Don’t expect miracles from Nawaz Sharif, be cautious

Anil Narendra

Pakistan’s politics has turned full circle. It appears that the history is repeating itself. The then Pakistan President, Parvez Musharraf dismissed the Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif after the Kargil war on Oct 12, 1999 and later forced him to leave Pakistan. Now, in May, the wheel has completed its full turn and Nawaz Sharif has become the Prime Minister and Parvez Musharraf has been arrested and kept under custody in his own farm house. Nawaz Sharif may offer Musharraf safe passage and Musharraf may again leave Pakistan. It may be recalled that Nawaz Sharif was arrested on the charges of hi-jacking Musharraf’s plane which was returning from Sri Lanka. He was also charged of spreading terrorism. Later, he along with 40 members of his family was exiled to Saudi Arab. Leaving this throne to dust episode and threat of hangman’s noose behind, Nawaz Sharif is once again taking the reins of the country for the third time. Nawaz Sharif was forced to step into politics after the nationalization of his steel industry by the then Prime Minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto in 1976. He joined Pakistan Muslim League and then became the Chief Minister of Punjab province. After that, he never looked back. Despite of many ups and downs in his life during last decade, he proved by becoming Prime Minister of the country that jail, exile and isolation are nothing but game of power. None should be considered spent up in politics. Relations between India and Pakistan are likely to be improved. Nawaz Sharif in his manifesto had declared that all disputes with India concerning Kashmir, Siachin and water sharing will be resolved in according with Lahore declaration. After the victory in elections, Nawaz Sharif said that improving relations with India will be his first priority. He not only phoned the Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, but invited him to his oath-taking ceremony also. He promised to lay bare the facts behind Kargil. In an interview, calling the Mumbai terror attacks, a conspiracy of the Pak Army, he said that there are some people in Pakistan who do not want better relations with India. The Pakistan Army and the ISI are averse to improving relations with India. Nawaz Sharif has always been at cross with these institutions. India, however, must not be highly enthusiastic. The internal situation in Pakistan is too bad to expect any miracle from Nawaz Sharif. No doubt, Nawaz Sharif being in power is better than Imran Khan being at the helms of affairs. According to experts, Nawaz Sharif’s primary priorities include resolving the issues related to internal situation of the country, Afghanistan and Army. He may have to face challenge from the Army. Earlier also, he has been having problems with Army. The porous border between Afghanistan and Pakistan has led to the spread of Taliban’s influence. Nawaz Sharif has tried to improve relations with India, but the situation this is time is different from the earlier one. In fact, India appears to be a little below in the priority list of Pakistan. The Pakistani masses, worried with ruined economy and corruption, have high hopes from Nawaz Sharif and he will have to focus on these matters. The US President Barack Obama has expressed his desire to have better relations with Pakistan. In a statement on Sunday, Obama said that his administration would continue equal partnership with the new Pakistan Government after the elections for stable, safe and sound future for Pakistani masses. But doubts are being expressed whether Pakistan would continue cooperation with America in its war on terror or not? During electioneering, Nawaz Sharif has talked of distancing Pakistan from the US fight against militants. Nawaz Sharif also has a soft corner for the Taliban, and he is opposed to the US drone attacks in Pakistan. He says that the US drone attacks amount to violation of Pakistan’s sovereignty. American media including TV channels and newspapers have also lauded Pakistani general elections, but have also expressed apprehensions as to how much cooperatinve would be the new Pakistan Government in US’s war on terror? Nawaz Sharif is facing a number of serious challenges. Let’s wait and watch.