Haseeb Asghar
“If President of US wants that Pakistan should be the graveyard of the American army, then we will welcome them”.
Chairman of the Senate Raza Rabbani expressed a strong and clear message to the new and sensational President of US Trump over his new policy about Pakistan, Afghanistan and India.US president Trump warned Pakistan in his first policy speech for Pakistan, Afghanistan and India during his presidential tenure. He said “We can no longer be silent about Pakistan’s safe havens to terrorist organizations, Pakistan often gives safe haven to agents of chaos, violence and terror”. In the half hour speech in Fort Myer, Virginia Trump explained the policy and said America’s goals for Pakistan and Afghanistan is quite clear. “We want to eliminate the safe haven of terrorist in region, we wish and we are trying that nuclear assents would be safe and unreachable to terrorist organizations, it’s our best efforts to safe materials used in nuclear weapons.”
According to the US President, 20 foreign terrorist organizations are working in Pakistan and Afghanistan, which are more than any other in the world. Trump said Pakistan has much to gain from partnering with our effort in Afghanistan but it has much to lose by continuing to harbor terrorists. Ignorance of Pakistan’s sacrifices in the fight against terrorism by US is unusual and unethical.
After the US threats to Pakistan, consensus and a joint statement issued from the Pakistani military and political leadership, Pakistan has decided to ignore US threats and it decided to cooperate with Washington only on a bilateral basis. US threatening behavior are not unexpected toward Pakistan. Pakistan’s policy makers had come to know that last year when the US signed three military agreements with India and harsh statements were continuously issued against Pakistan.
According to my analysis now Pakistani policy makers have opted for the policy of not being awestruck by US threats. They can continue collaboration with US, but only on bilateral basis.
Pakistan Army Chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa told US Ambassador David Hale that Islamabad will continue to do what it is doing in Afghanistan out of its national interests, not to appease Washington. Underlining that peace in Afghanistan was important for Pakistan too, the Army chief said: “Islamabad has done a lot towards Afghanistan and shall keep on doing its best; not to appease anyone but in line with Pakistan’s national interest and national policy.”
Gen Bajwa said Pakistan was not looking for any financial assistance from the US but rather trust, understanding and acknowledgment for its contributions in the war on terror.
US president Donald Trump has intended to increase the number of American troops in Afghanistan. Sending 4,000 more troops to Afghanistan the total number of American Troops will be more then 8,000, the number of NATO troops will be more then 14 to 15 thousands, Trump appealed to the NATO countries to send more troops to Afghanistan. Then the number will increase up to 20 to 25 thousands,
If this policy is implemented then the US has only one way to send its troops to Afghanistan, this is Pakistan. US need Pakistan logistic support for sending Troops. In addition to protecting its army in Afghanistan, the United States will have a strong need for Pakistan’s areas because there is still a strong network of Taliban in Afghanistan, and Taliban has strong grip on many provinces of Afghanistan.
The US statement against Pakistan in such a situation is unbelievable, because the United States is not able to secure peace in Afghanistan without support for Pakistan.
In an international scenario, Pakistan has a strong position because of the new, less quiet stand of superpower China, backing Pakistan and lending its support. China has invested a huge amount of money in CPEC (China Pakistan Economic Corridor). Chinese investment in CPEC is an equally important part of that which China has separately invested in all over the world. US and India are aware of this huge investment.
Keep an eye on the new developing situation in Pakistan if the US starts more Drone Attacks in Pakistan or increases its radius of operations to other areas there. If India increases its aggression toward Pakistan, Pakistan would take a harsh defensive stance in order to safeguard its entity and sovereignty. Pakistan should use this occasion for confidence building with the Taliban, those not involved in killing innocent people, to strengthen its borders along Afghanistan.
Although shooting down a US Drone is a hard decision for both the military and civil administration, in spite of this Pakistan should understand its strong position to defend its sovereignty while China is supporting Pakistan. On the other hand Russia is also willing to better relations with Pakistan if only because of CPEC. The China / Pakistan economic corridor may play a vital role in enhancing the Russian economy. The US’s hostility toward Russia is not hidden from anyone. The US has done incredible damaged to the Russian economy in the 80’s and 90’s and at this point Russia’s growing interests are more in line with Pakistan and China. Their support has made Pakistan’s position stronger, which is absolutely to the advantage of Pakistan. Pakistan should not miss this chance to defend its sovereignty.
The United States will never accept its defeat easily and will try to pretend that Pakistani nuclear assets are in danger when terrorist control of nuclear assets would be devastating for the entire region .At this time Pakistan has no other option but defiance.
Pakistan has sacrificed more than 70,000 civilian and approximately 10,000 security personnel in the fight against terrorism but in spite of all these worthy sacrifices the US’s policy statements are disappointing and hypocritical. Despite these huge sacrifices by Pakistan in the fight against terrorism the US demand for “Do more” is extremely ridiculous and unusual.as Pakistan was the extraordinary ally of the United States in the war against terrorism after 9/11.
Pakistan had handed over the Afghan ambassador to the United States of America who had diplomatic immunity in Pakistan. Still, in this regard the US announced in its policy that Pakistan provides safe haven for terrorist organizations. Pakistan will find the best and appropriate answer to the US demand: “Do more, No more!
