Pakistan Targeted For Democracy

DAWN, Karachi, Pakistan 08 February 2005 Tuesday 28 Zilhaj 1425

Will Pakistan be pressured? By Shahid Javed Burki

How do policy makers, columnists, and editorial writers in the West - in particular the United States - view Pakistan's political system in light of the inaugural address by President George W. Bush? .....

..... Pakistan was being lumped together with some of the more authoritarian regimes in the world.

"When opposition to tyranny has been at odds with security or economic policy - in Pakistan, in Egypt, in Saudi Arabia, in Russia, in China - the Bush administration of the past four years consistently chose to ignore and excuse oppression," wrote The Washington Post in an editorial that appeared a day after the speech. .....

..... If the Pakistani system did not qualify as a democracy, should Washington, following President Bush's pledge to bring freedom and liberty to the world, work to change it? If Pakistan is to be nudged towards a system that is different from the one it has in place today, in which direction should it be pushed? Or should Pakistan be left alone to find its own way as long as it continues to help the United States in its fight against Islamic radicalism and international terrorism?

The Washington Post had an answer to these questions which was echoed by a number of other commentators. "Anyone judging by Mr Bush's speech yesterday would have to conclude that US policy towards those countries, and many others, is on the verge of a historic change. If not, his promise of the 'greatest achievements in the history of freedom' will be remembered as grandiose and hollow."

This was a severe indictment for Pakistan and an invitation to Washington to begin to adopt policies that would bring about change in Islamabad. It matters for Pakistan how it is viewed by opinion makers and policymakers in the United States.

There is a great deal at stake in Islamabad's relations with Washington. What is at issue is not simply how much economic and military buttistance America will be prepared to provide Pakistan as the latter struggles to revive its economy and place it on a path of sustainable growth and development for years to come. How America looks at Pakistan will also determine Islamabad's relations with a number of counties, and most definitely with India. ..... ======================================================================

The Daily Times, Lahore, Pakistan Tuesday, February 8, 2005

US to check on democracy in Pakistan

WASHINGTON: In a move that will give impetus to US President George W Bush's policy to spread world freedom and end tyranny, lawmakers are drafting legislation to set up a specific office in the State Department to spread democracy, officials said on Monday.

The bill is aimed at promoting democratic practices in countries like Pakistan, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, maybe even China or Russia.

If approved, the legislation will give a shot in the arm to dissident groups, which would have direct access to Washington. According to analysts, the move is likely to anger some governments, mentioned above, as these countries might view it as an attempt to meddle in their domestic politics.

The "office of democracy movements and transitions" in the State Department is to serve as a "point of contact for democratic movements within individual countries," said Lynne Weil, spokeswoman for Democratic Representative Tom Lantos of California.

She added that Lantos and Republican Representative Frank Wolf of Virginia, both of whom co-chair the Congressional Human Rights Caucus, are jointly drafting the bill that also would ask Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice to publish an annual global report on democratic progress.

The State Department currently publishes annual reports on religious freedom and human rights, which are used as a key guide by US policymakers. agencies =====================================================================