Dr Clarence Lusane is an author, activist, scholar, lecturer and journalist. For more than 30 years, he has written about and been active in national and international human rights, anti-racism politics, globalisation, US foreign policy and social issues such as education, crime, and drug policy. He has lectured and presented scholarly papers at a wide range of colleges and universities. He has also lectured on US race relations in over 50 nations. Dr Lusane received his Ph.D. in Political Science from Howard University in 1997.
In an exclusive interview with The Sunday Indian in Karachi, Dr Lusane, Associate Professor of Political Science and International Relations, School of International Service at American University, spoke on some vital issues. On topics ranging from war and peace, drugs and missing people in Pakistan, he made it clear at the onset that he was not representing the US government and what he said were his personal views. Excerpts:
While going through the CIA documents that were de-classified recently, it is amazing to find that Americans helped India and Pakistan in making a nuclear bomb. Now the US is crying itself hoarse in a bid to bring peace between Pakistan and India so that the Pakistan Army may concentrate solely on the so-called “war on terror.” As a professor of international relations, don’t you feel it’s quite hypocritical?
In an exclusive interview with The Sunday Indian in Karachi, Dr Lusane, Associate Professor of Political Science and International Relations, School of International Service at American University, spoke on some vital issues. On topics ranging from war and peace, drugs and missing people in Pakistan, he made it clear at the onset that he was not representing the US government and what he said were his personal views. Excerpts:
While going through the CIA documents that were de-classified recently, it is amazing to find that Americans helped India and Pakistan in making a nuclear bomb. Now the US is crying itself hoarse in a bid to bring peace between Pakistan and India so that the Pakistan Army may concentrate solely on the so-called “war on terror.” As a professor of international relations, don’t you feel it’s quite hypocritical?
I would say we are still feeling the consequences of the Cold War even though it is more than 20 years now. There are habits in terms of foreign policy practices. There should be justice. Well, there has been a practice of pitting countries against each other but now it’s important to build cooperative relations between countries. And I think there is a new generation of politicians who think along these lines.
It has been well documented by the Americans themselves that the previous Afghan War was fought by drug money. Are there any indications that the “war on terror” is also being fought with drug money?
I think not enough attention has been paid to our relationship with drug policy and foreign policy. In the past, foreign policy concerns weighed over our drug policy. And what that meant was that drug trafficking was allowed or even facilitated because of foreign policy concerns. Today we still have a heroin addiction problem in the United States. So, it’s critical that we address this issue in Afghanistan because we can’t allow the drug problem to continue. It is so devastating to many communities in the US. The US needs to quickly find ways to work with the Afghanistan government to address the issues of drug production and drug trafficking.
The fallout of the previous Afghan War has been extremely injurious for Pakistan in the shape of drugs and arms culture. Again, the Americans are vying to leave Afghanistan and Pakistan in the lurch. Don’t you agree that Pakistan has been used as a conduit to fulfil American global interests?
I think it is far more complicated than that because there are people in the US who generally want peace and development in the region and have strongly advocated these causes. There have been other people who have a more narrow view of foreign policy. But it’s a debate in the US that doesn’t often make international news. There have been many people who have argued for more progressive, cooperative and equal relationships between the US and other countries. Hopefully, with the new President, we will see the focus shift to a more cooperative relationship.
As a human rights activist, what would you suggest as a step to resolve the issue of missing people in Pakistan?
I don’t know much about the issue but it is absolutely critical that the government respects human rights.
Read these article :-
Outlook Magazine money editor quits
Don't trust the Indian Media!
No comments:
Post a Comment