A Different Kind of Partner: A Paradigm for Democracy and Counter-Terrorism in Pakistan
A report reflecting the views of Network 20/20′s delegation to Pakistan in May 2008.
Author: Andy McCord with Patricia Huntington, Glenn Johnston, and Clark Lombardi
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In May 2008, Network 20/20 sent a delegation to Pakistan seeking to have candid exchanges and to build bridges with our Pakistani counterparts. We aimed to acquire a better understanding of Pakistan and its views of the fight against terrorism and the danger of nuclear proliferation; gain insight into the impact of the temperamental nature of American-Pakistani bilateral relations; and make concrete recommendations at a time when the U.S. was pledging to strengthen its alliances across Pakistan society, not just with their military.
In a 10-day trip to Pakistan, flanked by side trips to Afghanistan and India, Network 20/20 conducted more than 60 interviews in Islamabad, Karachi, Lahore, Peshawar, Multan, Rawalpindi, Kabul, and New Delhi. Interviewees represented a cross-section of the Pakistani community, ranging from government officials, members of parliament, military officers, university chancellors, and business executives, to religious leaders, radical Islamists, journalists, non-profit community organizers, scientists, entrepreneurs, and people on the street. Many people spoke English; Network 20/20’s Urdu-speaking members conversed with those who did not.
Our resulting report, A Different Kind of Partner: A Paradigm for Democracy and Counter-Terrorism in Pakistan, was disseminated to public and private policymakers, diplomats, the media, NGOs, and U.S. presidential candidates. It was the first to highlight the fact that extremist cells are present throughout Pakistan, including in the Punjab, and not simply isolated to the tribal areas. Other findings included that the vast majority of Pakistanis oppose fundamentalism, support democracy, and prioritize economic over security issues (in perceived tension with the U.S. foreign policy agenda). Network 20/20 concluded that the U.S. must forge alliances with multiple constituencies and address the food and energy crises in Pakistan, in order to stem unrest and help stabilize the government.
An additional impact of the field visit was that Network 20/20 delegate Imtiaz Ali was subsequently invited to accompany Special Envoy Richard Holbrooke, when he toured the internal displacement camps of those fleeing the conflict between the Pakistan army and the Taliban, in 2009. Holbrooke asked Ali to serve as local language media advisor and translator. When he returned to the U.S., Ali testified before the Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on South and Central Asia on the previously unknown realities of internally displaced people in Pakistan. His firsthand reports were well received and emphasized the importance to U.S. policy makers of hearing from Pakistanis themselves. Ali remains a key advisor to the Holbrooke team, especially in regards to improving communication with local Pakistani media.
2010
Since Pakistan openly possesses nuclear weapons, there is a risk that failure of the state could result in extremist forces, including al-Qaeda, gaining access to the nuclear arsenal. In response, America launched a $7.5 billion 5-year non-military aid program aimed at fostering social, economic, and political development, and building security in Pakistan: a country where social conditions have inculcated militant fundamentalism.
In furtherance of the U.S. AID program designed to strengthen Pakistan’s civil society as a bulwark against Islamist extremist efforts to take over the government, Network 20/20 sent a small delegation to identify local resources that would help prevent corruption and further the new development program. In the spring of 2010, based on our previous visit to Pakistan two years before, Network 20/20 delegates identified a robust group of “best practices” NGOs, and local language media to monitor the effectiveness of the new U.S. development program.
This Pakistani “AID Watch” group focused on the areas of police reform, health, education, micro-credit, trade policy, and the expansion of democratic processes as well as on the importance of communicating these issues to both Pakistani and American policy makers. Network 20/20 was pleased to perform a facilitating role based on our prior field trip and the network of Pakistani private sector leaders we have established there.
Military briefing with Major General Athar Abbas during lunch, Pakistan, May 2008 | George Billard