There has been much pomp surrounding the fact that our parliament has supposedly reordered the terms of our engagement with the US. Given the charade-like feel of the entire process aside, one has a strong hunch that these recommendations are high on rhetoric and may not be implemented. There is an inherent imbalance in our relation with the US, it being a superpower that in many ways underwrites our ailing economy and us being a third world country widely seen as a duplicitous terror sponsor.
Despite the strong words of our parliament, can we expect the US to be any more respectful of our sovereignty or to take these seriously? The real engagement of the US is not with our political leadership to begin with. (And even if it was, many in the political leadership would be eager to have American patronage and the perks that it entails). The more things change, the more they stay the same…
ALI ASIF
Lahore
