David Miliband

Foreign Secretary

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Monday 08 September, 2008

President Zardari

The accession of President Zardari to the leadership of Pakistan is a key moment for Pakistan. His election with a 68% majority completes the transition to full democratic civilian rule for the first time in 9 years. It is vital that the Pakistan government does not suffer the fate of previous Pakistan governments.

I spoke to President Zardari yesterday and the Prime Minister is speaking to him today to emphasise Britain's commitment to work with the people in Pakistan at all levels, above all on the twin issues of the economy and security. My two visits to Pakistan revealed a country of teeming energy but also unfulfilled aspirations. The striking thing is that political, economic and security aspirations go together. Polling in the FATA shows that politics as well as security are top of the agenda.

Civilian rule needs to show itself up to the task of short term improvement as well as long term legitimacy. Britain can and will help through official channels and development aid and security support, but also through the unofficial channels of people-to-people links from our own British Pakistani community.

Posted at 14:19 08 September 2008 by David Miliband  |  Comments[10]

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Another bad day for the Pakistan since its birth. Its really amazing that you and other foreign deligates in particular and common western people in general compare democracy in your countries with Pakistan. In Pakistan, there is no space for democracy. The country where the political leaders are dictators and the worst corrupt people of the nation. Even the so called religious leaders, they all are same.Name any one of them, you will find a long history of corruption etc. I am studying in UK and after living here, I realise how good british politicians are. They are mostly honest and devoted to their people, where as in Pakistan it is very very rare. In this modern era, in Pakistan,you can see the feudal lords ruling the poor people and they even can't think without their permission. The country where common people have many difficulties that are increasing with time but politician, so called civil society members, lawers and now even the army men all are playing for themselves. No body consider about the poor people. The country where you never see any independent judiciary and now those who are against the independent judiciary are criticing and demading free, fair and independent judiciary. I want to cut a long story short and just want to say please don't say that it is the transition to full democratic civilian rule rather it is the continuation of another dictator rule.. You can never achieve democracy in Pakistan, until and unless you give education to the lowest level and so they can think and differentiate what is good or bad. I am from Pakistan and I am a common person so I know the situation and facts better than you. We need Jinnah once again. Want to say much more but there is no use of it as I can sense it that worst days are coming a head for my beloved country... regards ghalib

Posted by ghalib on September 09, 2008 at 01:20 AM BST #

This is a key moment for Pakistan's people. The country itself is still represented by interests of the few. But what does this all mean - your view is only a perspective of someone who lives in a reality none of us truly understand - that of the political elite. Let me give you my view - someone closer to reality. Zardari's accession is symptomatic of how people with tarnished reputations can rise to the very top of a country's governance on the back of a family name. You say its democracy but where in a democracy can a dead leader's wishes proclaim a successor. Bilal Bhutto's knowledge of Pakistan is scant considering he's hardly lived there. You talk about civilian rule but this country is ruled by the few not the masses. The irritation felt by Pakistanis is your statement validates this in the name of democracy - its not what the British Government desires. Its actually stability you want but even this is flawed with recent events. Its rumoured the new President has or has had some form of mental illness. And now we're welcoming his election as the man who has his finger over the nuclear button? I have no silver bullet - but surely we need to change the nature of our diplomacy to start communicating in today's world and not yesterdays. The goals we once pursued have been replaced with managing relationships. Non-state actors play a more important role than governments itself. We support the likes of Zardari as vehicles of change but they are not. Its time we started looking elsewhere to change. Your view of the world is informed by the work done by diplomats - however the mindsets and perspectives they have are built on established relationships that feed you the skewed perspectives of a few. Its admirable you recognise this in terms of people-to-people relationships. But the real change will come through encouraging Pakistan to take governance / organisation / education seriously to begin to build structures that outlast the likes of Zardari and any other 'messiah' appointed from the grave.

Posted by Mo Khan on September 09, 2008 at 05:06 PM BST #

I'm a lawyer working in Pakistan and for the past two years I have witnessed one of the biggest movement initiated by the legal fraternity in Pakistan which perhaps was the catalyst in ousting a dictator. It is strange for me to see that people like Mr. Miliband are rejoicing in the election of Mr Zardari as the President. Don't get me wrong I have no issues with either the new President nor will I get into his past. It is indeed a sad day for the judiciary of Pakistan. Perhaps Mr Miliband is ignorant of the fact that we still have the pending issue of the Chief Justice i.e. the deposed judge of the highest court of Pakistan. The ruling party has conveniently ignored to deal with the issue. The newly elected President has failed to uphold the promises made to the coalition partners which despite this fact are supporting the governing party. The question is do these politicians really think we are that dumb. I'm forced to say yes they do. Poverty and inflation has shifted focus of the masses to basic human needs. What right thinking man would talk of rule of law with no food on the table. Remember we are a third world country so you can always exploit us with povertyy lack of education and money problems. The truth is the judges issues was used by every political party to gain votes in the elections but the problem is they fear the same judiciary. We can blame the Americans or we can blame ourselves but know this what we have created is a precedent for the rest of the world and especially the future dictators who want to do away with a whole organ of the state. I fear the day it shall be used again and what judge would ever have the courage to go against a dictator with this example in mind.

Posted by Sarjeel Mowahid on September 09, 2008 at 08:03 PM BST #

Well I guess what every one commenting is forgetting the fact that Mr Miliband is a British official and therefore his heart, sincerity and good wishes remain towards what is good for his Nation of course unlike our Pakistani officials and leaders. His congratulating and being jubilant on Mr Zardari's induction should be of no surprise even, after all Mr Zardari has pledged to be a more loyal servant to the Western interests than even Retired Dictator General Musharraf. brbr I don't know how long my comments will be able to survive on this blog of British FCO, or if they will ever make it through the moderation approval if there is one - but one thing is for sure, this is the perfect moment for Pakistanis along with other nations to realize that they need to be sincere with their own selves. West including Britain represented by Mr Miliband will continue to do "praise to the rising suns" original idiom in Urdu: Chartay Suraj ko Salam. brbr But Mr Miliband, though I highly doubt if you would be regularly reading the comments on your this entry I wonder even if you made it or someone amongst your staff on your behalf please take note that the course your country and America are taking on Pakistan will just lead it into chaos pretty soon. I wonder what sort of "stability in region" will that get? Perhaps a way to go about things in a better way would be to help "strengthen" the Pakistan without attaching the usual strings along which Pakistanis have grown up seeing and the very source of mistrust towards your country and the allies of hers. Only then Pakistan can have the trust on your intentions this time and perhaps even Pakistani public can then feel obliged to side with West... brbr And yes I understand that neither am I in anyway near the sort of experiences you have nor you are the sole person who makes the policies, but I am sure suggestions are not always that bad even if coming from a naive person like me. brbr Kind wishes,br UJMi

Posted by UJMi on September 13, 2008 at 11:43 AM BST #

Imagine a person who spent many years of his life in prison for approved corruption bribery charges, become the president the country and another person who also entered prison for similar charges become a Prime Minister. Another interesting thing is that a teenage student has become the leader of the country’s largest and ruling party, while those who spent all of their lives serving the PPP are dishonored because they are not related to the previous leader of the party. What would happen to that country? I am sure that Mr. 10 percent will increase his value to a greater percentage. I just want to add that how can it be key moment for Pakistanis having such people in power. The government is bombarding its sown people. People fled from their villages taking refuge in cities closer to them in extremely dreadful conditions. Suicide attacks accelerated in the past one and half month. People are not happy seeing another regime with no real changes in the ground. It would have been a great moment for all Pakistanis if there was a better situation in the FATA mainly in Waziristan and Swat; if the government would listen to the people needs. I can see many things in Pakistan going the same path on which Afghanistan went trough, in the late 1970s. Respect to All Bashir Khan Patzun

Posted by Bashir Khan Patzun on September 28, 2008 at 02:04 PM BST #

i hope world is looking what is right and what is wrong and what pakistan new govt has done so far and what more new pak govt can produce with the help of old allies and what usa want to achived from pakistan through ZARDRI

Posted by tariq on October 02, 2008 at 01:18 PM BST #

I love Pakistan

Posted by MUHAMMAD AZEEM on October 29, 2008 at 12:30 PM GMT #

David, I am afraid that your rejoicing at the "transition to full democracy in Pakistan" is rather premature. What has happened is that now the lunatics are firmly in control of the asylum. Asif Zardari's succession as the Head of the People's Party was nothing short of the medieval prince claiming his throne. After reading Benazir Bhutto's book "Reconciliation: Islam, Democracy & the West" one could have a glimmer of hope that she did indeed have a sort of vision for democracy in Pakistan. Unfortunately, her own "nomination" of her husband puts the country back firmly into the feudal mindset. Musharraf's nemesis must surely be the infamous Provisional Constitution Order PCOwhich helped all these rogues escape justice. And unfortunately, we were behind this stupidity! This is the motley crowd running the country now: Asif Zardari - Mr 10 percent I am told by my Pakistani friends that it is now 20 percent due to inflation! Nawaz Sharif - who wanted to impose Sharia law in the country not so long ago Altaf Hussain - we musn't forget this one working behind the scenes. A man wanted for all sorts of crimes, ensconed comfortably in London with - listen to this - a British passport courtesy of the Home Office!

Posted by Muhammad on October 31, 2008 at 03:46 PM GMT #

The root cause of the mess that Pakistan finds itself in today is in the infamous word 'reconciliation'. This is because the meaning of the word 'reconciliation' has been redefined in Pakistani politics to institutionalise all that is wrong and make that a norm by accepting and forgiving the same as a 'mistake of the past.' Politicians have no reason for being in politics other than an unquenchable hunger for self-aggrandizement, therefore the people of Pakistan need to wake up to the happenings around them by not allowing themselves to be hoodwinked by the unscrupulous and instead should think about putting national interests before their own personal gains. The West and other European countries should realise this and be seen to support the people by taking a stance on what is right rather than by taking a convenient short cut by blindly supporting the unscrupulous .

Posted by Ali Kassim BA(Hons), ACIPD, UK on April 29, 2009 at 11:02 PM BST #

I am entirely agree with ghalib.He giving the true picture of Pakistan.May God give us leader like Jinnah.We don't need Zardari,Nawaz,Altaf etc any more.I think we should give chance to Imran Khan somehow he is an honest and courageous person.

Posted by Mian Ali on October 01, 2009 at 12:45 PM BST #

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