The Indian government is getting increasingly worried that the escalating “Memogate” crisis in Islamabad might end President Asif Ali Zardari’s charmed run in office and put Indo-Pakistani relations back on ice, particularly if the Pakistan Army takes back control of the government.
High-level sources said on Sunday that the climate of suspicion between the Army and the civilian government led by Mr Zardari was a cause of grave concern for India. The unspoken worry is that once again the tiny window that had opened for the Manmohan Singh government, both in Bhutan and the Maldives, with Pakistan Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani, the man Dr Singh described as “a man of peace”, might now be closing.
In Islamabad, official sources said on Sunday that in a bid to save his Pakistan People’s Party government, Mr Zardari might even have to “sacrifice” Mr Gilani to appease the Army. A senior official told this newspaper: “Though Prime Minister Gilani is not the target, he might have to quit to make sure the PPP stays in power after the government-military tensions.”
The Army — which has ruled Pakistan directly for over half its existence as an independent nation since 1947 — is not happy with the PPP government after an alleged letter sent by Mr Zardari to the United States seeking its help to avert a possible military coup.
“The PM might be held responsible for the memo sent through (Pakistan’s ambassador to the US) Hussain Haqqani to the US,” the official said. Defence minister Chaudhry Ahmed Mukhtar also said Sunday the PM would be held responsible if Mr Haqqani was found involved in the memo episode. He told reporters in Lahore that Mr Haqqani was part of the PM’s team, and if the envoy was found involved Mr Gilani would be held directly responsible for the “conspiracy”. Mr Haqqani has, however, denied involvement. When asked if a military coup was possible, Mr Mukhtar replied: “I don’t think so”.
Mr Haqqani returned to Islamabad early Sunday morning, and went straight to the President’s house and met Mr Zardari. Sources said he would stay at the President’s house for the time being for security reasons. The ambassador also met top military leaders and Mr Gilani to explain his position. He is believed to have offered his resignation to both the President and the Prime Minister.