Security establishment’s obsession with India of no interest to most Pakistanis: NYT

NEW YORK - In the West, Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) is often described as ideologically allied to the Taliban.

But according to the New York Time, Pakistan’s military-security establishment has only one ideology, and it’s not Islamism.

It’s spelled I-N-D-I-A. Pakistan’s military-security establishment will do anybody’s bidding if it’s occasionally allowed to show India a bit of muscle, the NYT reports.

But to an overwhelming majority of Pakistani people, the army’s India obsession or its yearning for “strategic depth” is of no interest or consequence.

They want a peaceful settlement with India over the disputed territory of Kashmir and a safer neighborhood.

None of the leading parties in Parliament made a big deal about India, Afghanistan or jihad in their election campaigns. They were elected on promises of justice, transparency and reasonably priced electricity.

The back and forth trading of charges between the ISI and American and British officials and pundits over the WikiLeaks expose has only brought back ugly memories, reminding Pakistanis what happens whenever we get involved with the Americans.

In fact, according to the New York Times, the ISI and the C.I.A. have colluded twice in the destruction of Afghanistan.

Their complicity has brought war to Pakistan’s cities. After every round of cloak-and-dagger games, they behave like a squabbling couple who keep getting back together and telling the world that they are doing it for the children’s sake. But whenever these two reunite, a lot of children’s lives are wrecked.

The NYT report says Pakistan’s military and civil elite should take a good look around before they pitch another marquee and invite their American friends over for tea and war talk.

There are a lot of hungry people looking in, and the strung lights are sucking up electricity that could run a small factory, or illuminate a village. (ANI)