Daily Times

There is a much talked about, and speculated about, ‘memo’ that is making the rounds. This memo has reminded me of a cartoon in an old newspaper. The cartoon showed a man sitting on a toilet ‘throne’ and looking at the toilet roll saying, “No job is complete without paperwork!”

The ‘memo’ under reference is the centre of attention of so many, and it is also said to have done some real ‘dirty work’. The memo has literally rocked the halls of power from the White House, Pakistan Army headquarters and the Presidency, to the homes of parliamentarians and political analysts. Everyone is talking about it. They are also waiting for the ‘dirty work’ expected to actually happen. What is going to be the ultimate result is not known. It can fizzle out, partially damage the government or its functionaries or grow into a ‘Memogate’ like the Watergate scandal in Nixon’s time. Nixon had to leave as a consequence.

This memo was published in an international paper. There has been much speculation about the author. Was it an original work of Mansoor Ijaz? Probably not. Mansoor Ijaz claims that the content of the memo sent to Mullen was carefully crafted after discussions with a senior diplomat. His pointers are mostly towards Husain Haqqani, then Pakistani ambassador in the US. The buck does not stop here, it is also insinuated that the clearance came right from the top, i.e. from Mr Zardari.

How was this note delivered to Mike Mullen has been a mystery for some time but the courier has now identified himself. It was James Logan Jones, former US national security adviser and a retired general, obviously a very important person.

After the receipt of this memo, Mike Mullen took a complete u-turn in his retirement speech and criticised the Pakistan Army and the ISI in a scathing manner, which was not expected. He had been supportive of these institutions. So what made him change? This is where the ‘paperwork’ seems to have done the ‘job’. When Mullen shocked everyone in Pakistan, particularly the army, a search for the reasons for this unexpected happening started. Gradually the mystery unfolded. In fact, the key middleman, Mansoor Ijaz, leaked it himself with all the sleaze it carried. The memo, finally said to have been delivered, is indeed shocking. Its contents make every Pakistani’s head hang in thoughtful shame. One asks several questions. Most important: does the Pakistan government respect its sovereignty? Or are we ‘subjects’ under the complete influence of the US, and willingly want it to control us, and our army in particular? For once, even Mian Nawaz Sharif has raised a meaningful question.

He asked, “Is it patriotism to seek aliens’ pressure on the army?”

Here are some relevant extracts for you to decide.

It requests Mullen to restrain Kayani and Pasha thus: “…In the event Washington’s direct intervention behind the scenes can be secured through your personal communication with Kayani (he will likely listen to you only at this moment) to stand down the Pakistan military-intelligence establishment, the ‘new national security team’ is prepared, with full backing of the civilian apparatus, to do the following.” Thereafter, six ‘services’ are listed.

In brief, support of the US was asked for to snub the army chief to deter him from acting against the ‘civilian government’. It is hard to believe that a civilian government with an iota of self-respect and any concern for the dignity of the nation would request a foreign government, friendly or unfriendly, to ‘snub’ its own army chief! It is an insult to the most important single institution of the national government.

There is further stink in the memo. A deal is offered in return for the containment of the Pakistan Army. It is spread over six points, which ensure compliance to US desires by appointing a ‘security set-up’ with US approval, which would carry out all the US’s instructions in investigations of its interest, including Osama’s presence in Pakistan, and share the results with US agencies. It sums up thus: “…We submit this memorandum for your consideration collectively as the ‘members of the new security team’ who will be inducted by the president of Pakistan with your support in this undertaking.” The key word here is ‘we’. Who are the ‘we’ making a commitment of subservience on behalf of the nation?

The ‘memo’ includes not just direct acknowledgement that the current security establishment is in cahoots with terrorist outfits, but also asks for direct intervention from the US to set things ‘right’.

Sleuths are making all kinds of disclosures. It is said that the ISI chief had a one-to-one meeting with Mansoor Ijaz, who gave him the complete evidence and a lowdown on how the memo was prepared and delivered. The president of Pakistan and Husain Haqqani are put on the defensive. Mr Haqqani was called back. He went through confidential sessions with the president as well as the prime minister. It is said that he offered his resignation as well as his computer and phones to help the investigation, but finally had to resign. What is going to happen? If Haqqani is sacrificed, will the damage be controlled? Was someone after Haqqani’s job in particular? Is the scandal going to blow up further? There has been speculation that it may bring the government down!

The ‘memo’ has definitely created a great gap of confidence between the civilian government and the army establishment. Investigations and explanations may continue but a lot of damage is already done. It will be good luck if the extent of the damage is contained at this level. Unfortunately, it does not seem likely. The paperwork has a lot of ‘stink’ and it may not go away easily. There may be a lot more to come, and to write about.

The writer is a culture and media management specialist, a researcher, author, director and actor