Omar1984
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Ambassador Ann Paterson has packed her bags and is leaving Pakistan. Pakistanis loved Ambassador Wendy Chamberlain and despised Ambassador Ann Paterson. She is reviled in Pakistan as a dictator who did not build bridges either with the Pakistani society or the press. People often compare Anne Paterson with Ryan Crocker and Pakistan’s favorite US Ambassador Wendy Chamberlain and found Paterson lacking in personality, skills and competency. Ambassador Paterson could comprehend the Pakistani point of view, so she cold not convey it to America. It was under her watch that the drone bombings were accelerated, and she did not speak up against them. In fact there is much conjecture that she has been instrumental in exacerbating the situation in Pakistan by inviting Blackwater/Xe to take a more active part in Pakistan and to encourage the 3000 strong “CIA Army” in Pakistan.
She came from Colombia and El Salvador and brought the same violence from South America to Pakistan.
Dr. Moiz Pirzada of Dunya News interviewed her as she left Pakistan. It is pedagogical to note that the interview was candid and frank. Dr. Pirzada did not hold back any punches and asked her pointed and poignant questions in a very friendly and polite manner.
Ambassador Ann Paterson answered many questions, and after answering them went back to put polish her statements adding the usual caveats like “its up to the Pakistan people to decide” or “that is up to Pakistan to take care of”.
Something that was very apparent was her deep involvement in Pakistani politics, Pakistani political appointments and Pakistani developments. As an analogy the Pakistani Ambassador would not have a clue about the inner sanctums of the Democratic Party in South Carolina or care about Sarah Palins’s husband’s involvement in the Alaskan separatist party. By sharp contrast, Mr. Paterson went to the podium and defended Chaudhry’s and refuted President Musharraf‘s claims that th NRO was the idea of the Chaudhry’s.
Mr. Paterson clearly said that her accomplishments included the restoration of democracy and the return of Benazir Bhutto.
Ann Paterson described US short term goals of bringing “stability” to the country, and defined the long term goals as “restoration of a democratic government” in Pakistan. In other words this translates to “removal of President Musharraf” and coronation of Mr. Zardari as the head of the Pakistani state. She described how she worked with the former PM Bhutto to return to Pakistan Washington wanted Musharraf to take off his uniform
She said US did not support the NRO. “Our goal was to return democratic government and get former PM Bhutto to return and then got PM Sharif return.”
She then said “the NRO was instrumental in the return of Former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto”.
She said support of the NRO was not a mistake. When Mr. Pirzada persisted “Looking back at th NRO do you think it was a mistake. Ms. Paterson hedged “The US did not support or did not work against the NRO. I don’t know if it was a mistake at the time. In the context of the negotiations at the time, it was important in removing Musharraf and getting Benazir Bhutto back. Benazir Bhutto’s return was a key element of US policy.
Most analysts know that Ms. Peterson was instrumental in asking Musharraf and then forcing him to step down. It is important to note that when she was talking about President Musharraf, her jaw tightened, her lips pursed, and her facial expression turned very stern. It displayed a visceral dislike for President Musharraf.
Moiz Pirzada was relentless in pursuing her about the change of guard in Pakistan. He brought up Durrani, Zardari, Haqqani meeting and asked her if it happened. Ms. Paterson hedged and said “they met all the time”. It is important to note that Mr. Zardari, Mr. Haqqani and Mr. Durrani were all out of government and Mr. Zardari and Mr. Haqqani were in the US. There was no opportunity or reason to run into these folks when President Musharraf was president.
Moiz Pirzada asked her who was the Principle architect of the NRO. She hedged and said one must think of the major issues of the time, “third term was on the table, and Mushrraf’s uniform was an issue”. Those who follow politics must see the apparent contradiction in her earlier statement and the interview. She had earlier said that “Chaudry Shujaat was not involved in the NRO”. When Moid Pirzada reminded her about her previous remarks on the NRO she said one should not focus on the NRO–she hedged on the Chaudhry Shujaat remark.
She defended the PPPP. The new government came in at the time of soaring petroleum and food prices. Were you disappointed at the performance of the government. Any government would have faced challenges.
Jim Jones to Pakistan “Mr. Benazir Bhutto” “does not know anything about governing”. she said “Mr. Woodward’s book is a lot of exaggeration. A lot of it not according to her recollection.” She denied the comments about Mr. Zardari.
Its difficult to govern Pakistan. 15 hours of video conferences with President Obama. “Uncertainty about intentions and staying power”.
Pakistan press is negative about US, US intentions, prevarications. A lot of presents local **. Public outreach US scholarships. Divergence of interests. Ignore Balckwater articles. We push back and call the editors and journalists.
History. India was a USSR ally. Zero Sum game. Huge commercial market for US. The two should coincide. It took 8 days on NATO apology.
I categorically deny there is “Blackwater”. Categorically deny that Aafia Siddiqui was in Baghram base. Where was she in 3 years ago.
Difficult moment: Assassination of Benazir Bhutto. The US tried to dissuade Musharraf from imposing emergency. We tried to reverse and roll it back. Musharraf did take off his uniform. We are very anxious for politicians to take over. We participated and facilitated the discussions. Key objective was to get rid of Musharraf.
“Let Musharraf go”. Key objective of the US. Safe passage. Over estimated US interference.’ Yes Musharraf had
US had wanted Musharraf to go on lectures and part of the landscape. “Up to the voters of Pakistan. Pakistanis will have to evaluate him against other politicians.”
“Public response to Kerry Lugar Bill was a disappointment”. Pakistan pulled that through. FM Qureshi worked it through.
Many wonder if Mullen, Petraeus, view that happens. The strategic dialogue has said that there is “much higher degree of understanding”. Bush Admin. was very engaged with the war in Iraq. Obama Administration has transformed the Afghan effort.
Quetta Shura: She hedged that there are Taliban leader in Pakistan. there is some process of reconciliation. The US policy …There has to be a political solution. “There will eventually have to be a political solution, and eventually Pakistan will have to be brought about”.
Personal. Leave quite optimistic about Pakistan. Very resilient country and a world class business community. Ability of the entrepreneurial community to rebuild. Under the radar there is
She was very impressed with the resilience of the people. She said that she cherished the friendships with people. She said that Pakistan is not Anti-American. She didn’t believe in the Pew survey. She said that she found the people warm and welcoming.
When Pirzada asked me what disgusted her the most, she said “Pakistanis are so hard on each other”. She talked about “the bitter edge against politicians”. she found the politics “corrosive”. “Never cut each other a break”. Pakistan politics is dirtier than US politics. She said politics in Pakistan was a lot more personal.
Interaction with General Kayani. She said that she had tremendous respect for the Chief of Army Staff. Other US Army had found General Kayani very difficult to work with. she said that she had great admiration of what General Kayani has achieved. Sustained combat for 16 months. Recovered Swat. .2.5 million people displaced.
When asked about the best City of Pakistan, she said that “Lahore is an interesting city”. She said that Lahore is interesting because of the cultural sites. She said that she liked Lahore very much.
On Pakistani women. She said that in the upper reaches of government there are a lot of Businesswomen. She also said that there were a lot of women in Arts and cultural field. She said that Pakistani women are very prominent in Pakistani public life. She said that a lot of room for improvement in education. She said that she is trying to invest Kerry Lugar money in the women’s area. She said that the women are very prominent and very aggressive in the upper reaches of political and social life.
She said that the new Ambassador will have to face the same challenges. He would have to work on the bilateral relationship. He would have to convince that the US is here for a long period. Its a process.
