Comments on: Rich and John’s Unexcellent Adventure

By: Arif Rafiq

Arif Rafiq — Wed, 26 Mar 2008 19:54:15 +0000

Anonymous, I agree that it’s a bit optimistic to believe that Talat Masood can significantly change Pakistani public opinion. But that’s not to say it won’t have any positive impact.

It’s important to note that he has no equivalent in the Pakistani public discourse. He’s carved a unique space for himself, and I think his status, combined with his liberal orientation, makes him someone useful in the eyes of the State Department’s public affairs bureau.

It’s a common tactic in public relations to use third party allies (TPA) to present one’s message. One, the legitimacy of the TPA can transfer on to the idea itself (it can also blow back and delegitimize the TPA). Two, using a TPA can also produce an “echo effect,” i.e. the impression that an idea is supported by a diverse lot of actors and not a single party.

As for the impact of publicly meeting with Masood, that’s a bit unclear. The meeting hasn’t been given much publicity. It was mentioned once yesterday. I haven’t heard it mentioned today. There’s even the possibility that it did not occur. But if it did, the news of the meeting might not be widespread enough to have an impact. Additionally, Masood’s own authoritativeness could supplant any perceptions of him advocating the talking points of a foreign country.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Wed, 26 Mar 2008 18:32:10 +0000

Thank you for your explanation! Ive written my response below.

1 – I suppose this makes sense if theyre concerned about the continuity of Pakistan’s security policy.

2 – I have some doubts about this one. Mr Masood is strongly liberal and likely to be on the right side of the fence as far as they’re concerned anyway without much convincing. Plus if they were concerned about swinging public opinion through him (firstly thats a little optimistic) and secondly by meeting with him openly theyre only making it harder for him to put forward their case.

By: captainjohann

captainjohann — Wed, 26 Mar 2008 05:35:06 +0000

This visit is undertaken at the behest of Musharaff so that their asset cultivated with 10 billion dollars donot go waste.Americans must be ruing the day when they allowed DEMOCRACY to kick start in pakistan. But then they donot understand that it is Musharaff(ISI) who created TALIBAN in the first place with help from Saudi arabia and UAE but now gone out of control. They just donot have the stomach to pay a price for their mistakes.They will like India/Afghanistan to pay the price or pakistani people.
Nawaz has done the right thing by exposing the creation of Jalalabad as well as MMA creation. USA must pay the price for these mistakes done with their knowledge.
Pakistan must keep close watch on these manouveres because the price is FREEDOM

By: Ajaz Siddiqi

Ajaz Siddiqi — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 20:04:36 +0000

I believe Mr. Nawaz will compromise on Judiciary issues and all civil society will stand alone without anyone’s help sad reality.

By: Arif Rafiq

Arif Rafiq — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 18:52:24 +0000

I think they’re meeting with him for two reasons:

1- His opinion is respected by, and perhaps even sought by, senior political leaders, and I think, particularly those within the PPP.

2- He’s the major defense and political analyst on Pakistani television, especially on GEO. So you can perhaps shape Pakistani public opinion via him.

So in short, reaching out to Masood could have a multiplier effect whereby the U.S. perception of the war on terror could be indirectly impressed upon both elites and the general public.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 18:40:13 +0000

I can understand politically active individuals like Aitzaz and Tariq Mehmood. But why Talat Masood?