Pakistani Youth "Vote" for U.S. President

GILGIT, Pakistan – Young people in Pakistan can't vote for the next president of the United States. But like others around the world, they are watching the last days of the campaign closely. And young Pakistanis, particularly in Gilgit, the capital city of Pakistan's northern territories, have more reason than most inhabitants of this planet to care which candidate wins on Nov. 4. While U.S Sen. John McCain, the Republican nominee, has said he would seek talks with Pakistan’s new government, Sen. Barack Obama, the Democratic candidate, has pledged to pursue Taliban and Al Qaeda fighters across the border from Afghanistan into Pakistan’s northern tribal areas. U.S.-led and Pakistani forces have already clashed in recent weeks over military incursions inside Pakistan’s borders, only deepening the concern over whether the next U.S. president would quell or accelerate those tensions. Some young Gilgit residents said they were frightened, depending on the election's outcome, that the U.S. might attack Pakistan. “I think McCain would be better for Pakistan because in the presidential debates he mentioned that he will not go against the will of the Pakistani people,” said Mehreen Ahmed, 17, a junior in Public School and Colleges. However, given that Pakistanis view Obama as the front runner in the election, any support McCain has in Pakistan might be moot. “I seriously want John McCain to be the [next] president, but I don’t see him making it to the White House," said Sajida Rehman, 21, a student at Karakurum International University. "The polls tell me that [he won't make it].” Even young people who said they don't normally follow politics were vocal about Americans' choice for president because of their fears that U.S.-Pakistani relations could sour. Shahzadi Malik Shah, 19, a high school senior at St. Joseph College in Karachi said, “I really don’t care, but I think Obama will start operations against the Taliban, and he will need Pakistan’s support. It is going to be hard for Pakistan to decide whether to go for it or not. America will be a tricky customer to deny, and Pakistani citizens will be rigid against the argument to fight for America. Pakistan is in a hitch either way.” Although Mohsin Ahmed, 17, a senior at Islamia High School in Peshawar, said Obama's economic plan was strong, the Democratic candidate has also been called less experienced at foreign affairs. “Obama has great capabilities to take his country to a higher level of prosperity," Ahmed said. "He can make good decisions, but may make wild ones too. He is dreadfully unpredictable. He can come out with lethal weapons anytime against Pakistan in the name of war against terror.” Like Ahmed, other teenagers said they feared an attack by the U.S. if Obama was elected. “I think Pakistan will have to continue with its foreign policy if Obama wins," said Shoaib Mehmood, 19. Then, referring to the current U.S. president, George W. Bush, he added that Obama, "Seems to continue Bush’s policy of going against Muslims. I can see him attacking Pakistan.” The Democratic nominee said he would set a timeline for ending the Iraq war and shift military resources to Afghanistan, which will focus additional U.S. troops against insurgents who cross the border into Pakistan. But given McCain’s tough stance against terrorism, his military background and his support for the war in Iraq, some young Pakistanis said they feared his winning the election. Jibran Hayat, 20, of Gilgit, said he believed McCain, whose national security policies are more closely aligned with those of the current president, was more dangerous to predominantly Muslim countries as a result. “If American war hero John McCain is elected as the next resident of the White House, then the U.S might spark another couple of wars in the next four years,” said Karim Aman, who is 18. Still, other young Pakistanis said either candidate could accelerate the tension between the two countries. “John McCain will try to act as a great adversary against terrorism, and might engage America in more wars,” said Kamran Ali, 18. Then Kamran added, “Obama, too, can start operations in the tribal areas of Pakistan.” Teenagers from across Pakistan cited varying reasons for their preferences, but several said Pakistanis in general view Obama as the likeliest to win. “I am not at all into politics, but I can see Obama as the next American president because most of the people I talk to say so,” said Khalid Mehmood, 18, a high school junior from Public School and Colleges. If Obama does win, he would become the first African-American to be president of the United States. But some Gilgit teenagers said the U.S. might not be ready to send a minority to the White House. “If Obama was white, the race would have been long over by now,” said Ambreen Khan, 18, a high school senior. Still others said the U.S is ready for a minority president. “If America was not ready for a black man to be their president, how come Obama has made it to this point?" said Usama Malik, 18, a senior at Aga Khan Higher Secondary School. Malik noted that Obama had beat out a fellow senator and former first lady Hilary Rodham Clinton in the primary. Clinton is white. At least one young Pakistani interviewed said that no matter who wins on Nov. 4, U.S. foreign policy should change. “The policies of America have weakened world democracy,” said Syed Zaki-ud-Din, 18. “America supported a military dictator, General Pervez Musharraf, in Pakistan. The situation of the world asks for a change. I would suggest the future president initiate peace talks with anti-American groups instead of [fighting them].”