The Nobel Prize Committee has decided to award the 2012 Peace Prize to Asif Ali Zardari, the President of Pakistan. The Award citation lists a number of achievements including Mr Zardari’s contribution in making Afghanistan more stable and controlling the activities of Osama Bin Laden before his death by providing him suitable housing near the Pakistani capital. Bin Laden could therefore be kept under surveillance ensuring that he was not able to repeat the terrorist attacks on USA. Mr Zardari has also contributed in reducing Pakistan’s poverty and in improving education of some Pakistani citizens. This is demonstrated by the large number of children in his family and friends and children of senior ministers and military officers who are studying and living in USA or Europe.
Mr Zardari has also been praised for his politics of tolerance and reconciliation as is demonstrated by him welcoming the Taliban to Pakistan’s western provinces and providing them all the support that Pakistan is able to. Mr Zardari is a strong supporter of the Pakistan’s powerful intelligence service ISI and he has ensured that ISI coordinated terrorist attacks in Mumbai in 2008 and in Afghanistan in September 2011 did not cause too much property damage or human suffering.
Furthermore a number of countries including the USA and China have lauded Pakistan President’s visit to India in April. It has been noted that better ties between the two nuclear-armed neighbours will benefit both countries and bring stability in the region.
It is well known that President Zardari, after the assassination of Benazir Bhutto, not only saved Pakistan with the slogan ‘Pakistan Khappay’ but also integrated the country.
