Is Moeed ‘Slamming’ India To Prove His ‘Credibility’ Within Pakistan?
There are likely to be multiple reasons for this vituperative tirade. First, since he owes his unusual elevation entirely to the ‘establishment’, Moeed needs to work at keeping his head above water. After all his qualifications for the job are negligible, he has no political standing, and is eminently dispensable.
Second, the Pakistan Democratic Movement, an 11-party combined Opposition is gaining strength. A thrilling disclosure of India’s fell hand in terrorism will serve to divert attention from this challenge to the establishment.
But if true, then Moeed’s whole position was calculated to make sure such a dialogue does not take place. As former Senator Farhatullah Babar observes, “A ‘scholar,’ diplomat and an effective civilian policy-maker would neither lay down publicly pre-conditions for talks nor would he accept hook line and sinker a brief prepared for him somewhere else…”
In short, there is no ‘Naya’ Pakistan. It’s the same show as before, with the same inept people, and a little more brilliantine on the hair.
(Dr Tara Kartha was Director, National Security Council Secretariat. She is now a Distinguished Fellow at IPCS. She tweets at @kartha_tara. This is an opinion piece and the views expressed above are the author’s own. The Quint neither endorses, nor is responsible for them.)