Islamabad, January 17: The Obama administration’s decision to place Pakistani nationals through stringent airport security checks is bringing the two close allies to a collision course.
“This humiliating policy has triggered a negative social and political impact in Pakistan,” President Asif Zardari told US special envoy Richard Holbrooke.
“The policy has generated disappointing and damaging response in Pakistan, which is not a good omen vis-à-vis war on terror.
“These procedures are derogatory in nature, and will force Pakistanis to feel humiliated.”
The US has toughened security measures for US-bound airline passengers from a number of Muslim countries, including Pakistan, following a failed Christmas Day plot to blow up a US plane by a young Nigerian.
Under the new measures, passengers from Pakistan, Algeria, Iraq, Lebanon, Libya, Nigeria, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Yemen, Iran, Sudan, Syria in addition to Cuba will be pulled aside for pat-downs and extra screening.
Their luggage and clothing will be checked for traces of explosive and they will be required to pass through controversial full-body screeners at airports equipped with the machines.
The controversial measures have stirred ire across Pakistan, forcing Washington to dispatch Holbrooke to alleviate Islamabad’s anger.
But the US envoy further irritated the close Muslim ally.
“In fact, his attitude was aggressive,” a senior official at the President House, who attended the meeting between Zardari and Holbrooke, told.
“He appeared to be frustrated over media criticism against US policies. And he expressed his anger more than one time.”
Halbrooke even lost his temper at a meeting with Pakistani lawmakers over repeated criticism of the US screening policy and drone attacks.
“You (Pakistan) get money (from us) and criticize us simultaneously,” an MP quoted Halbrooke as saying.
The US envoy even exchanged hot words with Pakistan Muslim League (N) lawmaker Tahmina Daultana over criticism of the drone attacks in northern tribal area.
Army Message
“The prime minister’s speech has 100 percent support of the army,” Mir said. The Obama administration also got another stern warning from its major ally over its screening policy.
“We are partners in war on terror, therefore we must be treated as partners. And partners are not treated in this way,” Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani told parliament in a hard-hitting speech.
“The US cannot win the war in Afghanistan without us, and it is well aware of this fact,” Gilani bluntly said.
“We will not accept any discriminatory policies vis-à-vis Pakistan.
“One the one hand, civilian nuclear technology is being offered to India, while on the other hand, restrictions are being imposed on us. This is totally unacceptable.
“We cannot compromise on the dignity and self-respect of our people.”
Political experts believe that Gilani’s message to Washington carries a special importance.
“The prime minister’s speech has 100 percent support of the army,” Hamid Mir, an Islamabad-based political and security expert, told, referring to US efforts to deal directly with Pakistan’s powerful army.
“This is the voice of the entire nation, and army too has credit in this regard. But the actual credit should be given to the parliament.”
Sources in Gilani’s house say the premier got the go-ahead from army chief General Ashfaq Pervez Kyani for a tersely-worded speech as the army is unhappy with Washington over its civilian nuclear technology deal with India and its covert efforts to clip the wings of the powerful Inter Services Intelligence (ISI).
Mir opines that Gilani’s speech sends a clear message to the US that it risks its anti-terror cooperation with Pakistan if it continues its discriminatory policies.
“Cooperation will not be severed completely, but it can be affected because Pakistan too understands that America is not as powerful, both economically and militarily, as it was eight years ago,” he said.
“This is the right time, when Pakistan can put pressure on Obama administration and exploit its key position in war on terror.”
-Agencies