FACT SHEET

 

Musharraf’s Washington Visit --- Success or Failure?

 

Released by Muhammed Siddique-ul-Farooque, Central Information Secretary Pakistan Muslim League   At a Press Conference on February 20, 2002

 The drastic changes that General Pervez Musharraf brought about in the national policies after September 11 led to immediate loss of three billion dollars to Pakistan. According to the Finance Minister and the Governor State Bank, total loss was estimated to be over 10 billion dollars. In addition, all avenues of national and foreign investment were blocked.  Capital amounting to billions of dollars has fled the country, and the exodus continues. General Musharraf himself repeatedly admitted to cancellation of Pakistan’s export orders.

 

It was against the backdrop of these facts that General Musharraf, invited by President Bush, embarked on a visit to Washington.  He, along with his entourage, believed to get from the American President whatever he asked for in return of the services rendered.  But the outcome of the visit is as follows:

 

Humiliation of the Delegates

On the eve of the official visit, two important members of General Musharraf’s entourage, his spokesman Major General Rashid Qureshi and Commerce Minister Abdul Razzaq Dawood, were thoroughly humiliated under the pretext of security check.  One senior member of the delegation is reported to have said in anguish “next time the government officials should come to this country in vests and under wears”.

I (Siddique-ul-Farooque) want to register my protest over this insult of two Pakistani citizens, and demand a proper apology.

Let me recall here a minor incident causing discomfiture to some Pakistani journalists accompanying Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif during his visit to the United States.  The Government of Pakistan lodged a protest, and the American administration tendered an apology.

 

FAILURE OF THE VISIT

 

Commerce Minister’s Evidence

When Commerce Minister Abdul Razzaq Dawood was asked to comment on the results of the visit, he said, “I am not satisfied”.  He said Pakistan had hoped that the United states would sign a “Free Trade Agreement” like it had done with certain other countries, including Bangladesh and Jordan, but unfortunately it did not happen.

 

Finance Minister’s Evidence

Finance Minister Shaukat Aziz also admitted to the failure when he said on February 16, “Pakistan expected to get trade concessions worth one billion dollars, but only 142 million dollars concessions have been allowed to Pakistan up to year 2004.”  That means 47 million dollars a year. Even that depends on approval by the US Senate.

 

Musharraf’s Admission

Admitting the failure of his mission, general Musharraf said on February 19 that “militarily” it was not a success.  Earlier, he said, if Pakistan did not get the F-16s, why should we languish; I am a different person; I keep myself in good spirits even when I don’t get anything.

 

Failure to get Debt Write off

The Musharraf delegation hoped to get its American debt of 2.8 billion dollars written off.  Following the visit, the government claimed through national press and the official media that the United States had written off one billion dollars out of that debt.  The fact, however, remains that not a single dollar was written off.  Instead, the US has announced a loan of 200 million dollars for servicing for four years.  According to Chairman Senate Foreign Relations Committee, even that lone is premised on:

1.                  fair and open elections next October;

2.                  de-escalation of tensions on the border with India; and

3.                  continued commitment to the task of eradicating extremism and terrorism according to American wishes.

The Senate will approve 200 million dollar loan after these conditions are met.  And then Pakistan will receive 50 million dollars for servicing in 2003 followed by 50 million more each year until 2006.

Other paltry sums announced for education, elections and other sectors have also been linked with certain conditions.

 

Failure to get Defense Assistance

General Musharraf had hoped to get the F-16 aircraft.  Pakistan Muslim League also wants the country should get those aircraft as well as massive defense assistance to resume the balance of power that has been disturbed by India.  Unfortunately, General Musharraf failed to get the aircraft.   On the other hand, the United States has entered into a defense agreement with India, and the US Chief of Staff General Myers reached New Delhi just two days after Musharraf’s visit.  Indian Defense Minister George Fernandes announced, with General Myers’ consent to purchase American weapons and military equipment to the tone of one billion dollars.  The deal includes “Eye of Sky” surveillance aircraft to crush the freedom movement in Occupied Kashmir and launch espionage missions along Pakistani borders, as well as 200 Fire Finder radar systems.

 

Failure to get Concrete Assurances on Kashmir

Kashmir is the jugular vein of Pakistan.  Muslim League has strong hopes for effective and immediate American support in Pakistan’s favor.  But general Musharraf failed to get concrete assurances fro the United States in this matter.  President Bush has only talked of “facilitating” Pakistan-India dialogue on the question of Kashmir.  It must be noted that when Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif visited the United States, he got President Clinton’s assurance not only to take “personal interest” in the matter, but also a “promise to visit Pakistan and India” in this regard.  However, General Musharraf toppled the elected government before that could happen.

 

Pakistan-India Tension

General Musharraf hoped that, in return of his allegiance to American wishes, President Bush would ensure withdrawal of Indian forces from the Pakistani border. But President Bush dashed that hope saying “Pakistan should end tension with India.”  In other words, he indirectly accused Pakistan of creating tension with India.  Anyway, Musharraf’s visit was a failure on this count also.

 

Pakistan-US Friendship

President Bush has bluntly told general Musharraf that cooperative relationship with Pakistan would continue, “so long as we share the same ideals and values and common objectives”.  It means that the friendship between the two countries will end the day their ideals and values and objectives differ with each other.  If General Musharraf hoped Bush would declare permanence of friendship in return of his unstinted cooperation, he failed to get it.

THE ONLY SUCCESS

The visit was undoubtedly a failure for Pakistan.  However, it was a success with regard to glowing rhetorical praise for General Musharraf, because President Bush was “proud to call him a friend” in front of world media, patted him on the back for his “courageous cooperation.”

 

REASONS OF FAILURE

Why was the outcome of General Musharraf’s visit a disappointment for Pakistan?  The answer came from Senator Tom Harkin, who said, “General Musharraf lacks public mandate”. The purport of what he further said is that repeated military coups and demolition of democratic system in Pakistan has tarnished the country’s image in the United States. 

Secondly, General Musharraf failed to keep his offer of cooperation in combating terrorism conditional.  Had there been an elected government in Pakistan, it would have got the United States agree to certain conditions before making any commitment.

Thirdly, India enjoys a bright image in the United States due to its lasting and stable democratic system. India has considerable influence in the US Congress and policy-making institutions.  The Indian leadership has been able to convince the Americans that if the F-16 aircraft were supplied to Pakistan they would be used against India. The also apprised the United States of their reservation about possible economic assistance for Pakistan and the Kashmir issue.  The American leadership obviously accepted the India point of view, and ignored the hopes and wishes of “friend Musharraf”.

 

The moral of this dismal episode of failure is that an established democratic society respects only an elected democratic leader, and that only a democratically elected Pakistani leadership can successfully confront a democratic Indian leadership; a military leadership is always bound to fail.