Commentary: Pakistani PM hopeful on troops for Iraq

WASHINGTON, Oct. 6 (UPI) -- Pakistan's Prime Minister Zafarullah Khan Jamali says he plans to consult his parliament on the U.S. request for Pakistani troops for Iraq and hopes that Pakistani lawmakers will vote "positively" on this issue.

In an interview with United Press International, Jamali -- who finishes his 10-day U.S. visit on Wednesday -- said he discussed the issue with President George W. Bush, Vice President Dick Cheney and Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld in Washington last week.

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"People think our parliament is opposed to many things. But when I had to open dialogue with (India's Prime Minister Atal Bihari) Vajpayee, the parliament supported me," said the Pakistani prime minister. This, he said, explains why he thinks the lawmakers will allow the government to send troops to Iraq.

Pakistan's military ruler, President Gen. Pervez Musharraf, pledged to send troops to Iraq when he met Bush at the Camp David presidential retreat in June. But he also said that since Pakistan now has a parliament and an elected government, he will have to consult them before dispatching the troops.

Musharraf ran Pakistan as a military ruler for three years but was forced to hold elections in October last year under international pressure, mainly from Britain and other members of the British Commonwealth.

The elections led to a parliament with a large -- almost one-third -- presence of religious groups opposed to the country's close ties to the West, particularly the United States.

The groups, united under an umbrella organization known by its English acronym MMA, also oppose Musharraf for dumping Pakistan's former Taliban allies after the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks in the United States and for providing military bases to U.S. troops for operations in Afghanistan.

Apparently to defuse political opposition to the U.S. request for troops, Musharraf involved Jamali and other members of the newly elected government. The new government supports Musharraf and his alliance with the United States.

Political analysts in Pakistan speculate that Jamali's first official visit to the United States was arranged to enhance his stature at home. The analysts also say that Musharraf has almost decided to send 10,000 troops to Iraq by December and wants Jamali to use his newly earned stature to help defuse political opposition to his move.

Many in Pakistan do not want to get involved in a war they see as directed against fellow Muslims of Iraq. Musharraf hopes that an endorsement from the parliament, even by a simple majority, will minimize the possibility of the opposition using the issue to launch a campaign against him, analysts say.

But both Musharraf and Jamali also have urged the United States to "change the format" of its presence in Iraq, as Jamali told a news conference in Washington. Musharraf, who was in New York late September to attend the U.N. General Assembly and also met Bush, told reporters that it will be difficult for a Muslim state to send troops as long as the U.S. troops in Iraq continue to be identified as an occupation force.

"It will be easier for us to send troops to join a stabilization force than an occupation force," said Jamali when asked what he meant when he urged Washington to "change the format."

Diplomatic sources in Washington say that besides seeking a mandate from the United Nations for a peacekeeping force in Iraq, the Bush administration may also urge the world body to redefine international forces in Iraq as a stabilization or reconstruction force to allow Muslim nations like Pakistan and Turkey to join it.

Jamali, who is believed to have had a threadbare discussion on this issue with American leaders during his visit, told UPI:

UPI: Is it right that the U.S. request for Pakistani troops for Iraq dominated your talks in Washington?

Jamali: We did talk about it. I discussed it with all U.S officials I met.

Q: And?

Jamali: I have to take my parliament and my nation to take into confidence. Whatever is in the best interest of Iraq and Pakistan, we will make that decision.

Q: Apparently, the Pakistani parliament is already opposed to sending troops, so it not a foregone conclusion?

Jamali: People say that parliament is opposed to many things but when I had to open dialogue with Mr. Vajpayee I took the parliament into confidence. These are matters of national interest and the parliament does not go against national interests. In parliament we talk, discuss and debate issues and takes the decision in a proper manner. And then the action is taken.

Q: Don't you think it will be difficult for you to take the parliament along on this issue?

Jamali: Yes of course. But we have a very positive approach toward the resurgence of Iraq. Yes, our approach is very positive. The Iraqis are Muslims, like us. They have suffered. Iraq has been totally destroyed. We want to help Iraq. A request from Iraq (to send troops) will help. I hope this matter will be resolved positively.

Q: When you went to the White House last week to meet President Bush, you said you need a "pat on the back" for Pakistan's fledgling democracy. But President Bush did not say anything about the new democratic setup in Pakistan. Are you disappointed?

Jamali: If they had not given support to the democratic setup in Pakistan, then I think they would not have invited me. I think the invitation itself is a recognition of and support for the democratic setup.

Q. Any specific achievements in your visit. What did you get?

Jamali: People always think we come here to ask for something, to see what we can get from Washington. It is not so. We have a bilateral relationship with the United States and we can here to discuss issues. Most issues have been discussed. What I got here is the recognition of the democratic setup in Pakistan, which is a fact now.

Q: After your meeting with President Bush, you told a gathering at the Pakistan Embassy in Washington that any ruler who violates the constitution ultimately suffers. Does it also apply to the present military rulers (including Gen. Musharraf)? After all, they also violated the constitution when they toppled an elected government in October 1999.

Jamali: The article 6 of (the Pakistani) constitution (which forbids the toppling of an elected government) is clear about it. Three previous Pakistani presidents violated this article (and had to leave office soon after toppling an elected government).

Q: The opposition in Pakistan wants Gen. Musharraf to shun his uniform and serve as a civilian president. Do you support this demand?

Jamali: It was not the opposition or Jamali who donned the uniform on President Musharraf. He earned it himself. He started his career at the Pakistan military academy and went up to become the chief of army staff.

Q: So you mean he will take off the uniform when he wants to?

Jamali: That's exactly what I mean. The president has himself said that that one person should not hold two offices. I agree with that. But he also said he will shed the uniform when he is ready. You cannot tell a person to take off his uniform over and over again.

Q: Pakistan says that India's recent arms purchases have created a strategic imbalance in South Asia. Did you discuss this issue with U.S. leaders?

Jamali: We shared our concern with them over India's arms buildup. We told them that people in Pakistan are worried about it.

Q: And you received any assurance?

Jamali: This issue will be taken up again. We want a long-lasting relationship with the United States, a relationship based on dignity and respect. Such a relationship allows us to have a frank discussion on issues of concern.

Q: Pakistan is not the only Muslim country struggling to establish democracy. Almost all Muslim countries have this problem. Why? Do you think there's no room for democracy in the Muslim culture?

Jamali: This is a wrong assumption. If you read the Muslim history, you will see that Muslims have always decided state matters with mutual consultation, as the Koran urges them to do. This is democracy. Go back to the days when Muslims were prosperous and successful and you will see how Muslim societies functioned.

Q: Do you think the United States will remain engaged with Pakistan on a long-term basis?

Jamali: Yes, I think the United States is going to remain engaged with Pakistan on a long-term basis. This is my feeling. I think so.

Q: Is Pakistan thinking of recognition of Israel?

Jamali: I hope the U.S. road map for Israel and Palestine works out. Both sides have a better chance if the road map is implemented. If it works out it will be a less burden on many countries all over the world. I pray that it works. We will take the decision in (whatever we feel is) our national interest.