US intervention and its strategy to keep Pakistan under constant pressure, and its desire to use the country according to its own will in the so-called war on terror, the Pakistan-US relations have become strained.
Since it was impossible for India to remain silent in this situation, it also started hurling threats to Pakistan. The Indian Air Force chief first issued a statement that his country can launch surgical strikes in Pakistan in self-defense. At the same time, India unleashed a propaganda campaign against Pakistan. In their separate statements, Indian Defense Minister A.K. Anthony and Home Minister P. Chidambaram strongly criticized growing relations between Pakistan and China, China's unilateral announcement about Pakistan's defense, and defense agreements. They announced to counter it by enhancing their (India's) defense preparedness. India's criticism of Pakistan-China relations and announcement to enhance its defense capabilities under the pretext of growing relations between China and Pakistan makes it clear once again that India wants to become mini-super power of the region. It has full support and patronage of the United States in its ambition and the defense and strategic agreements concluded between the United States and India during the visit of the US President Barack Obama to India last year are a clear proof in this regard.
This is a scintillating reality that China is a time-tested friend of Pakistan and Pakistan's integrity and stability is the cornerstone of China's regional strategy. However, as General (retried) Hamid Gul, former chief of the Inter-Services Intelligence, has said, that in spite of being deep and close friend, China will not fight for us because it is against the foreign policy and strategy of China.
Difference between China and the United States is that the Untied States neither follows any principle or international regulation for its interests, nor does it refrain from landing its troops in any region or any country. Similarly, clandestine acts in all the concerned and important countries, through CIA under preplanned objectives and targets, are also an important part of the US policy. On the other hand, China has neither committed flagrant aggression in any part of the world despite all sorts of international pressure and expectations, nor any report about China's clandestine activities came to light. In the backdrop of this clear situation, expectation on the part of the Pakistani rulers that China will physically come to the assistance in case of any possible the US or Indian aggression will be tantamount to committing suicide.
Similarly, China's economic policy is also crystal clear. China does gladly extend technical assistance and manpower to friendly countries but making a country beggar in the name of aid is not part of its economic policy. Since China's economic and political system has its foundations in communism, and since making weak segments and countries economically and financially strong is its prime objective, China always supported Pakistan in such projects that may help it stand on its own feet. According to reports, when Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani requested for immediate financial aid in view of financial deficit and fiscal hardship in the next budget, the Chinese leadership turned down this request with great love and politeness saying giving cash contribution (alms) to friendly countries is not part of China's financial policy. Since the Pakistani rulers have developed the bad habit of getting direct financial aid from the United States, the United Kingdom, World Bank, and the IMF on stringent conditions, and now that these institutions have hinted at stopping aid to Pakistan after the Usama Bin Ladin episode, and some severe conditions are being attached, for further aid, the Pakistani rulers, as usual, tried to steer the drowning boat of country's economy to safety by visiting China. However, like a good and genuine friend, China gave it the recipe of getting rid of the aid once and for all and expressed the desire to assist through investment instead of giving cash aid.
China's Support to Pakistan's Sovereignty and Integrity
It is the impact of the way, in which the Chinese leadership expressed it friendship with Pakistan in clear terms in the current testing time, like the past, that India did not take much time to change its harsh tune against Pakistan. The same change can be seen in the statements of the US leadership. The United States had persistently been talking to Pakistan in threatening tone until clear and emphatic announcement by China but once the Chinese stance came to light, many US officials, including Hillary Clinton, have stated that Pakistan had no knowledge, at official level, about the presence of Usama Bin Ladin in Abbottabad.
Similarly, the visit of Senator John Kerry and Marc Grossman, US special envoy for Pakistan and Afghanistan, to Pakistan immediately after Prime Minister Gilani's visit to China, and formal announcement about launching joint operation in future indicates that the Chinese announcement to declare Pakistan's sovereignty and integrity as cornerstone of its foreign policy played an important role in pacifying the US outrage and anger.
Lesson for Pakistan From China's Progress
Doubtless, China is our time-tested and all-weather friend but it is unfortunate that neither we learnt any lesson from China's progress and everlasting friendship nor did we make any meaningful planning to achieve self reliance. Despite excellent relations with China at official and government-level, attention was never focused to promote people-to-people contacts in t between the two countries.
Since all personal interests of our aristocracy are linked with the West and the United States, we are tied in bonds of friendship with China under strategic compulsion but unfortunately, despite all out friendship and sympathies of China, the hearts of our aristocracy throb in unison with the west and the United States in spite of their threats and deceptions. This is the very basic reason that in spite of all sympathy and sincerity on the part of China, everlasting relation of friendship could not be established between the people of Pakistan and China that should have been established.
Demand of Situation
Time has come for Pakistan to stand on its own feet and break the begging bowl of the West and the United States and make model of China's progress our ideal. By doing so, Pakistan can start journey on the great highway of progress and prosperity.
For this new journey, Pakistan will have to promote our political, defense, economic, and commercial relations with its neighbors and genuine friendly countries like China, India, Iran, and Turkey on priority basis instead of its distant relatives such as the United States and the United Kingdom.

Judicial Fairness in Malaysia

Following the protests by a US Senator and a group of Australian Member of Parliament over opposition party leader Anwar Ibrahim's sodomy trial, Malaysian Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Anita stressed that Malaysia has a fair judiciary system. He added that it was not appropriate for foreigners to interfere with a count case that is going on.
Minister Datuk Seri Anifah said this with reference to US Senator John Kerry's appeal that the Malaysian government should make sure Anwar Ibrahim could receive fair trial in the sodomy charge. The US Senator stressed that it was only under an un-interfered circumstances that the judiciary could effectively ensure judiciary fairness and impartiality.

Protecting Interest of All Parties
The Senator said: "In order for a court case to uphold the spirit of law as well as protecting the interest of all parties involved, the best solution is to avoid any unrelated government officials and any outsiders trying to disturb and interfere with a count case that is stilling going on."
In a statement, Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Anifah Aman said that Malaysia was committed to upholding the rule of law, and that Malaysia's judiciary was operated according to the standards of any fully developed country. He said: "Our system honors and respects the independence of our courts to find facts and to apply the law impartially." All citizens should avoid seeking to inflame or prejudice the outcome of any legal proceeding public servants in particular have the obligation to avoid politicizing any trial."

External Pressures
Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Anifah added that in a case involving a prominent person such as Anwar Ibrahim, it was important that external pressures be avoided so that each party had the opportunity to present its case to an impartial and unbiased judge."
"Our system has the obligation to proceed with this trial, not because the accused is a prominent political figure, but because it has the responsibility to protect all Ma­­laysians under the law, to seek justice and to avoid any form of prejudice regarding any of the parties involved in a trial," he added.
On 17 February, John Kerry, who is chairman of the US Senate Foreign Relations Committee, had come out with a statement to express his concern about Anwar Ibrahim's sodomy trial. He urged Malaysian Government especially Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib to ensure a fair and equitable resolution of the legal proceedings currently underway against Anwar Ibrahim.

Kerry-Lugar Bill and Pakistan

John Kerry belongs to the Democratic Party. He graduated in law from the Boston College and is married twice. He first married in 1970 and has two children. In 1988, he gave divorce to his first wife and married the wife of Senator John Haynes, who was killed in an aircraft accident, after mutual agreement. He is one of the leading members of the Democratic Party, and was first elected as a senator from Massachusetts in 1984. He is popular in the party for his beliefs and thinking about the world peace, particularly regarding the solution of South Asian and Middle Eastern conflicts. He was the Democratic Party candidate for 2004 presidential elections, but was defeated by Bush Jr. He played an instrumental role in getting Barack Obama to the presidency. The faith the US Administration, Senate, and Congress have in Kerry can be gauged by the way, in which the recent Kerry-Lugar Bill was unanimously passed in the legislative houses.

The other name with John Kerry is that of Richard Lugar who is also a senator. He graduated in economics and philosophy from the Oxford University in 1954. He served the US Army between 1957 and 1960. He was first elected as a senator in 1976 and he belongs to the Republican Party. He is still a senator and was elected in 2007 from Indiana. He is also going to contest the senate elections in 2012. If John Kerry is a central figure in the Democratic Party, Richard Lugar also enjoys the same status in his party. He is also member of numerous senate committees that include the foreign policy, African affairs, and subcommittees for West Asia, Pacific, Energy, Science and Technology, European Affairs, International Assistance, and Human Rights. He has worked in close association with Senator Kerry in drafting the bill.

Enhanced Partnership with Pakistan Act 2009
The real name of the Kerry-Lugar Bill is "Enhanced Partnership with Pakistan Act 2009". The founder of this bill is another senator Joe Biden, who is currently the US vice president. He was closely assisted by Hillary Clinton, who is now the secretary of state. Prior to becoming the president, Obama in the capacity of a senator also played a role in drafting the bill. Initially this was called the Kerry-Biden Bill as Joe Biden had presented this bill in the Senate on 15 July 2008. According to the US law, this initially came under discussion in the Foreign Policy committee. The committee was headed by Joe Biden. After discussion and deliberation, the bill was approved on 29 July 2008. After the approval, the new presidential elections campaign began in the United States. According to the US law, if a bill is not presented for discussion and voting in a congressional term, that bill is barred, the Kerry-Biden Bill also met with the same fate.

After the presidential elections, Obama became President, Biden became the vice president, and Hillary Clinton became the secretary of state. The Kerry-Biden Bill took the shape of a Kerry-Lugar Bill, which then had to be passed again through the Congress constitutional process. The debate began on 6 January and as usual it passed through foreign policy committee to the Congress to the Senate and then to the US President and the Pakistani people. Then, the debate on the language and text of the Kerry-Lugar took such a shape in Pakistan that the government, which was initially terming it a big success were forced to go in the defensive and were coaxed to present the bill in parliament.

Agreements and Financial Assistance Packages
If one goes through the history of the last six decades of agreements and financial assistance packages between the United States and Pakistan, one can easily say that one of these have been without any conditions attached to it. The fire of the US presidential debates has always been directed toward Pakistan. From the South East Asia Treaty Organization (SEATO ) and the Central Treaty Organization (CENTO) to the current Kerry-Lugar Bill, the Pakistani rulers have openly selling the independence and sovereignty of our country. The ruling class in Pakistan has always been fearful of popular groups as to them stability of the country is not dear and they prefer the stability of a particular class. In addition to the national wealth and resources, foreign assistance also goes to the coffers of the rulers, politicians, and corrupt government officials. The rulers have always flown with the tide, destroyed institutions, and have made personal decisions at the expense of the dignity and respect of the country. The parliament, senate, and other institutions exist, but everyone is aware where the decisions are being made.

Prior to the Kerry-Lugar Bill, whether it was General Ayub Khan, Gen Ziaul Haque or Gen Pervez Musharraf or the different democratic governments the United States has always been their source of help and guidance. During the Cold War era, the financial assistance received from the West and its leader the United States in the form of Pressler Amendment or other forms was not for the development of Pakistan instead it was given so that Pakistan could prevent access to the hot waters to the Soviet Union. Because of the close proximity of Pakistan to China and Russia, the geographical location kept Pakistan in the eyes of the United States. Previous military and economic assistance also had conditions attached to it such as restricting military arms usage against India or to stop the continuation of the nuclear program. Although until the US interest remained in the Soviet Union, the financial assistance certificates were being given to Pakistan. Hence, Pakistan continued with its nuclear program. During the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan, Pakistan achieved its nuclear objectives, which were practically displayed in the atomic tests 10 years later.

It is the habit of the United States that it carries numerous projects simultaneously. After the failure of the first, it starts the second project and, then the third, but it does not forget its objective. The objective to remove Dr Abdul Qadeer Khan from the scene was made during the first tenure of Benazir Bhutto. Although it failed then, it was continued by following democratic governments. This was finally achieved during the General Musharraf era when all blame of nuclear proliferation was thrown on him. The United States has always supported dictatorship as it is easier to achieve its objectives by dealing through an individual. Whenever patriotic spirit is aroused in a dictator he is removed from the scene. The example of General Ziaul Haque and General Ayub Khan is before us. Whenever democratic governments come after dictatorial rule, the United States starts projecting individuals. During the rule of Nawaz Sharif and Benazir Bhutto, when there is an opposition-government dispute or election of president or chief of Army staff, such confusions were raised through their agents in people who had the right to decide that they invariably made the wrong choice. As whoever they preferred instead of someone else, they were then responsible for dethroning them. General Zia removed Bhutto, while General Musharraf did the same with Nawaz Sharif.

War Against Terror
The United States has always been a similar feature in democratic or dictatorial governments. The present democratic tenure is also continuity in this trend. In the case of the Kerry-Lugar Bill, we could neither see the parliament, the political powers and the individual made all the decisions. In its conditions some is the language of the United States, while other language in the text is ours. The US target is the same nuclear facilities, which it tried to freeze during the Benazir government and later military eras.

Initially it used to keep its objectives hidden, but now it has openly stated it. After engaging the Pakistan Army in the war against terror and by giving the civilian government nonmilitary aid in the form of the Kerry-Lugar Bill, the United States wants to make sure that the Pakistan Army cannot use the military aid given to them in other resources. So, the Army becomes weak and they can move towards achieving their nuclear facilities objective. After the "9/11" incident, every day for the Pakistani people in this war against terrorism has become similar to "9/11". The US benefits are dear to Kerry and Lugar, why not?