By Sanjay Suri
LONDON, May 22 2004 (IPS)

The Commonwealth lifted its partial suspension on Pakistan’s membership Saturday in a move that may have helped itself as much as Pakistan.

The Commonwealth has been the only international body counting Pakistan as a pariah. Its position on Pakistan has been getting increasingly more shaky after the United States declared Pakistan a major non-NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organisation) ally, and the European Union strengthened economic ties with Pakistan.

The Commonwealth, a group of 53 nations including Britain and countries once a part of the British Empire, had not enforced full suspension in any case. Pakistan was suspended only from the councils of the Commonwealth four-and-a-half years ago after Gen. Pervaiz Musharraf seized power in a military coup.

This partial suspension meant that Pakistan could not attend decision- making meetings. But Pakistan was open to participate in the Commonwealth Games for instance, and Commonwealth programmes in Pakistan continued.

The decision Saturday reflected deep divisions within the nine-member Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group (CMAG) that met to discuss the status of Pakistan in London Friday and Saturday.

CMAG was established by Commonwealth leaders in 1995 to deal with serious or persistent violations of the Commonwealth Declaration in Harare, Zimbabwe, in 1991 which sets out a commitment to democratic values.

The divisions arose essentially over what a Commonwealth called "the proverbial half empty and half full part of the glass." India is reported to have been in the forefront of the CMAG group arguing against unconditional lifting of suspension.

Given the change in government, India was represented by its acting high commissioner in London. Canada, Sri Lanka and the Bahamas too were represented only by their high commissioners (the Commonwealth term for ambassadors).

Commonwealth secretary-general Don McKinnon is also believed to have pointed out that the CMAG decisions must be consistent with the growing emphasis within the Commonwealth on good governance.

Britain and Australia argued that the Commonwealth would be out of tune with world opinion if it disregarded steps taken towards democracy in Pakistan.

The result was a compromise that put Gen. Musharraf on notice to quit by the end of the year.

McKinnon read out a statement following the meeting which said: "The (CMAG) group welcomed the progress made in restoring democracy and rebuilding democratic institutions in Pakistan…and decided therefore that Pakistan should no longer remain suspended from the councils of the Commonwealth."

But CMAG also said it "noted continuing concerns in regard to the strengthening of the democratic process in Pakistan." The group also "further hoped that the process of democratization would be consolidated in such a way as to encourage a broader embrace of the Harare principles."

CMAG "agreed to remain seized of the situation by retaining Pakistan on its agenda" and to offer Pakistan "technical assistance" in restoring full democracy.

Pakistan has to keep in mind "the issue of the separation of the offices of the president and chief of army staff," McKinnon told media representatives after the meeting.

The move seeks to bring the Commonwealth in line with diplomatic positions taken around the world, but in effect gives Gen. Musharraf about six months in which to leave or risk a reinstatement of suspension.

It is a small risk because there is little for Pakistan to lose in staying out of the Commonwealth partially or wholly. Few expect the Commonwealth threat to weigh in with Gen. Musharraf when he decides his future towards the end of the year.

Strategic and economic ties between Pakistan and key members of the Commonwealth such as Britain have actually improved over the period Pakistan has remained partially suspended. Britain welcomed Gen. Musharraf as a state guest last summer.

Ties between Pakistan and India have made a historic breakthrough over this period following rapprochement moves where nobody was thinking about the Commonwealth.

Pakistani officials had said after the 2002 general elections that suspension should be lifted as a result. But CMAG decided, again after strong differences among members, that Pakistan had not gone far enough while Gen. Musharraf remained in effective charge.

Gen. Musharraf’s trump card has been to present Pakistan as an ally against terror. The need for Pakistani support in taking on Osama bin Laden and al-Qaeda within Afghanistan has meant that nobody is looking at copybook rules on democracy when dealing with Pakistan.

The Commonwealth suspension was a partial application of democratic principles, but lacked political or economic teeth. The partial suspension has been followed now by partial vindication, to the extent that matters. That too is only for the remaining part of this year.

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