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COVER STORY: MOOD IN PAKISTAN
Special Status
The US celebration of thriving friendship and more
economic aid provide greater confidence to Musharraf amid an Islamic backlash
By Hasan Zaidi in Karachi
It may have been
a wobbly General Pervez Musharraf who witnessed the September 11 strikes
in the US. For till a few months ago, terrorism had been the scourge that
spelt global isolation for Pakistan and its growing alienation from America.
In two short weeks, however, Pakistan has witnessed a reversal of fortunes
that even Musharraf couldn't have foreseen when he signed on as a frontline
ally of the US in its war against the Taliban. Not only has the US sanctioned
financial aid and promised military assistance, but much to Pakistan's
delight, by making the right noises on Kashmir it has helped thrust the
contentious issue back into the international limelight.
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STREET FURY: Bin Laden supporters hold
a rally in Quetta
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When the Pakistani President decided to reverse
the country's seven-year-old strategic policy on Afghanistan and join
the battle against "terror", one of the biggest concerns in
the country's military circles was how it would affect militancy in Kashmir.
On the backfoot, Pakistan even condemned-for the first time ever-the October
1 suicide attack on the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly in Srinagar as an act
of terrorism, delinking it from the "freedom struggle" that
it had labelled such acts in the past.
It was in this context that US Secretary of
State Colin Powell's visit to the subcontinent assumed significance. With
India calling for "hot pursuit" tactics, and prospects of Indian
attacks on mujahideen camps across the Line of Control causing jitters
in Islamabad, Pakistan looked to Powell to help defuse the tension between
the two countries. A lessening of rhetoric, even if temporary, would also
be in America's interest to help it focus better on the war in Afghanistan.
As it is, the Indian firing along the Line of
Control on the eve of Powell's visit-"punitive", according to
Indian Defence Minister George Fernandes, "unprovoked" according
to Pakistan-came almost as a diplomatic godsend for Pakistan. Not only
did it bring the volatility of the Kashmir issue back into focus, the
civilian casualties on the Pakistani side no doubt upset the US which
is trying hard to keep its war coalition intact. So while India may have
been trying to send a message to both Pakistan and the US about its concerns
on Kashmir, it has unwittingly helped Pakistan, at least in the short
term. For, Powell not only referred to the Kashmir issue as being "central
to the relationship" between Pakistan and India, he also talked of
the need to resolve it "through peaceful, political and diplomatic
means" with a "determined respect for human rights". This
is a big reassurance for Pakistan, where these catchwords are being interpreted
as American understanding of Pakistan's position on Kashmir. The assurance
has been reinforced by hints over disagreements on Kashmir during Powell's
subsequent meeting with Indian External Affairs Minister Jaswant Singh.
This is seen as a sign that the US, after a long time, is showing sympathy
for Pakistan's point of view.
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