Pakistan Army is ready to take over the country again: Shiraz Paracha

Tonight, Pakistan’s most organized political party with gun power appears to be winning again, this time through its proxies. Scenes outside the Parliament building bring to mind dark memories of July 05, 1977 and October 12, 1999 when timid and traitor generals had removed elected Prime Ministers at gun point.

On October 12, 1999, images of army soldiers breaking into PTV Islamabad Center gate had flashed round the world and on August 30 and 31 2014, the Parliament and the prime minister house are under attack by proxy mobs. The aim of this manufactured drama is not reform, but the removal of a man who no longer accepts dictation.

Visionary Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto had laid foundations of Pak-China strategic relationship. This special relationship is now entering into a new phase and Pakistan’s “owners & masters” want to be in the driving seat during this crucial period. It is quite possible that one reason of the two-week-long protests in Islamabad is: Who should control Pak-China relationship?

For the most part of the Cold War China, Pakistan and the West were on the same page. In the 1970s, Pakistan had facilitated the establishment of relations between the United States and China. During the 1980s, China and Pakistan had supported the CIA’s proxy war against the Soviet Union in Afghanistan.

The post Cold War period realities, however, are different. U.S economy is declining while China has emerged as a new economic power on the world stage. China is capturing new markets, investing in prime locations, building strategic partnerships and communication infrastructures. These advances have made China one of the biggest rivals of the United States. The U.S is concerned because China is flexing its military muscles as well.

From the day one of its inception, Pakistan had aspired to be a U.S client state. Pakistan was always in the U.S camp. It has been a receiver of U.S military and economic aid. Military links between Pakistan and the U.S are stronger than the political relationship between the two countries. When Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto had established relationship with China it was not a matter of great concern for Pakistan’s paymaster, the United States, because at that time the Soviet led Eastern Block was America’s major problem.

But at the dawn of the 21st century China became a rival for the U.S. This rivalry is turning into hostility now. The new situation has affected Pakistan as Islamabad is closely tied to the both rivals.
With time Pakistan-China relationship has matured. They are trusted partners in many ways. Now China wants to invest in infrastructure development of strategically important Pakistan.

The U.S would be concerned by China’s growing influence in Pakistan because it can reduce Pakistan’s dependence on the United States. The U.S has deep roots in Pakistan through military cooperation that spreads over a period of six decades. Pakistan depends on the U.S financial and technical support.

Nearly 15 years ago Pakistan-China relations entered into a new phase. Few years later, mistrust between the U.S and Pakistan grew over the ‘war on terror’. In this backdrop, Asif Ali Zardari was elected as Pakistan’s next President. Mr. Zardari was an intelligent leader with vision. He paid more attention on consolidating Pakistan’s relations with China as he had realized that Pakistan would benefit more by deepening its economic and strategic partnership with China. Building of the Kashghar-Gawadar Economic Corridor is a very significant outcome of Mr. Zardari’s efforts. Under this deal Gawadar port was given to China. This changed the game.

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has rightly decided to continue Asif Zardari’s policy of consolidating relations with China. The Chinese President coming visit to Pakistan is a part of the Pak-China joint strategy to achieve common goals.

However, the new dimension of Pak-China relations could be a cause of concern for the United States. Also skeptical and worried military circles think that sensitive and crucial issues like Pak-China relations or dealing with the U.S can’t be left to uncontrollable civilians such as Nawaz Sharif.
Perhaps for this reason the emphasis is on the Nawaz Sharif’s resignation by leaders of Islamabad protests.
It seems that Imran Khan and Tahir ul Qadri have provided their shoulders to someone with an agenda to get rid of Nawaz Sharif---the person…!