Zardari takes credit for 'Pakistan's resurrection'

In an article in The Washington Post, Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari explains the steps taken by his government to combat the ongoing economic crisis, claims that the army is winning in its offensive against the militants in tribal areas and defends the country's alliance with the United States.

Zardari claims that he is "working with Parliament to run a country, not a political campaign", adding that "in time, good policies will become good politics".

The Pakistan President also defends his decision to raise fuel prices and taxes, saying it was the government's duty to stick to the course of "fiscal responsibility, social accountability and financial transparency".

Admitting that such measures were extremely unpopular, Zardari claims that such steps were necessary to tackle the recession and meet the standards set by the International Monetary Fund to receive further financial assistance for Pakistan.

"The war against terrorism has cost Pakistan not just in lives but also in economic terms, freezing international investment and diverting priorities from social and other sectors. Despite constant challenges on multiple fronts, we took the political hits and stuck with reform," says Zardari.

The beleaguered President, who is often criticised for his alleged corruption charges and frequent foreign visits, says that even the IMF, World Bank, European Union and US had hailed Pakistan's efforts to "further stabilise the economy, to advance structural reform and lay the foundations for high and sustainable growth".

No corrupt government can achieve such a feat, says Zardari, who has been accused of amassing millions via dubious corrupt deals.

He goes on to declare, "Pakistan's economic resurrection has been the product, primarily, of our own sweat and blood."

Zardari also takes credit for the restoration of democracy in the troubled country, which has oscillated between a civilian government and military rule for decades, and accuses the western nations of sometimes supporting dictatorship to serve their own petty gains.

Without naming Pakistan's most strategic ally -- the US, Zardari says, "The West has a moral responsibility to ensure that our democratic transition continues".

Blaming the lackadaisical attitude of the West for Pakistan's current political woes, Zardari says, "If the community of developed democratic nations had, after our last democratic election, crafted an innovative development plan with the scope and vision of the Marshall Plan that rebuilt Europe after World War II, much greater economic, political and military stability would already have been achieved."

Targeting his detractors, the widower of former prime minister Benazir Bhutto says, "Those who found comfort with dictators have resisted change".

Zardari also downplayed reports about increasing differences between Pakistan's powerful military and its civilian government. Hailing the military for its 'successful' offensive against the Taliban-led militants in Swat and Waziristan, he says the army has always supported the "country's democratic transition and adherence to our Constitution".

He also brings up the contentious issue of the government's alliance with the US, which continues to carry out drone strikes in border areas with impunity, in spite of protests by Pakistan and reported civilian casualties.

"Some in Pakistan question our international alliances because they disapprove of our allies' actions. But we are fighting for our lives, and Pakistan's policies cannot be based solely on what is popular," says Zardari.

He also cited the example of US Presidents Franklin Roosevelt and Harry Truman, who took momentous decisions in spite of wide-spread opposition, and changed the course of history.

Referring to himself as a true statesmen, Zardari says, "They did what was right, not what was popular, and so will we. History has shown the difference between expedient policies and the long-term goals of true statesmen."

Vowing to wipe out the scourge of terrorism that is threatening to destabilise Pakistan, Zardari says, "In the end, these sometime unpopular steps will create a Pakistan that sucks the oxygen from the fire of terrorism. Those who are counting on Pakistan to back off the fight -- militarily and economically -- underestimate my country and me".