Dear USA, I stand here alone, amidst the deafening sounds of blasts which tear through the limbs and pierce through the hearts of my citizens. As I write this, on the coagulated blood of those denizens of this state who were promised security to life, liberty, freedom and equality, I cannot help but reminisce at the sacrifices we have made to make the world a safer place. A war between two conflicting ideologies led to the propagation of expansionist regimes that aimed at extending their influence in territories through politically motivated wars. You patronised dictators in our land and used them as your own arms and limbs to promote your own vested interests in the region. As the soviet forces stormed into Afghanistan, you boarded planes of dollars into the country to train mujahideen to fight against the Russian forces, a creation that in time evolved into a monster that wreaked havoc in not only our country, but the entire world.
Young children in madrassahs sponsored by the American manna, were trained into walking weapons. With the end of the soviet war, it was clear that your mission had been accomplished and that the Soviet Union disintegrated into fragments. And what of the legacy of your war, that was perpetrated through my hands? Did you ever stop for one second to ponder upon the social and economic spillovers of a war that established your supremacy in the world on the country that aided your ascendancy to the throne of global hegemony?
While other economies of South Asia worked to strengthen their own structures through protectionist regimes, Pakistan for an entire decade was embroiled in a war that led to the economic stagnation of our state. Instead of children taking up books, your manna amplified the effects of an ethnic divide across the country, which witnessed children taking up arms instead. As refugees settled in, the black market and drug trade witnessed a phenomenal rise. Do you understand the implications of the spill over effects of this war, or are you too busy weeping over the atrocity perpetrated during 9/11 that you justified to murder 48,644 Afghan and 1,690,903 Iraqis? As you weep over 9/11, have you failed to take into account the more than 30,000 Pakistanis that have been killed and the thousands of armed forces personnel murdered as a result of our participation in your war.
Have you, dear USA, failed to take into account the $9 billion losses I have endured every year as a result of this ‘War on Terror’? Have you failed to take into account the crippled state of my economy that has been left to rot due to the second round spill over effects of fighting your war; an increase in terrorism. Terrorism that has pushed the economy to the gallows, that has taken away employment opportunities of my people, that has deprived them of a decent living standard, that has deprived them of their means to livelihood. Have you failed to take into account the long term structural debilitation my state had to incur to pay the price for your war?
And then you tell me that the aid of roughly around $15 billion is a justified price tag for our participation in your war? When ironically the bulk of this aid went to the military, what of the economy? What of the people? Should they smile when they see a child in the US munching on a cheese burger when their means of sustenance is snatched away due to your imperialistic aims? Or should they rejoice when they see children in the US happily bonding with their parents as my people are reminded of the ones they have lost? Unfortunately my dear friend, I have paid more than a fair price to make the world a safer place, at the cost of limbless children in my own country. So, dear USA, when you tell me that I will lose an ally because I have not done enough to forward your imperialistic aims, let me tell you that I have lost many a children, many brothers, fathers and sisters to fight your war. Losing another ally would not certainly hurt as much as it did to see the blood of my citizens flowing in the streets of my cities or the thousands of people that seek employment, yet their opportunities are vanishing like sunlight from the horizon, or the ruthless reign of terror of the monsters you created demonising my people.
Perhaps in your absence, we can embark upon a phase of the collective reconstruction of our conscience, to build a prosperous and better Pakistan.
Sincerely, Pakistan.
The writer is News Editor, Profit
Dear Pakistan. We gave you what you asked for. Long ago and far from here, at the time of Independence, we asked you- both of you, India and Pakistan, what you wanted. India wanted IITs, Education, Technology and know-how. The big powers, the USA, Russia, and Britain jumped in to help. India did not ask for much weaponry – which it perhaps should have given the conflict with China in 1962. You, Pakistan, asked for tanks, guns, fighter aircraft and sundry weapons of war to fight the "infidels' across the Eastern border. We gave you that. And now live with that.
A well written true story. The story witnessed and lived by every Pakistani of our times.
Its important for the US to start listening to Pakistanis and to many Americans who are also trying to put some sense into the rest of the Americans. There are many citizens of US today, who also feel our pain and the pain of Iraqis, Afghanis and the US soldiers who pointlessly lost their lives and limbs in this pointless ‘war’… In fact, in the popular cartoon program Simpsons too, they made fun of US’s attitude of killing innocent people to ‘sort’ out their own problems. Its about time sanity prevailed now…
This is an excellent reflection of reality of this region.
If that was so, how come India has a far greater weapons’ supremacy over Pakistan?
Because they educated their people, who went abroad and brought back the technology. Their missile man (a Muslim) became their President. Our nuclear scientist was put behind bars. And tell me how many world-class Tech Institutes do we have? Most of the institutes of higher learning in the West are clogged with Indians. They run Silicon Valley.
Not the least bit does the current rift between Pakistan and USA upset or disturb me… i'm glad…. very glad, that finally, as you put it, "we can embark upon a phase of the collective reconstruction of our conscience, to build a prosperous and better Pakistan". And yet, i agree with Mohsin Kidwai about our greed for military weaponry…. the fault is Pakistan's alone, its short-sightedness and greedy rulers …. USA has lost the war, and so it has to blame someone … let them invite India to Afghanistan to help them in this WOT, Indians will not have the ***** to step in that region! This letter should be addressed from the people of Pakistan to our rulers, cos they are to be blamed for this entire mess!
A well written true story. The story witnessed and lived by every Pakistani of our times.
Its important for the US to start listening to Pakistanis and to many Americans who are also trying to put some sense into the rest of the Americans. There are many citizens of US today, who also feel our pain and the pain of Iraqis, Afghanis and the US soldiers who pointlessly lost their lives and limbs in this pointless ‘war’… In fact, in the popular cartoon program Simpsons too, they made fun of US’s attitude of killing innocent people to ‘sort’ out their own problems. Its about time sanity prevailed now…
What a marvelous piece written on a situation that is not recent but has been happening since the govt. shook hands with USA. What we need to understand is that America is never going to listen to what we have to say. Our F.M should’ve presented a firm statement over this issue. Its not something that can be dealt with by calling an APC or taking out anti-american rallies and burning their effigies. ‘Stand up Pakistan’ has become a cliche term now and never worked upon either. Soon enough it’ll be ‘too late’ for us.
Good job Ali. Thumbs up for you 🙂
Very well written! Something that needs to be taken account of but is very easily rubbished by our present day 'masters'.
We need to get out of this war.
Pakistan Zindabad!
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