Mushahid Husain’s plan flops

Mushahid Husain’s  plan flops

Dr. Jassim Taqui

As expected, the plan presented by Senator Mushahid Hussain Sayed to Washington flopped before seeing the light of day.

Sayed proposed the formation of the so-called “ South Asia Economic Alliance” that includes Pakistan, Iran, China, and Central Asian Republics. He spent five days in Washington attempting to sell the plan. Ostensibly, Washington rejected the plan after listening attentively to Sayed. Subsequently, the White House’s spokesperson stated that ties with Pakistan and India were not a “zero-sum-game,’ asking both countries to resolve their disputes through peaceful means.

Most probably, the White House perceived that the Nawaz Sharif’s regime was eying a bigger economic bloc between Asian nations following its major foreign policy failure in the vital SAARC forum and the subsequent isolation of Pakistan regionally and internationally. All failed: the foreign office, PM Foreign policy and national security advisor, the aged Sartaj Aziz, the Iranian mouthpiece and PM foreign advisor Tariq Fatemi and Nawaz Sharif himself who has insisted on keeping the important portfolio of Foreign Affairs to himself.

Other factors that contributed to the fiasco of Syed’s plan is the latter’s lack of expertise in Strategic Affairs. Too much journalism might the reason behind the blurred strategic vision of  Senator Sayed.

Sayed miscalculated. He thought that  Washington would accept the plan and use its influence on India to accept it. Both never materialized. In fact, both were quickly dismissed.

Secondly, Sayed realized too late that the plan alienated the Russian Federation at a time when the GHQ was trying to strengthen the military ties with Moscow. The Russian President Vladimir Putin reacted strongly, albeit indirectly, the plan by opening up in New Delhi. He embraced Modi by attending on 15^th  October  2016  8^th BRICS summit in the Indian strategic state GOA, which is bounded by Maharashtra to the north and Karnataka to the east and south, while the Arabia Sea forms its western course.

On the sidelines of the BRICS Summit New Delhi and Moscow signed a series of defence deals including procurement of 4 stealth frigates and five units of the ultra-modern S-400 anti-aircraft system. The system is capable of destroying missiles, drones, and incoming fighter jets within a range      of 400 km . Both sides also announced a joint venture for the manufacturing of 200 Kamov-226T helicopters in India. The lesson to Nawaz Sharif and his cronies is huge. Please don’t play games with Putin.

It was an impressive show by Putin who demonstrated that India was the Russian special privileged strategic partner. In effect, it was a slap in the face of the mediocre regime of Nawaz Sharif, his advisors, and envoys.

Thirdly, and most importantly, all international players realized that Syed’s  plan was not serious. Sayed developed a reputation throughout his career of being the “deliverer” of powers to be. Thus,  his plan was viewed as an attempt to  bailout Nawaz Sharif and his cronies from an eminent de-seating by the Supreme Court of Pakistan when it would hear 5 identical references against him on 20^th October 2016.

Lead by PTI, the 5 parties submitted to the Supreme Courts documentary evidence on the involvement of Nawaz Sharif in money laundering. Furthermore, the 5 parties provided the Supreme Court with some sensational Panama Leaks documents proving the same charges and much more about the flight of laundered money to India and Swiss banks. Keep tuned to Al-Bab, don’t go away, and enjoy the show.