Balance Sheet of Hillary Clinton’s “Mango Diplomacy” Mission to Pakistan

"Hillary’s visit to Pakistan has been planned with an aim to ease suspicions between two countries. This is the reason that the image building exercise of the Secretary of State also has a component of making announcements on financial aid and signing the agreements of development assistance."
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by Mathews George Chunakara

(July 26, New Delhi, Sri Lanka Guardian) Aljazeera TV and Pakistan’s Geo TV repeatedly showed scenes of interviews by their reporters about Hillary Clinton’s Pakistan visit and people’s responses on Hillary’s announcements in Islamabad about Washington’s aid assistance to Pakistan. Although Hillary’s mission to Pakistan this time was with an aim to convey many significant messages to Pakistani authorities and the American expectations from Pakistan with regard to curbing militancy and handling the Afghan Taliban’s based in Pakistan, Hilary’s comments on Pakistani mangos made more headlines, which captured the attention of ordinary Pakistanis. However, the sarcastic comments of ordinary people on the streets in Islamabad, who were interviewed by the Aljazeera, revealed the fact that they did well understand American strategy and intentions at this time too. Hilary told a ‘town hall” style meeting in Pakistani capital that “we’ll get a lot of people hooked on Pakistani mangos,” Mangos came up again at a press conference with Pakistan’s foreign minister, and yet again at a roundtable with Pakistani journalists. When reporters asked fruit vendors and people on the streets and in markets on how did they feel about Hilary’s visit and comments about Pakistani mangoes, some of them replied that “ America’s interests in Pakistan is much more than Pakistani mangoes”. Well, mangos brought a sweet approach during the talk publically which otherwise focused on the hard details of the US-Pak relationship, which is becoming increasingly under pressure in the context of the war in Afghanistan. Pakistan’s tasty mango varieties have been there for centuries and Pakistanis knew about American interests in tasty mangos of Pakistan. But the Secretary of State this time became more eloquent on mangos and thought it might be one place to start when discussing benefits of better trade cooperation, including Pakistani requests for improved market access. In that context, Hilary used “mango diplomacy” while addressing several thorny issues. When Hilary’s comments on Pakistani mangoes were heard, at least some people within Pakistan or elsewhere in the world might have been reminded of an earlier conspiracy theory related to mangos and Pakistan’s military dictator Zia ul Haq’a death in a plane crash in 1988. When President Mohammad Zia ul-Haq along with the then U.S. Ambassador to Pakistan Arnold L. Raphel, and Brig. Gen. Herbert M. Wassom, head of" the Military Assistance Group at the U.S. Embassy in Islamabad died in a plane crash on 17 August 1988, there were rumours that chemicals stored in a mango crate was the reason for the explosion and the plane crash. Mangos were taken in that special plane of dignitaries as mango was a favourite fruit of the U.S Ambassador who traveled with Zia.

Twenty years after Zia-ul Haq’s death in a mysterious air crash, Mohammed Hanif, a Pakistani journalist and writer published a book “A Case of Exploding Mangoes”, which is a brilliant fictional account of the events leading to the likely assassination. The New York Times published a review by Robert MacFarlane (N.Y June 13, 1998) on this novel in which he said, “Hanif has written a historical novel with an eerie timeliness. It arrives as NATO troops battle the Taliban insurgency in Afghanistan; as General Musharraf fights Islamic extremism within his own country; as Pakistan assimilates yet another unsolved assassination; and as the menace of Al Qaeda persists worldwide. The most somber, yet humorous scene in "A Case of Exploding Mangoes" imagines a Fourth of July party in Islamabad in 1988, hosted by Arnold Raphel. The American guests dress up in flowing turbans, tribal gowns and shalwar kameez suits, by way of ridiculous homage to the Afghan fighters. Among the invited guests is a young bearded Saudi known as "OBL," who works for "Laden and Co. Constructions." As OBL moves through the throng, various people stop to greet him and chat. Among them is the local C.I.A. chief who, after swapping a few words, bids him farewell: "Nice meeting you, OBL. Good work, keep it up."

‘A Case of Exploding Mangoes’ is set happenings in the months before and the days after the plane crash in which Zia and the U.S. Ambassador Raphel were killed. Far from coming to a conclusion about the cause of Zia's death, Hanif gleefully thickens the stew of conspiracy theories. Theories as to the cause of the crash have ranged from simple machine failure to the idea that one of the mango crates contained a canister of nerve gas, which, when dispersed by the plane's air-conditioning system, killed both pilots. Among those many groups or persons suspected of being behind the assassination - if assassination it was - are the C.I.A., Mossad, the K.G.B., and Indian secret agents, as well as Pakistan Army, especially one of Zia's right-hand men, General Aslam Beg.

When the media reports substantially covered Hilary Clinton’s comments on Pakistani mangos, an impression was given as if the main mission of Hillary to Pakistan this time was to struck a deal to import more mangos to the U.S. The under-currents of Hilary’s mission and U.S interests were much more than winning the hearts and minds of Pakistanis by praising the delicious Pakistani mangos or developing“mango diplomacy”, probably this was the easiest among all other issues she needed to talk to Pakistani officials. When Hillary talked about and praised Pakistan’s delicious mangos, she tried to capture the attention of ordinary Pakistanis who hold an anti-American feeling. At the same time, Pakistani authorities tried to convince the Secretary of State and they repeated the same old story that “there are people, there are lobbies in Pakistan” who oppose any deal with the U.S. While Hilary listened all these she also signed off an initial U.SD 500 million to Pakistan from the USD 7.5 billion aid decided as part of the Kerry Lugar Bill. At the end, she could serve some sweet desert beyond the proposed plan of mango trade. Hilary is aware that when she faces the American critics of U.S-Pak relations in the Capitol Hill on her return, she will have to face bitter questions from them soon.

Kerry Lugar Bill and U.S support to Pakistan

The Kerry Lugar Bill (KLB), named after US Senators John Kerry (Democrat) and Richard Lugar (Republican), which was passed by the U.S Congress and signed by President Obama into law in October 2009. The KLB is also known as the Enhanced Partnership with Pakistan Act of 2009, which will triple non-military aid to Pakistan to USD 7.5 billion in five years and softens the conditions on Islamabad. Hillary’s visit to Pakistan this time was as part of the requirement stipulated in the Kerry-Lugar Bill, which lays down a provision of a periodical assessment by the U.S Secretary of State, who would certify that Pakistan was not allowing its territory to be used for launching attacks on neighbouring countries. The USD 500 million is designated for infrastructure – notably in the energy and water sectors – for the impoverished areas in the country. The condition is that the aid provided under the Kerry Lugar Bill is destined for civilian development purposes and it does not constitute military aid.

The hardest part of implementation of any agreement with Hilary for Pakistani rulers will be the non cooperation and resistance that will soon emerge from the Pakistani military and the ISI.
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When the Bill was presented before the American Congress, there were concerns expressed in many quarters that the U.S aid to Pakistan routed through official channels may not end up benefiting people who deserve the aid in Pakistan. Garry Ackerman, a Democratic Congressman expressed his concern as he was not comfortable about channelling the entire aid money through the government of Pakistan as it has been the case in the past. Like Ackerman, several others were concerned regarding the reports about how the aid from the U.S for development assistance had been diverted to boost defence budget finally end up in the hands of the military. At one stage, the Pakistani military reacted to the provisions of the aid package insisting conditions on Pakistan ending support for extremist groups targeting the U.S and also the Pakistani military staying out of civilian politics. This condition was criticised by Pakistan’s military leaders and other politicians and argued that this would lead to U.S interference in Pakistan’s internal affairs and micromanagement. Garry Ackerman reacted to the protests of the Pakistanis over conditions in the bill saying “Islamabad must make some hard choices about where their interests lie”. It is true that the mighty Pakistani army that controls the civilian politics and government manage to keep the defence budget high, more than one fifth of the country’s total budget. The U.S. Secretary of State will receive more questions about Pakistani Army from Garry Ackerman sooner or later.

The Balance Sheet of Hilary’s Pakistan Mission

Hilary’s visit to Pakistan has been planned with an aim to ease suspicions between two countries. This is the reason that the image building exercise of the Secretary of State also has a component of making announcements on financial aid and signing the agreements of development assistance. While the visit of Hilary and her initiatives during the visit have been considered as a success, the officials in Washington still raise questions on Pakistan’s commitment to root out militant Taliban insurgents operating from Pakistan’s borders. There is a general perception that Pakistan’s military leaders nurture a nexus between the Taliban and the intelligence agency the ISI in the border areas. Washington fears that Islamabad maintains ties with a terrorist group Haqqani network through the ISI. It is widely perceived that the strategy of the Pakistan Army is to exploit the connections through ISI as a way to expand its influence over Afghanistan. The story is the same with regard to ISI’s connections with several terrorist groups operating from Pakistan and aiming India. When the NIA who investigates the terrorist attacks in Mumbai interrogated the master mind of the Mumbai plan, Headley reportedly stated in the presence of his lawyer and the FBI officer that Pakistan's Inter-Service Intelligence (ISI) and Navy had assisted the LET in the planning and execution of its sea-borne raid on Mumbai. He also mentioned the names of some ISI officers who were involved. American policy makers are becoming more aware of the Pakistani military and the intelligence agency ISI’s nexus with various terrorist groups in the country.

Knowing the fact that Pakistan is worried about India’s growing influence in Afghanistan and Pakistan might continue to keep links with Haqqani or other terrorist groups based in Afghan borders, Hilary Clinton’s strategic mission also aimed at facilitating a rapprochement between the two countries. Afghanistan and Pakistan signed a trade agreement, which symbolizes imminent friendly relations between the two neighbours. The Obama administration has been encouraging the two countries to sign the trade agreement which will have wider impact in terms of establishing mutual relationships, helping the Afghan economy, Afghanistan to have access to Pakistani ports. The trade agreement would allow Afghan trucks to carry goods to Karachi port in Pakistan or Indian border posts like Wagah and also the similar way Pakistani trucks could take goods to Afghanistan. This is far more convenient than the current practice of transferring goods to each country’s local vehicles at the borders.

Although the agreement reached between two countries needs to be ratified by the Parliaments of Afghanistan and Pakistan, the U.S. hopes that this will pave the way for easing out mutual mistrust among the two nations in the coming days and this will also be considered as a victory of American efforts to stabilize the chaotic Afghan situation to a certain extent. The persuasive act of the U.S. to bring together both sides has also been a goal of Hilary’s mission during her visit to Islamabad in October last year and the recent visits to both countries. Richard C. Holbrooke, U.S special representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan stated about this plan of the Obama administration that “bringing Islamabad and Kabul together has been a goal of this administration from the beginning” and he described the signing of the trade agreement as “vivid demonstration of the two countries coming closer”. However, Pakistan’s rulers are concerned about the possible reactions by the strong anti-American lobby in the country against the highhandedness of the U.S. to make the pact possible. It was reported that this fear of domestic fallout was disclosed to Hilary Clinton by Prime Minister of Pakistan Yusuf Raza Gilani. Like any other former Pakistani rulers-- Musharaf, Nawaz Sharif and Benazir, the Sardari- Gilani team also will have to fear the same lobby anything related to their decision and association with the American government. The vehement criticisms might be always from the Pakistan’s top military brasses and the leaders of the extremist Islamic groups. Now that Washington has offered more cash to Pakistan and at the same time there will be more demands and pressure on Islamabad to control and curtail the militants in Pakistan soil. Hilary might have conveyed this message too as usual to Islamabad. Islamabad might have repeated the same argument that it’s doing all it can. At the end of her visit, Hilary has better satisfaction at least for the time being that her visit to Pakistan has ended with some fruition. Hilary and her team believe that the accord signed between Afghanistan and Pakistan set a positive tone to ease suspicions among the U.S and Pakistan and also it helped to convey the message to Pakistani people that how much they are supportive to ordinary Pakistanis and their well-being. This is what part of her mission was when she came with a raft of initiatives in Public health, irrigation and agriculture, building a hospital in Karachi and help farmers to export their mangos. But, the hardest part for Hilary will be to face the American critics of Pak military and powerless civilian democratic rulers of Pakistan. The hardest part of implementation of any agreement with Hilary for Pakistani rulers will be the non cooperation and resistance that will soon emerge from the Pakistani military and the ISI.