We are not America’s colony
Courtesy:- Mohammad Jamil
The Americans are grumbling that Pakistan has refused to take dictation on the matters that run counter to Pakistan’s national interest. They were angry on throwing spanner in their work by stopping some of their diplomats and contractor’s personnel who had been running in cars with fakenumber plates, carrying weapons and making video films of sensitive installations and cantonments. They were growling for Pakistan’s refusal to conduct military operation in North Waziristan, and they felt offended for not obeying their orders regarding Iran-Pakistan gas pipeline.
US secretary of State Hillary Clinton threatened of grave consequences if Pakistan did not pull out of the joint gas pipeline venture with Iran. In their mad frenzy to discipline a defiant Iran, including a contemplated much-cherished regime change in Tehran, the US movers and shakers slapped all sort of sanctions and are exerting pressure on the world nations to kowtow their line on Iran’s nuclear stance. But who will tell America that we not their colony? It should understand that by pushing an ally against the wall that had given unprecedented sacrifices, America’s image will further be tarnished in the world. Pakistan has rejecting any foreign pressure on the bilateral cooperation with Iran including energy sector, and Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani on Thursday said Pakistan being a sovereign state would do whatever was in its own interest. “We are a sovereign country and we will do whatever is in the interest of Pakistan,” Gilani said while responding to a question during “Prime Minister Online” programme. He said Pakistan and Iran have bilateral relations and cooperation in diverse fields including energy, gas pipeline, electricity etc. Addressing a news conference at the Ministry of Foreign Affaires in Islamabad, Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar also rejected the US threats for economic sanctions on promotion of economic ties between Pakistan and Iran and said that the country would extend its cooperation with Iran in energy as it was necessary to meet energy needs at present. Rejecting the American objections on Pakistan-Iran gas pipeline, Hina Rabbani Khar gave a clear message to Washington that Pakistan would introduce her decision keeping her national interests at priority.
America wants Pakistan should go for the Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (TAPI) gas pipeline project, which is still in process, and even feasibility has not been prepared. It expects from Pakistan to leave Iran-Pakistan joint venture, which is a done deal. Indeed, Pakistan’s energy need is urgent and pressing, which only joint pipeline venture with Iran can meet. The nation has been listening to such rhetoric since 1998 that the government is working on TAPI gas pipeline but no progress seems to have been made during the last 14 years. As regards Iran-Pakistan-India gaspipeline Pakistan and Iran had signed the Memorandum of Understanding in July 2005, and had later agreed to extend the validity of the MoU and start a detailed feasibility study of the project, which was confirmed in June 2006 in a joint declaration. Pakistan had taken the position that if India had doubts about Pakistan’s intentions, the security of the pipeline or withdraws because of the US pressure, Pakistan would go ahead with the project. Pakistan stands by agreement with Iran.
America had promised to help Pakistan in overcoming energy crisis, but like other promises, this promise also remained unfulfilled. The problem is that there is long list of betrayals from America. With it bitter past experiences of such US pledges, what trust can Pakistan place on this promise? They renege on those solemn pledges as quickly as they make them, remorselessly. The United States had agreed to establish economic opportunity zones along the Afghan-Pakistan border during a meeting between then president Pervez Musharraf and then President George Bush. According to this plan products from designated zones in Pakistan and Afghanistan were to be exported duty-free to the United States to spur economic growth and realize economic opportunities for the local people. The Reconstruction opportunity zones were to be set up in the federally administered tribal areas, NWFP, border areas of Balochistan and parts of earthquake-hit areas of Azad Kashmir with a view to providing employment opportunities to the people, but to no avail.
No doubt Pakistan has had excellent relations with the US for the last six decades, interjected by certain hiccups. However, it was due to ineptness of our leaders that Pakistan had to depend on the US for economic and military needs, as they did not take measures to make Pakistan self-reliant. Having that said, people of Pakistan do not feel ingratiated to American lords, because America has benefited a lot more and it is due to Pakistan’s cooperation that America is a sole super power today. In 1960, after Soviet Union downed an American U-2 reconnaissance plane flying on its Central Asian republics, Pakistan had a close brush of being bombed back into Stone Age by the enraged Soviet Union, which had encircled Peshawar in bold red and had threatened Pakistan of severe consequences. Pakistan had to bear the brunt of millions of Afghan refugees, Kalashnikov culture and drug menace by joining Afghan jihad in 1980s. Pakistan was coerced into joining the War on Terror and suffered death and destruction due to terrorists’ attacks.
The question is that despite all sacrifices and imperiling our security for their sake, what Pakistan got in return except betrayals, sanctions and insinuations from the ally? During 1965 war with India, a snap embargo was placed on all US military supplies, including spare parts for our military predominantly equipped with American weaponry. Pakistan’s people know their American “friends” more for betrayal than for any fidelity, and that list of betrayals while already very long is now increasing spectacularly. America’s decision to give India a role in Afghanistan is tantamount to providing India opportunity to encircle Pakistan from western border as well. Strategic Partnership Agreement between Afghanistan and India was also done on America’s behest. Though Afghan President Hamid Karzai said the strategic partnership pact signed with India was not directed against any other country and will not upset relations with Pakistan, yet Pakistan’s security has been imperiled by this agreement. President Hamid Karzai has been blowing hot and cold; therefore Pakistan should not lower its guard, and be prepared for any eventuality.
The Americans are grumbling that Pakistan has refused to take dictation on the matters that run counter to Pakistan’s national interest. They were angry on throwing spanner in their work by stopping some of their diplomats and contractor’s personnel who had been running in cars with fakenumber plates, carrying weapons and making video films of sensitive installations and cantonments. They were growling for Pakistan’s refusal to conduct military operation in North Waziristan, and they felt offended for not obeying their orders regarding Iran-Pakistan gas pipeline.
US secretary of State Hillary Clinton threatened of grave consequences if Pakistan did not pull out of the joint gas pipeline venture with Iran. In their mad frenzy to discipline a defiant Iran, including a contemplated much-cherished regime change in Tehran, the US movers and shakers slapped all sort of sanctions and are exerting pressure on the world nations to kowtow their line on Iran’s nuclear stance. But who will tell America that we not their colony? It should understand that by pushing an ally against the wall that had given unprecedented sacrifices, America’s image will further be tarnished in the world. Pakistan has rejecting any foreign pressure on the bilateral cooperation with Iran including energy sector, and Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani on Thursday said Pakistan being a sovereign state would do whatever was in its own interest. “We are a sovereign country and we will do whatever is in the interest of Pakistan,” Gilani said while responding to a question during “Prime Minister Online” programme. He said Pakistan and Iran have bilateral relations and cooperation in diverse fields including energy, gas pipeline, electricity etc. Addressing a news conference at the Ministry of Foreign Affaires in Islamabad, Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar also rejected the US threats for economic sanctions on promotion of economic ties between Pakistan and Iran and said that the country would extend its cooperation with Iran in energy as it was necessary to meet energy needs at present. Rejecting the American objections on Pakistan-Iran gas pipeline, Hina Rabbani Khar gave a clear message to Washington that Pakistan would introduce her decision keeping her national interests at priority.
America wants Pakistan should go for the Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (TAPI) gas pipeline project, which is still in process, and even feasibility has not been prepared. It expects from Pakistan to leave Iran-Pakistan joint venture, which is a done deal. Indeed, Pakistan’s energy need is urgent and pressing, which only joint pipeline venture with Iran can meet. The nation has been listening to such rhetoric since 1998 that the government is working on TAPI gas pipeline but no progress seems to have been made during the last 14 years. As regards Iran-Pakistan-India gaspipeline Pakistan and Iran had signed the Memorandum of Understanding in July 2005, and had later agreed to extend the validity of the MoU and start a detailed feasibility study of the project, which was confirmed in June 2006 in a joint declaration. Pakistan had taken the position that if India had doubts about Pakistan’s intentions, the security of the pipeline or withdraws because of the US pressure, Pakistan would go ahead with the project. Pakistan stands by agreement with Iran.
America had promised to help Pakistan in overcoming energy crisis, but like other promises, this promise also remained unfulfilled. The problem is that there is long list of betrayals from America. With it bitter past experiences of such US pledges, what trust can Pakistan place on this promise? They renege on those solemn pledges as quickly as they make them, remorselessly. The United States had agreed to establish economic opportunity zones along the Afghan-Pakistan border during a meeting between then president Pervez Musharraf and then President George Bush. According to this plan products from designated zones in Pakistan and Afghanistan were to be exported duty-free to the United States to spur economic growth and realize economic opportunities for the local people. The Reconstruction opportunity zones were to be set up in the federally administered tribal areas, NWFP, border areas of Balochistan and parts of earthquake-hit areas of Azad Kashmir with a view to providing employment opportunities to the people, but to no avail.
No doubt Pakistan has had excellent relations with the US for the last six decades, interjected by certain hiccups. However, it was due to ineptness of our leaders that Pakistan had to depend on the US for economic and military needs, as they did not take measures to make Pakistan self-reliant. Having that said, people of Pakistan do not feel ingratiated to American lords, because America has benefited a lot more and it is due to Pakistan’s cooperation that America is a sole super power today. In 1960, after Soviet Union downed an American U-2 reconnaissance plane flying on its Central Asian republics, Pakistan had a close brush of being bombed back into Stone Age by the enraged Soviet Union, which had encircled Peshawar in bold red and had threatened Pakistan of severe consequences. Pakistan had to bear the brunt of millions of Afghan refugees, Kalashnikov culture and drug menace by joining Afghan jihad in 1980s. Pakistan was coerced into joining the War on Terror and suffered death and destruction due to terrorists’ attacks.
The question is that despite all sacrifices and imperiling our security for their sake, what Pakistan got in return except betrayals, sanctions and insinuations from the ally? During 1965 war with India, a snap embargo was placed on all US military supplies, including spare parts for our military predominantly equipped with American weaponry. Pakistan’s people know their American “friends” more for betrayal than for any fidelity, and that list of betrayals while already very long is now increasing spectacularly. America’s decision to give India a role in Afghanistan is tantamount to providing India opportunity to encircle Pakistan from western border as well. Strategic Partnership Agreement between Afghanistan and India was also done on America’s behest. Though Afghan President Hamid Karzai said the strategic partnership pact signed with India was not directed against any other country and will not upset relations with Pakistan, yet Pakistan’s security has been imperiled by this agreement. President Hamid Karzai has been blowing hot and cold; therefore Pakistan should not lower its guard, and be prepared for any eventuality.
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