Top British General as Goodwill Ambassador

Patron Air Marshal (Retd) AYAZ AHMED KHAN analyses the reasons for UK sending its top military man to Pakistan

Pakistan-UK relations took a nose dive after Pakistan tested six nuclear devices. His visit has broken the ice between Islamabad and London that had developed after the nuclear tests at Chagai on May 28-30 1998. The British government had not only chastised, but had actively worked to ensure that punishable sanctions are imposed on Pakistan, which remain in place till today. The tough economic and military sanctions have hurt Pakistan immeasurably. The October 12 1999 Army coup-de-etat had incensed London and British Foreign Secretary Robin Cook had publicly denounced the overthrow of the elected government by the Army. Showing total lack of understanding of Pakistani polity and politics of loot and plunder whereby political power had been usurped by dishonest and corrupt politicians, the Labour government under Mr Tony Blair has remained critical of the Army action. British Foreign Secretary Mr Robin Cook was most vocal and during the Commonwealth Conference in South Africa tried to unseat Pakistan from the Commonwealth of Nations. The three day visit of a high dignitary like Sir Charles Guthrie CDS UK implies that the labour government has comprehended that the reformist Army rule is more democratic than the fake democracy under the government elected by the so-called heavy mandate. London has understood that General Pervez Musharraf means what he says, and that he can be trusted. UK is now prepared to do business with Pakistan where grass roots democracy will become functional before the end of the year 2000. Relations between Pakistan and the United Kingdom will hopefully return to normal in the near future. Britain is important for Pakistan as Pakistan is important for Britain. It is worth mentioning that UK is the biggest foreign investor, and good relations with Britain are of importance for Pakistan. English language is the common bond, and Pakistan has much to learn from Great Britain.

Since October 12, the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) has continued its highly biased propaganda against the 'military dictatorship' in Pakistan. In a BBC talk show on the eve of the departure of General Sir Charles Guthrie for Islamabad a lady expert on South Asia opined that no favours should be shown to Pakistan till the return of democracy. She said that the visit of the British Chief of Defence Staff to Islamabad would send wrong signals as if the UK government supported the Army takeover. She said that under the prevailing circumstances the sale of British weapons to Pakistan was out of the question. The lady knew little about the plot against the Army and its Chief, and Mian Sahib's scheme to manipulate the Army for his own perpetuation. But inspite of BBC propaganda, better sense has prevailed in The White Hall. The Labour government of Prime Minister Mr Tony Blair has now realized that the Army takeover was welcomed by the Pakistani masses. London has yet to comprehend that suffocated and crushed by fake and corrupt democracy the Pakistani nation heaved a sigh of relief when the Army succeeded in forestalling the dangerous conspiracies of the elected government. Quick return of fake democracy and corrupt politicians may suit the West, it certainly does not suit the people of Pakistan. The people are prepared to wait hoping that the Army will deliver, which Inshallah it will.

The visit of General Sir Charles Guthrie reflects the endorsement by UK of the wish of the Pakistani people for efficient and corruption free government. His visit is welcome, especially for his understanding and appreciation of Musharraf government's views on democracy. These views have yet to be understood by the British media, especially by the BBC which continues to harp on the return of fake democracy rejected by the people. Both the British and the American leaders have been demanding a time frame for the return of democracy. General Guthrie got the answer from General Musharraf that at the moment it is extremely difficult to give the exact timing for restoring democracy in Pakistan. The Chief Executive informed the British CDS that he had laid down certain objectives to introduce true democracy in Pakistan, and that he would not like to be bound by any time constraints. General Musharraf did reiterate his commitment to build 'strong democracy' in Pakistan. The visiting General wisely did not ask for a road map for the restoration of democracy in Pakistan. This, however, is a pertinent observation, because the military government will not be able to hedge the creation of a framework for real grass roots democracy for too long. This is a promise that the Army will have to fulfil within a reasonable time period. The government is planning to hold local bodies election during the year, which will be the first big step towards real democracy. Once the elected local bodies are in place, the next logical step will be that of holding general elections in the country.

General Charles Guthrie said that there was no arms embargo on Pakistan and that current requests are being looked into at case by case basis. He said that Pakistan has not been removed from the Commonwealth. The change of heart in London after one hundred days of the Army regime is welcome. The British government wishes to put its relations with Pakistan back on track, and that augurs well for normalization of relations with the developed countries. Any offer of sale of British arms to Pakistan will be used as a propaganda tool by New Delhi. The fact is that presently the Pakistani fighting services i.e. the Army, the Navy and the Pakistan Air Force are not dependent in any way on UK made weapons and munitions. There is no British tank as good as the Ukranian T-80 MBT recently procured by the Pakistan Army or the Al-Khalid tank which hopefully will be the future MBT of the Armoured Corps. British 155 HOW's would be of interest but are very expensive. Pakistan Navy has some type 21-frigates of British origin. The PN might be keen to re-establish contacts with the Admirality to avail the possibility of updating its British made vessels and reinforcing the munition stocks. There is nothing that UK can offer to the PAF. UK made Tornadoes are not in production, and the Euro-Fighter has yet to enter service with the RAF. Euro-Fighter will remain embargoed till the sanctions are removed. BBC is raising hue and cry on the possible sale of British weapons to Pakistan. The fact is that Pakistan has no need for them.

General Sir Charles Gutheri's hope that Pakistan and India will find a way for reviving the Lahore process, and should address issues bilaterally will be endorsed by mature people in both the countries. He is right that the situation in South Asia has become dangerous following the nuclear tests in May 1998. His advocacy that Pakistan should sign the CTBT like the UK which has signed and ratified it is also in order. But London must realize that the ball is in the Indian court. The Army government is trying to build a consensus for signing the CTBT. Foreign Minister Abdul Sattar in fact is doing his best to brain wash the public in this regard. But Indian policy of massive conventional and nuclear armament, its nuclear doctrine, allegations of terrorism and refusal to sign the CTBT and refusal to talk should be taken serious notice of by the UK government. Indian propaganda against Pakistan during and after the planned highjacking of Indian Air Lines flight 814-C from Kathmandu, and its nefarious effort to get Pakistan declared as a terrorist country is more like a declaration of war. As head of the Commonwealth UK should dissuade New Delhi from the war path. India wants to shackle Kashmir permanently. The massive deployment of the Indian military in Kashmir is a very serious threat to Pakistan's security. The British government should take notice of the decade old armed struggle of the Kashmiri people to break the Indian shackle. To hide its massive brutalities in the Kashmir, India has embarked on a hideous plan, that Pakistan be declared a terrorist state. External Affairs Minister Jaswant Singh is meeting British Foreign Secretary Robin Cook specifically for this purpose. Pakistan must lodge strongest protest if this India plot is discussed. The visit of General Sir Charles Guthrie is a renewal of good relations. It will open avenues of close cooperation between Pakistan and UK, and hopefully will be followed by visits of British leaders, industrialists and investors to see for themselves the efforts of the government towards good governance and 'strong democracy'.