Our Good Friends

Pakistan has once again found itself in the crossfire as US reaction to North Korea's reported admission of having a uranium enrichment programme led an American daily to claim that Islamabad had helped Pyongyang in its nuclear venture. President Musharraf has strongly denied the allegation, but the upshot of this unsavoury tangle is the sad reality that Pakistan is a favourite whipping boy of the US media for anything that happens, the rave reviews about our role in the war on terror, notwithstanding.

But this episode is specially dangerous as The New York Times accusation comes at a time when US is collecting "evidence" to support its branding of North Korea as a component of the "axis of evil". Any action that Washington might ultimately take against the socialist state might well rebound on Pakistan in the American press as an accomplice. This would provide sufficient ammunition to sully this country's name even as it has thrown itself heart and soul into America's fight against terror. The term "frontline state" that is reverberating in Islamabad at present to define its services in the line of duty is a rerun of the cooperation Ziaul Haq rendered in carrying the white man's burden in Afghanistan. In both instances Pakistan was sumptuously praised by the US leaders and media only as long as its services were needed.

The allegation, which has yet to be contradicted by the Bush administration, however, is wholly untenable, as until now it has been claimed by western intelligence sources that China had assisted Pakistan in its nuclear weapon programme. It would make no sense that North Korea which is fairly advanced in various weapons systems would turn to Pakistan for technological help in this field. But while President Musharraf has rightly refuted this sinister report, it will be difficult for him to repair the damage it must have caused. Pakistan already bears the scars of several other ugly skirmishes it has had with the American media and ironically administration and the parliamentarians on various issues. Till very recently it was on the watch list of terrorist states. This charge was only nullified after President Musharraf pushed Pakistan into the anti-terror front as an active member. But there can be no certainty that a clean bill of health has been given, or that in some time in the future we find ourselves again cast with the "rogue states".

The moral this incident imparts is that Pakistan can never expect to be trusted and treated at the same level as other states close to US. It may be a loyal ally and a dependable friend and much else, but there will always be doubt about its credibility. The press report showed the ease with which a leading newspaper could publish grave charges against a state which is at present America's most dependable regional surrogate in the war on terror. Pakistan's leaders need to take a long, hard look at their policy of making friends and influencing nations. Over half a century down the road we can count only a few reliable friends, some of whom are also suffering from friendship fatigue. Most others like US are fair weather friends.