With the sure hope of being helped by the Americans, Pakistan had gladly become its ally in the war on terror. With dreams of development and fixing the energy shortages in the country had looked like a reality with the US claims of helping Pakistan advance towards a more modernised country. Such images however were dispelled when nothing positive emerged out of the agreement between both the countries or allies, so to say. The agreements that no foreign presence upon the Pakistani territory would be tolerated and that any military operation within the Pakistani border would be carried out exclusively by Pakistani troops were grossly violated by the Americans.
The killing of Pakistani people by an American Raymond Davis, the OBL raid and the Salala checkpost are clear indicators that show a disconnect between agreements and reality. Despite the fact that Pakistan has been actively involved in the war on terror by launching several military operations against Al-Qaeda organisations and has allowed the US to execute its military operations from its land, sea and air bases, the unilateral US action in Abbottabad can never be completely justified.
The expenditure on war on terror has far exceeded the amount received in aid by the US in lieu of the war on terror. The Coalition Support Fund till last year had been only $15bn, a figure from which only $2bn had been given to the already overstretched security forces. Further, the Pakistan government has been denied any delivery of latest high tech weapons for fighting militants who are equipped with an unlimited supply of advanced and modern devices which puts our troops under great risk as they have only to rely on a limited supply of local made weapons.
On the other handm, India enjoys a very excellent relation with the US aim to establish a ‘true strategic partnership’ with India by increasing their military cooperation and trade with the country, which can be seen as India is rapidly militarising itself with while critically increasing its defence budget and importing war equipment from many countries including Israel.
The Chicago Summit brings only bad news for Pakistan that again Pakistan is being pressed and cajoled into re-opening the supply lines for Nato and to play its due role in helping the US troops exit honourably.
PROFESSOR KABIL KHAN
Peshawar
