‘Pakistan’s ‘isolation’ would be a blessing in disguise’ – Hamid Gul

[sonicboom]

‘Pakistan’s ‘isolation’ would be a blessing in disguise’ – Hamid Gul

February 15, 2011


LAHORE – Former ISI chief General Hameed Gul says Pakistan will not have to face any kind of negative consequences in case it refuses to release Raymond Davis, the killer of two innocent Pakistanis, despite growing US pressure.

In an interview to The Nation, he said even isolation of Pakistan in the comity of nations would be a blessing in disguise and the Islamic Republic would emerge as a stronger country, just like China and Russia had done in such a situation. He said if tiny countries like Cuba and North Korea could withstand pressures, there was no reason why Pakistan could not do so.

Answering a question, the former ISI chief said the establishment knew well what the government was doing. However, it was deliberately keeping silent because in the past it was branded as a spoiler. In his opinion the government’s decision to call a round table conference on the issue of Raymond Davis amounted to shirking its responsibility. He said the rulers wanted to share the burden with all parties, which is dishonesty.

The following is the edited version of the interview:




Q: In your assessment what can the consequences in case Pakistan refuses to release Raymond Davis, as being demanded by the US?

A: Nothing. They can’t afford to abandon Pakistan if it stands up to them in full length, because their lines of communications go from Pakistan to Afghanistan. The NATO is already face-to-face with defeat in the battlefield. It will be a disaster for them if the vulnerable lines of communications are choked.

I think they will do thing. But my inner wish is that they should break up ties with Pakistan so that we can breathe freely. Let there be no doubt that Pakistan has all the wherewithal to survive as a free and honourable state. If we are isolated, it will be good for us.
Let me remind you that there was a time when China was isolated at international level. Then Russia faced a similar situation during the days of Iron Curtain and became a world power. Tiny Cuba survived the US sanctions. North Korea is doing well despite food and fuel shortages.

I’ll also like to take you back to Islamic history. It was because of the isolation of the state of Medina that Islam flourished. Had Medina not been attacked and isolated, there would have been no Islam today.

What I mean to say is isolation sometimes is a blessing in disguise. Maybe, this is what is needed by Pakistan to move forward.

Q: It is generally believed that the army doesn’t keep silent if a government works against the national interests or is involved in corruption. But despite the fact that countless corruption stories of the present rulers have been published by the media, the powers that be seem to have turned a blind eye. As a former ISI chief, will you like to say whether the perception about the government is wrong or the establishment is not discharging its obligations?

A: The establishment has taken a deliberate decision of not interfering in government’s matters. This is a conscious decision, because the establishment is already labeled as spoilers of democracy. That’s why they are allowing them to carry on. In fact, the opposition is not playing its role.

There is a certain deal of anxiety in the establishment. You remember when the issue of Kerry Lugar Bill was under discussion, the army had given its point of view on the subject (which was totally different from the thinking of the government). Then when the ISI was going to be given under the control of the Interior Ministry, a soft check was applied (as a result of which the decision was reversed).

Then everybody knows how eager the government was to get closer to India. The establishment thinks that India is Pakistan’s enemy Number 1. The government was also ready to launch an operation in North Waziristan Agency to please the United States. But the establishment stood in the way.

‘Pakistan’s ‘isolation’ would be a blessing in disguise’ – Hamid Gul | PKKH.tv