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COMMENTARY
U.S. diplomatic efforts to persuade Pakistan to reopen NATO supply lines to the Afghan war are proving no match for the anger against the US Policies in the region, with Pakistani lawmakers increasingly unwilling to support a decision that risks them branded as friends of Washington.
Opposition legislators are demanding that the U.S. end its drone strikes against civilians and perceived, but not verified militants, as a precondition, complicating U.S. strategies for winding down the 10-year war, just weeks before a major NATO conference in President Barack Obama’s hometown of Chicago.
Relations between the U.S. and Pakistan have been marked by mistrust since the two countries were thrust together following the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks have bankrupted Pakistan. America needs Pakistan’s support against al-Qaida – needed to keep the alliance more or less intact.
That changed in November when U.S. airstrikes deliberately killed 24 Pakistani troops, to intimidate Pakistan, but blamed it on error on the Afghan border, triggering nationwide outrage and retaliation from Pakistan, which suspended diplomatic contacts and blocked vital land routes for U.S. and NATO troops in Afghanistan.
US is using pressure tactics by embracing India, more tightly, to an extent where India is the IT arm of US Industry. To India, this is a win-win situation, it has neutralized Pakistan, as a 60 year, US ally, while not lifting a finger to support US effort against the Taliban. Ajay Shukla in India’s Business Standard, writes:
“ In New Delhi today, Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao, addressing an international seminar on Afghanistan, declared that India would support the process of “reintegrating individuals with the national mainstream”, code for dialogue with the moderate Taliban (1).”
India, also funds the so-called Pakistan Taliban, who, are it’s surrogates in fomenting violence in Pakistan, like bombing, assassinations, and kidnapping. This is a tit-for-tat tactic for pressurizing Pakistan, not to provide moral and diplomatic support in International Forums, like the UN and UNESCO.
Also, for the information of many armchair, internet Zionists and Indian lurkers, India is a very fickle nation, which keeps changing its 115,000 gods, it would have no qualms of changing its friends like Israel. If it served India’s interests, it will spit out Israel in seconds. It still retains a Palestinian Consulate, and had a soft corner for Yasser Arafat.
330 million gods (2)
It is said that Hindus believe there are 330 million deities
Islamic rulers in Moghul India did not force Hindus to convert, although, Hinduism’s beliefs conflicted, with the Muslim Deen, of One, Omnipotent, Omnipresent, and Omnicient Creator of All Universesand Creations.
Qur’anic Treasures Hidden in Surah Ikhlas (Purity)
(Holy Qur’an 112:1-4)
Surah Fatiha (The Opening Chapter) of the Holy Qur’an is the important Surah of the Holy Qur’an and no Muslim prayer is complete without it. It is therefore the most repeated Surah of the Holy Qur’an. After the Surah Fatiha, Surah Ikhlas is the most important and most often repeated Surah of the Holy Qur’an. The importance of this Surah has been described in the following hadith of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him)1:
Muslims in the sub-continent have learned that Mother India which changes its gods, like changing diapers on a new-born baby, is a fickle mistress.
Analysts also say being frontline alley in war on terror has severely destroyed Pakistan’s social fabric and its economy. Pakistan has suffered badly by being allied to US. It is always in cross-hairs of Israeli-Indian lobby in the US Congress. After, losing 30,000 soldiers and civilians, Pakistan is demonized in the New York/ Washington/LA based US Press Pundits, who care less about US interests, more about Israel’s interests. All US newspapers Opinion and Op/ED pages are fabricated by this group. Pakistan has a snowballs chance in hell in debunking these forces. India, which has NOT lost a single soldier in the US, Afghan War effort is sitting like a smirking monkey who has grabbed an apple from toddler. India has not moved a finger to help the US War effort, but, US Secretary of State Mrs. Clinton is Lady Gaga in New Delhi, with friends. the US, Pakistan does not need any enemies.
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Modern generation in Pakistan often ask two key questions:
1) Is Afghanistan a friend or foe?
2) Is ensuring peace in the war torn country responsibility of Pakistan?
Analysts also say being frontline alley in war on terror has severely destroyed Pakistan’s social fabric and its economy. Some even to the extent of saying that Pakistan has been fighting the proxy war of United States for more than four decades. Ironically, the relationship between Pakistan, Afghanistan and United are so badly intertwined that even if Pakistan wishes it can’t pull itself out of a bizarre war which is not likely to yield any result.
When Pakistan was dragged in war against USSR, the impression created was that once Afghanistan was conquered the next target would be Pakistan. Many eyebrows were raised because Afghanistan was the only country that opposed Pakistan’s entry in the United Nations. After USSR pulled its forces out from Afghanistan the country suffered the worst civil war for a long time. During resistance against USSR, often labeled Jihad, Taliban emerged the binding force. However, after 9/11 the United States declared Taliban the worst enemy because they has provided asylum to Osama bin Laden. Pakistan was once again forced to join war against the same Taliban it has supported for years.
Many Pakistan analysts are also not happy with the role assigned by the United States to Pakistan and its arch enemy India. Pakistan has been assigned the responsibility to cleanse Afghanistan and India is playing the role of developer/trainer. Northern Alliance of Afghanistan has always considered Pakistan a foe but now even Taliban and Pushtoons disapprove double standard followed by Pakistan.
Pakistan’s want peace in Afghanistan and also believes it has a role in installing of any government there. However, critics have two opposite opinions, one group says enough is enough and the time has come for Pakistan to disassociate itself from the bizarre war. The other group still believes that Afghanistan is Pakistan’s responsibility. They fear that the United States is intimidating Iran so that an preemptive assault could be made against the country that has endured 10 years of war and more than three decades of economic sanctions. They also fear that in case of an assault on Iran, Pakistan’s soil and airspace will be used.
Their appreciations have based on the evidence that a banned outfit, Jundullah, having its base in Pakistani Balochistan has been involved in undertaking cross border terrorist activities in Iranian Balochistan. Reportedly Iran has caused, prosecuted and hanged Jundullah activists, including its chief. Pakistanis strongly believe that Jundullah is fully supported by the intelligence agencies of those countries which are adamant at destroying nuclear facilities of Iran.
However, some critics say Pakistan has to be extra sensitive about its sovereignty; it also had to make sure that no part of its territory was used against any other country as well. But they also say if sovereignty gives certain rights to a nation, it also places responsibilities on it. All efforts must concentrate on stabilizing Afghanistan because no other country had suffered as much from instability there as Pakistan.
According to veteran diplomat Riaz Mohammad Khan, everyone has burnt his fingers in Afghanistan and Pakistan can’t be an exception. The country has a role to play in the Afghan conflict. Asking for such a role causes doubts in international diplomatic circles about Pakistan’s intensions. Therefore, Pakistan will have to tackle the Afghan issue with certain level of confidence that no other state can take over its role.
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