The truth about the weapons of mass destruction was exposed only when the superpower had had its way with Iraq. That the Foreign Office and the DG ISPR had denied all allegations made through a malicious documentary released by the BBC presenting interviews of some middle order militants, all obviously planted to fortify the already harsh allegations that the US has been hurling at the Pakistan army for some time now.
Apparently, the relationship between both the countries is far from normal as the discourse emanating from Washington displays a distinct displeasure at the way things are progressing in the region. Ground realities, according to the Pakistani version, do not match up with the concocted tale that is being weaved by the US and Afghan leaders to teach Pakistan a lesson for not agreeing to its every wish and demand. Pakistan refuses to launch a military operation in North Waziristan and there goes the relationship.
Every accusation and allegation somehow seems to have its roots in North Waziristan thus making the US mindset pretty apparent to read. The superpower is not used to listen to a refusal, and that too from an economically downtrodden Pakistan.
It serves to resurrect a sense of de ja vu reminding them of what happened in Vietnam. The latest offensive launched by the Taliban is being termed by an American expert George Friedman as one similar to the Tet Offensive in 1968 against the United States, which was a psychological blow against the United States because it made a mockery of the US narrative according to which the North Vietnamese were weakening and that they were not able to mount an offensive upon the US. This had drawn into question to the credibility of the Johnson administration.
The US appears to be suffering from a similar fate once again as the US narrative of reversing and dismantling the Taliban momentum has been challenged by the Taliban. Pakistan, despite being marginalised needs to keep on making its voice heard by enhancing its ability to develop a coherent narrative so that it does not remain standing to take the brunt of others failures in the region.
AYAANA MALIK
Islamabad
