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Which way are we headed on Iraq? By Qudssia Akhlaque ISLAMABAD: Pakistan's position on Iraq remains as blurred as the situation in Iraq. While the Foreign Office maintains that this question has not received "active consideration", there are clear indications that Pakistan's policy-making circles have started the process of finalizing their next steps. Iraqi Prime Minister Iyad Allawi reportedly called President Gen Pervez Musharraf on June 5, to "seek Pakistan's good wishes in his effort to restore order and democratic self-rule in Iraq". The president extended to Mr Allawi an invitation to visit Pakistan and assured him of all possible help in the rehabilitation of the war-ravaged country. However, the nature of the help offered remains unspecified. Interestingly, the Foreign Office had no clue of the telephonic contact and only found out about it the next morning when a news report appeared in the national dailies - courtesy an official handout. This was not the first time President Musharraf and Mr Allawi had talked. It is believed both leaders also met some time back in Washington, but no record of their meeting was kept. The Foreign Office lot was again not kept in the loop. While the terms of engagement with the new interim government in Baghdad have yet to be spelt out, there has been some level of cooperation between the two countries. Last year, Pakistan's Foreign Service Academy in Islamabad ran a specialized course for a group of young Iraqi diplomats. Another batch of junior Iraqi diplomats is expected to land here in September to attend a 12- week course. Pakistan has also committed $10 million in humanitarian assistance and for reconstruction of Iraq through the multilateral track. Of this amount Pakistan has already provided $3.3 million worth of relief goods, which include tents and medical supplies. Interestingly, the Iraqi liaison office in Islamabad declared itself an embassy on June 30 and issued an official notification in this regard. Pakistan's liaison mission in Iraq has also now acquired the status of an embassy. It is believed that it is a matter of time before Pakistan upgrades its mission in Baghdad, which is currently operating with only one counsellor and half a dozen staff members. In fact the process of drawing up a list of probables for the ambassadorial post in Baghdad has already started. However, the official line remains that it all depends on when the situation stabilizes in Iraq. "We continue to monitor the evolving situation and will take the appropriate decision at the appropriate time," is the best you can get out of the Foreign Office. Privately officials concede that the continuing killings and the kidnapping crisis remain a serious concern. Most shocking has been the gruesome murder of two kidnapped Pakistani nationals on July 28. In the last couple of month, two cars belonging to the Pakistani diplomatic mission in Baghdad were taken away on gunpoint. Since then the mission has been using hired cars. Although there are no official figures about the number of Pakistani nationals present in Iraq, it is estimated that a couple of hundred Pakistanis are currently working with American companies operating there. Apparently, they were hired by subcontractors for these companies and were unmindful of where they would land. According to a senior diplomat, most of them are working in Iraq as masons, carpenters, loaders and drivers. Another 100 Pakistanis are said to be working for various British concerns in Iraq as handlers, loaders, suppliers and waiters. The British high commission in Islamabad communicated this specific information to the Pakistan government about two months back on instructions of the Commonwealth Office in London. The appointment of Pakistan's top career diplomat, Ashraf Jehangir Qazi, as the UN secretary-general's special representative to Iraq has brought back into the fray the contentious question of sending troops to Iraq. The debate has intensified with the July 22 statement by the UN secretary- general that President Musharraf had told him that Pakistan might be inclined to contribute troops for the UN protection force provided a direct request was made by the Iraqi interim government and if other Islamic countries were willing to commit troops. (Incidentally, the Iraqi interim government has already made a formal request to Pakistan.) Another condition that was added by the information minister on July 25 was parliamentary approval for such a contribution. Subsequently, on July 27, the Foreign Office spokesman putting in his bit said that Pakistan would only contribute to the protection force if it were sure that the presence of its troops would be "helpful and productive". One wonders how this can be predetermined given the volatile security situation in Iraq. Also, there seems to be an inherent contradiction in the fact that on the one hand the Pakistan government should be reiterating its advisory to Pakistani nationals to avoid travelling to Iraq in the present circumstances and, on the other, mulling sending its troops. Clearly public opinion is overwhelmingly against such a move and major opposition parties in parliament are fiercely opposed to the idea. There is no official word on whether all the terms set for sending troops have to be met concurrently. Ask the Foreign Office why Pakistan is not coming out with a clear position on it like India, and you will be told this is diplomacy, that Pakistan wants to keep its options open. Perhaps our policy is to say neither 'yes' nor 'no' and keep everyone guessing. Actually the subtext of the terms set by Pakistan may be a subtle way of saying no. After all, there is recognition in key policy circles in Islamabad and Rawalpindi of the fact that under the present circumstances the presence of Pakistani troops in Baghdad could be patently counterproductive. It is time for Pakistan to come loud and clear on the issue. Simply put, say 'No' if it means 'No'. Already our wavering has cost two young Pakistani nationals their lives. It must read the writing on the wall. Meanwhile, despite the alarming security situation in Iraq, there is a definite view in certain quarters that tremendous economic opportunities await Pakistan. They argue that the economic potential far outweighs the risks involved. It is pointed out that out of the $18 billion committed by the international community for the reconstruction of Iraq, only $4 million has been spent so far. However, some believe that Pakistan may have already missed out on the big opportunity. In February this year, there was a major 'Iraq Rebuild Exhibit' in Kuwait in which only eight Pakistani companies put up stalls compared to 37 Indian companies. The feedback received from our diplomatic mission in Kuwait was that except for one company the rest were selling Sunday Bazaar stuff. Please Visit our Sponsor (Ads open in separate window)
