Posing
as an ardent nationalist and patriot, he called for an end to American drone
strikes on Pakistani territory.
“We
respect the sovereignty of others and they should respect our sovereignty and
independence – this campaign [the drone strikes] must come to an end,” he said.
Fine
words, but what is the latest situation on the ground?
Two
police officers killed and three others wounded by an improvised explosive
device while on patrol in Peshawar – almost certainly the work of the Taliban.
Three
Taliban militants killed, as well as two women civilians during a raid by
security forces on a home in Quetta.
And
Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates sends a letter to Opposition politician Imran
Khan asking him for help in reviving the anti-polio vaccination campaign in
Pakistan which has slowed almost to a halt after repeated attacks on
vaccination teams.
The
deadly assaults are bolstered by outrageous propaganda spread by Taliban militants
that the campaign is really a front by the US aimed at sterilising Muslim
children.
Just
another day in the tortured life of the Pakistani state.
It
means Sharif has a fine line to tread, something he recognised later in the same
address when he said that it was necessary to work out a “joint strategy” with
the US to halt the strikes.
While
an end to the drone attacks is demanded by large segments of the country’s
population who see it as an affront to sovereignty, there are elements within
the Pakistani security forces who see them as a necessary evil if the Taliban
is ever to be defeated.
A
further complication is the impending withdrawal of NATO forces from neighbouring
Afghanistan which will presumably settle the question of drone strikes anyway.
In
opposition Sharif was vocal in his demands the drones cease immediately and
that the Taliban be encouraged to the negotiating table. The realities of power
appear to be moderating this position.
Nothing
is likely to change too soon.
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