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| Zardari needs to reciprocate Singh's gesture | | | Nirbhay Jammual
The journey of Asif Ali Zardari from the prison cell to the Presidential Palace in Islamabad is a journey from suppression to the freedom from military dictatorship.No doubt Zardari secured the Presidential chair on the ashes of his wife,Benazir Bhutto,he seems to have fashioned his elevation through his deft political manoeuvres.Soon after the elections he got his son elected as the Chairman of the Pakistan Peoples' Party and himself remained content with co-chairman.He accepted this arrangement because he knew his son will remain busy with his studies abroad.Next move was the installation of his trusted man, Yousaf RazaGilani,as Prime Minister.These two moves created an impression that Zardari was not power hungry but in reality he was aspiring for the Presidential chair.He was seemingly so keen to get elected as President of Pakistan because he knew it well that his predecessor had secured unbridled powers for the constitutional head,that he did not inform his alliance partner PML(N) about his intentions of fighting for the highest post in Pakistan.
Since the party position was favourable for Zardari in the election process he did not mind PML(N) quitting the colaition Government.Now that Zardari is on a charger with a long whip in his hand he cannot afford to win enemies within and outside the country.His first task is to pull Pakistan out of political and economic morass.Though his predecessor,Gen. Parvez Musharraf,has played his role well in bringing Pakistan out of economic collapse during his nine-year rule Zardari has to go a step ahead of Musharraf in freeing his country from political,security and economic mess.For about 25 years Pakistan,whether under the rule of Zia-ul-Haq or under Parvez Musharraf,has remained a breeding ground for terrorism which it exported first to Punjab and then to Jammu and Kashmir.A situation has now reached a point where one can find terrorists,trained in Pakistan,operating in every states in India.Surprisingly the country that exported terrorism is now being plagued by terrorist strikes within its country and on it borders.
If Zardari is keen to pull Pakistan out of the economic crisis he needs to take all possible measures in his hand for demolishing all the terrorist breeding centres.He should examine the extent of economic bleed Delhi has been experiencing during the last 25 years of terrorism.Besides strengthening the democratic structure,which is required for foiling Pakistan Army's itch for gaining political power,Zardari needs to build bridges with India.And the Indian Prime Minister,Manmohan Singh's message to him is a clear indication of New Delhi's sincere intentions of playing a friendly role towards Pakistan.Manmohan Singh has told Zardari that he will find "a friend in India."He has assured Zardari that India "has the will to transform relations with the neighbouring country."And in the interest of Pakistan and its people Zardari should reciprocate.But if he goes by his father'in'law's belief in a thousand years war against India on Kashmir the new President will invite only disaster for Pakistan. |
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