On the 14 August, Pakistan celebrated its Independence Day, observing the winning of independence from Britain in 1947. Unfortunately, independence was limited to transforming Pakistan from a part of the open Indian colony, into a dependent neo-colony.
Neo-colonialism was imposed in alliance with local feudal and capitalist elements that had previously benefited from British control. They were allowed to oversee the nominally independent nation, and enrich themselves in the process. But the mass of Pakistanis paid a heavy price for this.
Religion continues to be used as an ideological weapon to divide the people.
Feudal elite
The feudal and capitalist elite have dominated national political life. Those aligned with the old foreign masters became the dominant section. Within this elite group there exists a nationalist element that seeks a measure of greater independence for Pakistan, and seeks every opportunity to assert this.
Pakistan has also had a broader counter-current to foreign domination. It includes the nationalists within the elite. But it is the ordinary people that are its heart. Complicating this in a number of parts of Pakistan are armed separatist movements that are essentially opposed to foreign domination.
US moves in
The place of British imperialism was taken over by US imperialism in 1971. During the war against Soviet involvement in Afghanistan next door, the US consolidated itself as the major influence on Pakistan. Most of the elite cast its fortunes with the US. The nationalist element also began to go down this road.
Today’s military ruler General Musharraf represents this nationalist element, and in doing so represents its inconsistent tendency, seeking greater independence, but never really able to break free.
The striving for greater independence has a progressive side to it. But this is circumvented by a refusal to rely on the people. The nationalist element within the elite cannot break free. It is too weak on its own. Its cause would be served by relying on the people. But it fears the people, and attacks them instead. Fear of the people leads them to ultimately return to those against whom they originally struggle.
Repression breeds resistance from the people. Worsening economic conditions and the repression that has been increased by the war in Afghanistan and growing anti-US sentiment have brought about greater political instability.
Musharraf and those around him arose on the basis of an alliance with US imperialism. But the American overlords have never trusted them. They were never their best option. Benazir Bhutto and her Pakistan People’s Party are no more than another party of the elite, although they try to dress themselves differently. Furthermore, they are more closely tied to US imperialism. Bhutto personally, was brought up in Britain and is a close friend of former British Prime Minister Tony Bair. Blair introduced her to George Bush, who has now taken over as her main benefactor.
US strategy
US imperialism is working for a Bhutto government and if this is unattainable, to contain the nationalist elements in a coalition. The reason is the failure in Afghanistan. US imperialism wishes not only to dominate Pakistan economically and politically, but to have a military presence there so it can aim at the Caucuses from the south and extend its encirclement of China.
Efforts to create this situation must be resisted. The people of Pakistan will. The world has to support them in this.
The danger is that in the name of democracy and in the name of opposing military brutality and the ongoing war against terrorism, the situation will be falsified to the extent that world will be hoodwinked into supporting an unjust cause.
The people of Pakistan have a right to fight against the brutality of the Musharraf regime and if it continues to attack the people, the people will deal it with. Musharraf and his people would do a better service to their country by overcoming their fear of the people and siding with them against the real common enemy. As justified as it is, the struggle for greater democracy in Pakistan is not separate from the struggle for independence from US imperialism.
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