A one-sided and alarming advisory
State Department Spokesman John Kirby was defensive days after the last US travel warning for Pakistan was issued on October 7 2016. Kirby conceded that the advisory was not based on specific threats but was a routine update to a warning. Under the Trump administration, which has issued a more detailed advisory and a sterner warning, there are going to be no defensive explanations. Those who prepared the latest US advisory can claim they have said nothing which is inaccurate. The document however highlights a disparaging view of Pakistan as it presents the country as a highly dangerous destination for any foreign traveller, particularly an American.
The facts recounted in the advisory are indisputable: attacks continue to take place on law enforcement personnel and members of rival sects while there have been targeted killings of members of humanitarian networks, NGO employees and tribal elders. Foreign and indigenous terrorist groups meanwhile continue to pose a danger to US citizens. Terrorists and criminal groups still resort to street crimes and kidnappings for ransom. This leads the report to conclude that no place is safe for foreigners in Pakistan. The terrorists have targeted heavily guarded facilities that include military installations, airports, universities, schools, and hospitals. Beginning from October 2016, the advisory recounts all the major terrorist attacks in various provinces noting the casualties and updating the information till February 2017.
The report, however, fails to take into account the positive after-effects of Operation Zarb-e-Azb and Operation Radd ul Fasaad. The advisory is therefore one-sided and unhelpful. The government which is never tired of patting its own back for breaking the backbone of the terrorists must realise that many influential countries in the world that it wants to work with do not share its optimistic assessments. The establishment has yet to take measures to prove that it is not cherry picking. Unless it does so negative reports of the sort will continue to appear deterring foreign investors from doing business in Pakistan. The government also needs to take note of the tough road ahead in its relations with the Trump administration.
Zarb E azab , raad ul fasad are all coverups they set fake encounters but killing death row inmates in place of real terrorist, no video evidence , no testimony, Pakistan as always is playing hide and seek, just recall the case of Osama whereby he was given VVIP protection to such an extent that his liar was within the Highly restricted military zone of Pakistan army training centre
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