“Pakistan’s slowdown” (November 11) is realistic in saying that saving Pakistan’s democracy is important for the people of Pakistan and South Asia as a whole. However, Pakistan should not hope that it would be saved irrespective of what it does in dealing with the threat of Jehadi terrorism.
The editorial rightly suggests that the international community should insist on better delivery in the fight against terrorism and that it should work towards ending the export of terror by Pakistan in exchange for economic support. Moreover, it is suggested that India and western powers extend a helping hand in exchange for a proven record of good conduct by Pakistani authorities in dealing with terrorism, including the terrorist groups that target India. The question, however, is whether Pakistan and, most importantly, the US, are ready to listen?
The US is pumping billions of dollars of financial and military aid into Pakistan without ascertaining Islamabad’s sincerity in dealing with terrorism in its entirety. Pakistan is fighting the Taliban while the Lashkar-e-Toiba chief and others involved in Mumbai terror attacks are being shielded by the Pakistani administration. Obviously, Pakistan and the US are concerned with the terrorists threatening them and not with the terrorists operating against India.
The onus of saving Pakistan’s democracy lies with the US. It can make Pakistan wage a real fight-to-finish war against all kind of terrorists on Pakistani soil and can take Pakistani nuclear weapons in safe custody until time terrorism is wiped off and law and order is completely restored. Will Obama do it?
M C Joshi, Lucknow