11 More American Demands On Musharraf - Is He Reay To Capitulate?

Pakistan's daily newspaper 'The News" broke a story by Dr. Shireen Mazari on 8 March and confirmed it on 9 March that Bush administration made a set of eleven demands on Musharraf, probably through US Chairman of Joint Chiefs of Staff Admiral Michael Mullen, America’s highest-ranking military officer, who visited Pakistan twice in a month - on February 8 and March 3. The director of national intelligence, Mike McConnell, and the Central Intelligence Agency director, Gen. Michael V. Hayden, also made a secret visit last month that was later made public.

Admiral Mullen did not discuss any specifics of the various proposals being drawn up by the American military to assist Pakistan. But he did say as he arrived in Pakistan on Monday, that the United States had developed “a fairly comprehensive plan” of assistance. Was it this plan he was talking about?

Americans know their man in Islamabad. He has a history of putting his knees on the ground. They know he is at his weakest point in his life. He capitulated in 2001 when he was not this weak. They know he needs them more than ever before. Which means he is vulnerable to their blackmailing and may bend his knees again.

This is the same person who had kowtowed before - on 13 September 2001 - when he was presented with those seven infamous demands by US Secretary of State Colin Powell via a "positive" telephone call. American were apprehensive that Musharraf would only accept one or two of their demands but were astonished when Musharraf decided to give "unstinted cooperation" because, as he claimed then, it was necessary to safeguard Pakistan's nuclear assets and its Kashmir policy. Later he claimed in his book that his friend Richard Armitage, then the Deputy Secretary of State, had threatened ISI chief General Mahmood in Washington to bomb Pakistan back into the stone age. Remember?

General Mahmood, on the other hand, in his visit to the State Department on September 13 and in his second meeting with Armitage had already acquiesced when he was handed over a single sheet of paper with seven demands. The general, who was known for his hard-line pro-Taliban position and wasb one of the chief architects of October 12 coup against Nawaz Sharif's elected government, glanced through the paper for only a few seconds and replied: "They are all acceptable to us." The prompt response took Armitage by surprise and he, not believing his ears, said: "These are very powerful words, General. Do you not want to discuss with your President?". "I know the president's mind," replied General Mahmood.

But this time around Americans are not asking for assisstance against Afghani neighbors. It is Pakistan's turn. They are asking for a Tora Bora in Pakistan.

The Seven Demands were nothing compared with the Eleven Demands they have given Musharraf this time. Have a look at the earlier demands:

1) Stop Al-Qaeda operations on the Pakistani border, intercept arms shipments through Pakistan and all logistical support for bin Laden;

2) Blanket over-flights and landing rights for US planes;

3) Access to Pakistan's naval bases, airbases and borders;

4) Immediate intelligence and immigration information;

5) Curb all domestic expression of support for terrorism against the United States, its friends and allies;

6) Cut off fuel supply to the Taliban and stop Pakistani volunteers going into Afghanistan to join the Taliban; and

7) Break diplomatic relations with the Taliban and assist USA to destroy bin Laden and his Al-Qaeda network.

Now look at the Eleven new ones:

1) Grant special status to the US personnel who is already in or will be coming to Pakistan - the same that is granted to the technical and administrative staff of the US embassy.

Which means complete diplomatic immunity.

2) The US personnel be allowed to enter and exit Pakistan on mere National Identification (such as driving licence) and without any passports or visas.

Which means that they can come and go without any record at their port of entries or exits.

3) Accept the legality of all US licences, which would include arms licences.

Which means they don't have to have their guns registered in Pakistan.

4) All these personnel be allowed to carry arms and wear uniforms throughout Pakistan.

Which means they will be free to roam about on Pakistani streets as they are doing in Iraq and Afghanistan.

5) US criminal jurisdiction be applicable in Pakistan to US nationals.

In other words, these personnel would not be subject to any Pakistani law.

6) Exemption from all taxes, including indirect taxes like excise duty, etc.

They can bring anything to sell and take anything they want.

7) Inspection-free import and export of all goods and materials.

No record can be kept of what they would be bringing in or taking out of our country – including archaeological finds, artifacts of historical nature and national inheritance as well as any sensitive materials, even nuclear weapons.

8) Free movement of vehicles, vessels including aircraft, without landing or parking fees.

9)Selected US contractors should also be exempted from tax payments.

They can make all the money building what they will destroy first and then leave without paying any taxes.

10) Free of cost usage of US telecommunication systems and all necessary radio frequencies.

All the Pakistanis still have to get licences and pay fees to use the same, though.

11) Waiver of all claims to damage, loss, or destruction of Pakistani property, or death of Pakistani personnel or armed forces or civilians.

They will have, effectively, a licence to kill whoever they want in Pakistan.

It is obvious that if these demands, or any one of them, is accepted by this weakened regime of general Musharraf, Pakistan's honor and sovereignty will clearly and directly be undermined.

US presence in Japan, Iraq and Afghanistan has undermined the sovereignty of these countries and it has become a source of major resentment and embarrasment because there are frequent cases of US soldiers and marines raping young school girls and women and getting away with it because they are not subject to the local laws. In Japan they occupy limited space. In Pakistan, however, the demands to make the US personnel above the Pakistani law would not be limited to confined spaces and territories but throughout the country!

The sneaky way the whole affair of American demands on Musharraf has been kept shrouded in mysterious secrecy by Musharraf regime until the lid was blown off by Dr. Shireen Mazari shows Musharraf has still not stopped doing secret deals with his overlords in Washington.

Musharraf has already shown tendency to stoop to any level for a few more days in power or a few more dollars in his pocket. There are chances that he could cave in once again and accept these unacceptable and humiliating and dangerous demands.

He must be stopped by asking him to leave. As long he is holding the seat of president Pakistan will remain in danger.