Daily Times

Decades of ruinous domestic and foreign policies have tarnished Pakistan’s international image. The country’s current profile is not welcoming. Militancy, militarism, and insecurity are the major challenges. Diplomats and expatriates have the difficult task of defending the epicentre and export of terror, nuclear proliferation, state instability, and religious persecution.  Whether this image is inaccurate, exaggerated and reductive matters little; for a more balanced picture to emerge Pakistan must work for it.

Allocating scarce resources, frankly speaking, to help fix the country’s image such as hiring lobbyists in Washington seems a waste. Only a complete change in the mindset at home and a seismic shift in international opinion can change the country’s fortunes. Otherwise, Pakistan’s advocacy efforts seem a fruitless and doomed exercise. It would be better to rethink and retool the failed policies that have led to the country’s poor image and trust deficit.

To paraphrase Gandhi: “As a country changes its own nature, so does the attitude of the world change towards it. We need not wait to see what others do.” Clearly, Pakistan broken ties with India and Afghanistan demand immediate attention. Improving relations necessitate strong unilateral steps to remove barriers of mistrust.

The barbaric Mumbai terrorist attack in 2008 carried out by the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), brought India and Pakistan close to nuclear war. India sees the Mumbai assault as an example of Pakistan’s aggressive intentions using jihadist proxies. Even Pakistani officialdom is slowly accepting that the Mumbai episode greatly besmirched the country’s international image.

So, why does Pakistan continue to drag its feet in bringing the ‘non-state’ perpetrators of the Mumbai attacks to justice? Immediate justice for the innocent victims of the Mumbai violence would improve India-Pakistan relations and Pakistan’s anti-terrorism credentials. Even-handed and exemplary treatment should apply to terrorists responsible for committing horrific acts of terrorism in Mumbai or Peshawar or anywhere else for that matter.

India sees the Mumbai assault as an example of Pakistan’s aggressive use of jihadist proxies. Even Pakistani officials are slowly accepting that the Mumbai episode greatly besmirched the country’s international image

In Afghanistan, Pakistan’s baffling policies have long opted for short-term strategic goals such as receiving military aid and gaining strategic depth. These policies have neglected to take into account the consequences of involvement in Afghanistan such as enduring Afghan hostility, domestic radicalization, and terrorist blowback within its borders.

Pakistan can prove its sincerity to help bring peace to Afghanistan by treating the Afghan Taliban as any other terrorist group and not as a political movement. Only then trust can be established with the Afghan National Unity Government and the US. Although weak and corrupt, the Afghan government is recognized by the international community as the only legitimate entity in the divided country. Pakistan earns international hostility and disrepute by befriending the Taliban and hedging its bets in Afghanistan.

Osama Bin Laden’s elimination by the United States in Pakistan hurt the country’s national ego. However, once again Pakistan is letting emotions get in the way of good judgement by not releasing the local doctor Shakeel Afridi, accused of helping to identify Bin Laden. While the country’s lunatic ‘fringe’ continues to worship Bin Laden, this doesn’t negate the fact that Afridi did everyone a favour by helping to weed out a common enemy.

In the recent past, Pakistan has forced its way into the global spotlight, mostly for the wrong reasons. The early promise of an enlightened South Asian democratic state quickly gave way to a confused  ‘Islamic Republic’  drawing its inspiration from mythical Arab roots. Well-fed and well-heeled legislators play to the gallery apparently protecting the country’s ‘ideological’ frontiers, which are hardly under threat. One wishes that they displayed the same zeal and gumption tackling religious extremism that holds state and society hostage. Instead, appeasement of those who fuel sectarianism and bigotry is the order of the day.

Negative and angry images cloud the country’s international profile. Eminent poster boys of hate and violence like Hafiz Saeed, Ajmal Kasab, and Mumtaz Qadri among others hold sway. The latest drama is the sit-in by Khadim Hussain Rizvi and thousands of his followers of the Tehrik-e-Labaik Pakistan party or Movement of the Prophet’s Followers. The ‘protest’ in support of the country’s strict blasphemy laws, has virtually paralysed Islamabad for a fortnight.

Moreover, a weak state which boasts of its military prowess can’t protect Aasiya Bibi and others, who are the victims of vindictive blasphemy laws. Nowhere has Islam commanded that killing others is an obligation for its sustenance and promotion. Repealing the blasphemy laws and pardoning those convicted could help to convince a sceptical world that Pakistan is serious about ensuring religious freedom.

Reversing Pakistan’s negative international image will be a daunting challenge. Irrational actions and poor choices are a drag on intellectual and social progress. The current road leads to a dead end with negative consequences. More of the same failed policies are unlikely to pull the country out of this mess. A welcome step would be to see a national shift from playing victim to instilling self-confidence. The building blocks of a positive international image are peace, harmony, and dignity.

The writer can be reached at shgcci@gmail.com

Published in Daily Times, November 25^th 2017.