Pakistan: Implications of US report on Iran

The US report based on its intelligence agencies’ estimate on Iran nuclear programme, which has suddenly tried to play down the threat posed by Iran in this context, comes at a crucial juncture and is not only extremely pertinent to Pakistan but is also deeply worrisome.

Recent statements issued by President Bush and many of his close companions, including the stance taken by the Democratic party candidates, each focusing sharply on Pakistan’s nuclear arsenal, expressing serious concerns over its security, is strongly indicative of the fact that setting Iran aside, perhaps for the time being, all the energies within the US intelligence, military and political circles are being devoted to solving the problem of the "existing Islamic bomb” as opposed to a future possibility in the case of Iran. The US report on Iran is indeed an interesting revelation about the US intelligence apparatus, consusting of various well-funded agencies, who till a few days back, were quite admant that Iran's nuclear programme wasn't entirely peaceful and there was an aspiration on part of the Iranians to seek the status as the second Muslim nuclear power.

Bearing in mind Iran's existing relationship with Russia and China, based on the power of economics and regional trade, it will undoubtedly prove extremely difficult for US to tackle the Iranian issue, just as yet. Similiarly, its own admission of failure to reveal weapons of mass destruction in Iraq will give the benefit of doubt to Iran and allow some degree of protection from acts of aggression by the US.

The current political climate in Pakistan since early this year, including the issue of the ousted judiciary with the ensuing unabated civic unrest as well as the alleged controversial role of media, collectively somehow does not seem to be merely coincidental to the attention recently being paid to the Pakistan esp. the talk about launching military operations to flush out militants from the tribal regions, or to extract Pakistan’s nuclear arsenal for safekeeping, with or without the consent of the Pakistani military.

It all seems part of a game plan, being masterminded by those with vested interests in redefining the strategic relevance of Pakistan in global politics and its place in history.

It is vital for the politicians, military and the general Pakistani public to engage into serious introspection, to establish whether to persist with their trivial wrangling and thereby risk loosing perhaps the only symbol of pride in Pakistan, and amongst all Muslim nations across the globe, i.e. nuclear capabilities. Alternatively they might wish to dare, for once atleast , to set aside their petty and significant differences irrespective of their personal egos, political persuasions and religious beliefs, thereby allowing the democratic process to continue, no matter how flawed or disputable it may seem, all for the sake of Pakistan’s integrity and stability, which are both at stake.