WASHINGTON: The United States worries that fraudulent elections in Pakistan that delegitimise the resulting government will frustrate its efforts to stabilise the region, says a report.
The report argues that “the military’s non-interference” in the political process will also be “positive for US interests” as “it will allow the military to focus on the precarious security situation” in the country.
The Washington-based Centre for Strategic and International Studies, which released the report, says that the United States will have to work with whoever wins the next elections and that’s why it would like the process to be fair, free and peaceful.
If the next government is not accepted as legitimate by the Pakistani people, it will “frustrate US efforts to stabilise Pakistan and withdraw from Afghanistan in an orderly manner”, the report warns.
US policymakers are also aware that a coalition government finds it difficult to take decisions, which affects the decision making process in Washington as well, the report notes. “An election outcome that results in a fragmented coalition made up of many parties will make a difficult partner.”
The US government and the IMF pressured the PPP-led coalition earlier in its term to pass vital tax reforms and reduce fuel subsidies but it did not work, the report notes.
After the government phased in higher fuel prices, a key coalition partner withdrew in protest, threatening the survival of the coalition, until fuel subsidies were reinstated and the protesting party re-joined the coalition.
“A similar coalition, or an even more fragmented one, will find it difficult to muster the political capital necessary to keep its member parties unified around unpopular US policies,” the authors argue.
The report lists drone strikes and the transit of Nato military supplies, essential for a timely and orderly withdrawal from Afghanistan, among unpopular policies on which the United States may need the support of the future Pakistani government.
The report points out that none of the three main contenders — the PML-N, the PPP and the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf — are close to an outright victory and will need to build a coalition to reach a majority in parliament.
It notes that a religious alliance called the Defence of Pakistan Council (DPC) is also participating in the 2013 elections. The alliance has attempted to force the Pakistani government to close Nato supply lines, distance Pakistan from the Indian government and stop drone strikes.
The DPC, however, is competing without the Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl, which held the most seats in parliament. The Jamaat-i-Islami, which was part of the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal in 2008, is also running on its own.
Past experience shows that religious parties have been unable to win significant enough numbers of seats in parliament and current expectations do not expect this to change, the reports notes.
They, however, may participate in a coalition government, it adds.