This is with reference to President Obama’s press conference on 6 Octonber in which he warned “US will not feel comfortable in a long-term strategic relationship with Pakistan, if it didn’t protect US interests.” It’s very strange that America is destroying country after country and destabilising the world to protect its ever-changing interests. The US’s frustration over their failing policies and tactics in Afghanistan is visible from all out assault on their so-called strategic partner and only non-NATO ally.
Now the Karzai government has also jumped in on the bandwagon besides India. After a decade of bloody war, which killed millions, including thousands of coalition soldiers it is still by no means over.
The economic meltdown which showed its sign in 2008 is now engulfing the USA and Europe. The sole super power is spending more than $130 billion annually on these wars the world over but is failing in domestic policies. It’s not prepared to accept that their policies from Vietnam War till date are not very well thought out and need serious appraisal. The accusations and charges which they are levelling against Pakistan were levelled against Iraq and tens of thousands of innocent people died with country being razed down to ground. The situation in Afghanistan is worse than Iraq and still the US wants to impose its faulty solution. The forthcoming elections are also a worrisome factor for Obama administration and to hide its incompetence, Pakistan is being made an escape goat.
The US is playing “wolf and lamb game”. Haqqani network is an Afghan terrorist organisation and is carrying out activities not only in there but in Pakistan also with collaboration of other banned outfits. Pakistan is chasing them everywhere and more than 1, 40,000 troops are fighting against these terrorists. The killed and captured terrorists runs in to thousands and Pakistan has suffered huge losses in terms of men and material but the “do more” mantra is continuing.
The American interest is that Pakistan should open up another front, so that these terrorists concentrate towards it and bleed us more. Pakistanis has the right to ask the US that why they are having links, meeting their leaders and not taking action against Haqqanis. Pakistan has suffered due to wrong US policies. The anti-American sentiments in Pakistan are not irrational because people have always been betrayed by the US. Bullying, threatening, using force against weak countries and double standards give birth to radical elements and extremists, therefore it must be avoided. The present hype seems to be a game plan of walking away again. If the US is really sincere in seeing a stable and peaceful Afghanistan, it must outline the parameters of its policy, keep all the stakeholders on board and give peace a chance because the end result is always through dialogue.
SHAHID ZAHOOR
Rawalpindi