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Monday, October 12, 2009 - 10:02 PM
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Pakistan's ambassador to the United States, Husain Haqqani, has not been fired from his job and doesn't expect to be, he tells The Cable in an exclusive interview.
After the fallout over the cool reception in Islamabad for the Kerry-Lugar Pakistan aid bill, Pakistan's Dawn newspaper reported Monday that Haqqani would be replaced in Washington amid criticisms that he was responsible for the public relations snafu. But that is not (yet) the case, he said.
"I serve at the pleasure of the president and prime minister of Pakistan and will follow any instructions I've been given," Haqqani said,calling in from a trip to Fort Worth, Texas, where he was attending a ceremony to mark the rollout of the first of 18 F-16 fighter planes being sold to his country.
"So far I've not been asked to alter my responsibilities nor have any questions been raised about my conduct," Haqqani said, adding that he does plan to meet with Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi during the latter's trip to Washington tomorrow.
The scene of Haqqani celebrating the F-16 deal, a long-awaited accomplishment of the U.S.-Pakistani relationship, amid the backdrop of the rumors of his sacking, show the complicated dynamic surrounding him. A consummate Beltway insider, his close relationships throughout the Washington establishment are both the root of his success and the reason he is a target of elements in Pakistan who disapprove of close ties with the United States.
U.S. officials in Washington and Islamabad have been conducting triage to stem the bleeding from the negative press coverage surrounding the controversial rollout of the bill. Sources tell The Cable that top American officials dealing with Pakistan are on the case, including special representative Richard Holbrooke, who has made personal calls to Pakistani opposition leaders meant to allay concerns about the aid conditions in the bill and encourage their begrudging support.
The emerging narrative from Pakistani sources close to the issue is that the furor over the bill was largely a tempest in a teapot, a perfect opportunity for anti-American forces in Islamabad to accuse the government of President Asif Ali Zardari of being too close to the Americans, serving their domestic political agenda, as well as exhibiting their general dislike for Haqqani's long-held stance against military rule.
The crux of this argument can be found in a Washington Post column penned by David Ignatius, which includes:
Some of the popular anger in Islamabad is being manipulated by the Pakistani military, which should know better than to toss a match in the dry tinder of the U.S.-Pakistani relationship. And some of it, frankly, is a sign of Pakistani political immaturity. But the larger point is that this hiccup in the relationship is unnecessary. It's a product of gratuitous language that was written into the legislation despite warnings that it would trigger just this sort of reaction.
Insiders point out that that the aid conditions, which require the U.S. government to report on the Pakistani military's efforts to combat terrorist groups in their midst, were available for all to see well in advance. Moreover, they say, similar conditions were included in U.S. aid packages dating back to 2001, when President George W. Bush and President Pervez Musharraf were the respective leaders.
Ironically, it is Musharraf's allies, now in the opposition, who are now harping on such conditions.
Regardless, Haqqani has become the poster child for the criticisms surrounding the rollout of the bill, largely because he is seen by some as too close to the United States. His allies point out that his U.S. ties are exactly what makes him an effective representative for Islamabad.
They also say that if the Pakistani government ends up removing Haqqani, that will only do more harm to U.S.-Pakistani relations and fuel the anti-American forces in Islamabad.
"Most people don't have the courage to tell the Pakistani people we need the United States, so most of the discourse in Pakistan is anti-American," one Pakistani source said, adding, "Do they want a spectacle where they will say, ‘We removed an ambassador for having good relations with the U.S.?'"
These sources also say that Haqqani has reams of documents that could embarrass the forces aligned against him and sacking him could open up a Pandora's box of controversy that the government would not appreciate, which he might do if forced to defend himself after being fired.
In the end, the Kerry-Lugar aid controversy is likely to play out as follows: American officials and lawmakers will make symbolic apologies for failing to explain the aid conditions in the bill, the Pakistani parliament will reluctantly approve the deal, and the money will get spent.
Meanwhile, each side will hopefully have learned a lesson about dealing with the other.
"Washington made a mistake in not understanding Pakistani sensitivities," one Pakistani source said. "But in reaction, Pakistanis are making a big mistake in not understanding American realities."
Photo via Pakistani Embassy
Why are we giving Pakistan F16s?
Obviously, we are giving Pakistan F-16s so that they can use them against our ally India...errr...of course I mean our mortal enemy the Taliban. How silly of me to have made that mistake!
Simply because Pakistan have paid the amount 8 years ago
You are doing your readers a disservice if you don't directly identify where the Pakistani objections are coming from - namely, the military and intelligence agencies that have profited the most from seven years of no strings attached aid. Haqqani needs to be commended for the hard work he is doing in trying to get the U.S. to deal with Pakistani civilian leadership, and yes, that means it will come at the expense of Pakistani generals and spy chiefs. The average Pakistani knows that they will not see a cent of that aid money unless it is specifically targeted towards projects such as education.
Mostly the problem is that people take rigid stands.While Haqqani's services cannot be ignored it will also be incorrect to say that all the opposition to the bill is just from the military or agencies.Ordinary people are also offended by the language and if the aim is to help Pakistan than why do it in a way that the people feel humiliated and opponents of America get a chance to whip up even a storm in a tea cup.The Washington Post has rightly pointed out that America is used to giving dictation that it did so again in this bill.Hussain Haqqani is the first Pakistani ambassador to have the kind of connections in Washington that are required for this position and he should not be fired but he too should understand the Pakistani people.At least as much as he understands the American public.That is not too much to ask or is it?
Mostly the problem is that people take rigid stands.While Haqqani's services cannot be ignored it will also be incorrect to say that all the opposition to the bill is just from the military or agencies.Ordinary people are also offended by the language and if the aim is to help Pakistan than why do it in a way that the people feel humiliated and opponents of America get a chance to whip up even a storm in a tea cup.The Washington Post has rightly pointed out that America is used to giving dictation that it did so again in this bill.Hussain Haqqani is the first Pakistani ambassador to have the kind of connections in Washington that are required for this position and he should not be fired but he too should understand the Pakistani people.At least as much as he understands the American public.That is not too much to ask or is it?
Mostly the problem is that people take rigid stands.While Haqqani's services cannot be ignored it will also be incorrect to say that all the opposition to the bill is just from the military or agencies.Ordinary people are also offended by the language and if the aim is to help Pakistan than why do it in a way that the people feel humiliated and opponents of America get a chance to whip up even a storm in a tea cup.The Washington Post has rightly pointed out that America is used to giving dictation that it did so again in this bill.Hussain Haqqani is the first Pakistani ambassador to have the kind of connections in Washington that are required for this position and he should not be fired but he too should understand the Pakistani people.At least as much as he understands the American public.That is not too much to ask or is it?
Mostly the problem is that people take rigid stands.While Haqqani's services cannot be ignored it will also be incorrect to say that all the opposition to the bill is just from the military or agencies.Ordinary people are also offended by the language and if the aim is to help Pakistan than why do it in a way that the people feel humiliated and opponents of America get a chance to whip up even a storm in a tea cup.The Washington Post has rightly pointed out that America is used to giving dictation that it did so again in this bill.Hussain Haqqani is the first Pakistani ambassador to have the kind of connections in Washington that are required for this position and he should not be fired but he too should understand the Pakistani people.At least as much as he understands the American public.That is not too much to ask or is it?
Mostly the problem is that people take rigid stands.While Haqqani's services cannot be ignored it will also be incorrect to say that all the opposition to the bill is just from the military or agencies.Ordinary people are also offended by the language and if the aim is to help Pakistan than why do it in a way that the people feel humiliated and opponents of America get a chance to whip up even a storm in a tea cup.The Washington Post has rightly pointed out that America is used to giving dictation that it did so again in this bill.Hussain Haqqani is the first Pakistani ambassador to have the kind of connections in Washington that are required for this position and he should not be fired but he too should understand the Pakistani people.At least as much as he understands the American public.That is not too much to ask or is it?
Mostly the problem is that people take rigid stands.While Haqqani's services cannot be ignored it will also be incorrect to say that all the opposition to the bill is just from the military or agencies.Ordinary people are also offended by the language and if the aim is to help Pakistan than why do it in a way that the people feel humiliated and opponents of America get a chance to whip up even a storm in a tea cup.The Washington Post has rightly pointed out that America is used to giving dictation that it did so again in this bill.Hussain Haqqani is the first Pakistani ambassador to have the kind of connections in Washington that are required for this position and he should not be fired but he too should understand the Pakistani people.At least as much as he understands the American public.That is not too much to ask or is it?
Mostly the problem is that people take rigid stands.While Haqqani's services cannot be ignored it will also be incorrect to say that all the opposition to the bill is just from the military or agencies.Ordinary people are also offended by the language and if the aim is to help Pakistan than why do it in a way that the people feel humiliated and opponents of America get a chance to whip us even a storm in a tea cup.The Washington Post has rightly pointed out that America is used to giving dictation that it did so again in this bill.Hussain Haqqani is the first Pakistani ambassador to have the kind of connections in Washington that are required for this position and he should not be fired but he too should understand the Pakistani people.At least as much as he understands the American public.That is not too much to ask or is it?
Mostly the problem is that people take rigid stands.While Haqqani's services cannot be ignored it will also be incorrect to say that all the opposition to the bill is just from the military or agencies.Ordinary people are also offended by the language and if the aim is to help Pakistan than why do it in a way that the people feel humiliated and opponents of America get a chance to whip up even a storm in a tea cup.The Washington Post has rightly pointed out that America is used to giving dictation that it did so again in this bill.Hussain Haqqani is the first Pakistani ambassador to have the kind of connections in Washington that are required for this position and he should not be fired but he too should understand the Pakistani people.At least as much as he understands the American public.That is not too much to ask or is it?
Everybody know Pakistan is the front-line state against the terror, no doubt Pakistan is sacrificing for whole the world and the recently terror attack on GHQ is the big example. If people are still saying "Why are we giving Pakistan F16s?" and "Obviously, we are giving Pakistan F-16s so that they can use them against our ally India...errr...of course I mean our mortal enemy the Taliban. How silly of me to have made that mistake!" then Pakistan will have to think over it's policy of War on Terror for the world.
Dear Friends
i have just visited the PAk embassy website and copy here some press releases by Pakisan Embassy in Washington ( still avaiable on website). after reading these you will realise that How Ambassoder haqqani has played both with the Pakistani athurities and american authurities as well.
He was saying every thing is fine To americans and same tp pakistanis ...i strongly believed that Mr. Haqqani must be sacked from his office for creating this Fiasco and misinformed his employers and his American Friends.
the press realeases are as under :
1-Ambassador Haqqani says Kerry-Lugar Bill a step toward building mutual trust, corrects misperceptions …More
2- Foreign Minister Qureshi praises US aid under Kerry Lugar Bill …More
3- Prime Minister vows to evolve consensus on Kerry Lugar Bill …More
4- Vice President Joe Biden assures Foreign Minister Qureshi of long-term US-Pakistan partnership …More
Source : Pakistan Embassy in Washington
http://www.embassyofpakistanusa.org/index.php
Well there has been news in Pakistani press that foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qurehi's son works for John Kerry.This puts the whole problem in a new perspective
Mr. Haqqani has very explicitly denounced these rumours of his replacement, noting that he has not been asked to alter his responsibilites nor have any questions been raised about his conduct. Why would anyone in their right mind replace a representative for Pakistan who works so tirelessly, who has achieved so much. His tireless work has significantly increased the availability of defense technology to Pakistan’s military, and created a vast new capacity for non-military investment in Pakistan’s health, education, and energy sectors.
On the other hand after the clarification of U.S senator John Kerry , conspirators are in trouble now. They are hiding their tails in between legs now. All the conspiracies against Hussain Haqqani and Particularly Pakistan have died their own death. Such conspirators are in trouble as Conspiracy theorists have finally been served notice. This week, Husain Haqqani served notice on The Nation after they published an allegedly defamatory article by Ahmed Quraishi. This comes after countless articles by Quraishi that attempt to cast the reputation of the Ambassador to the US in question. The legal notice also puts
conspiracy theorists on notice: If you’re going to make some these claims, you better have some evidence to back them up. Ahmed Quraishi was a well-known supporter of Gen. Musharraf and seems to be completely obsessed with Husain Haqqani, writing about the envoy almost every day. One can click the link below to read full story
http://pakistanmediawatch.com/2009/10/16/conspiracy-theorists-put-on-notice/
John Hudson reports on national security and foreign policy from the Pentagon to Foggy Bottom, the White House to Embassy Row, for The Cable.
May/June 2013
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