Defeating the Conspiracies

By

Dr. Raja Muhammad Khan

“U.S seeks to leave behind a united, capable, stable and independent Afghanistan. Pakistan wants an Afghanistan, which is stable, but dependent on Pakistan. Pakistan has chosen to embrace terror, but should do so without US aid.” According to ‘The Economic Times’ these were the exact words of former U.S ambassador to India, Robert Blackwill. The former ambassador expressed this viewpoint during an interactive session entitled as, “United States and the Future of Pakistan' arranged by Aspen Institute India, Kolkatta. It is unclear whether the Ambassador’s remarks are his personal or U.S point of view. Nevertheless, State Department has also did not negate the statement. Rather, more often, issues statements those are even more provocative, besides being against the national interests of Pakistan.  

Amb Robert Blackwill, has fame in his anti-Pakistan sentiments. While he was in India, most of the time, he used to provoke the Indian leaderships against Pakistan. Many of his statements during his tenure of US Amb in India used to be so intruding that analysts used to question whether he was a US Amb or an Indian spokesperson. He did not miss any chance to oppose Pakistan on the issue of Jammu and Kashmir with India. During that tenure, he would even oppose the State Department’s viewpoint on Kashmir by declaring it as an integral part of India. It is worth mentioning that all UN resolutions on Kashmir have been backed by US and that, US official position on Kashmir is that; it is disputed territory whose decision has to be made as per the wishes of its people through impartial plebiscite under UN.

While analyzing various aspects of the statement one would wonder about its timings and place of issuance. Pak-US relationship is passing through a very critical stage. Nevertheless, there have been tension in this otherwise seasonal relationship; yet, the recent killings of over two dozen Pakistani soldiers by US forces in Afghanistan have further infuriated the already strained relationship. The attack on Pakistani military posts was no doubt a well planned and deliberate US act. U.S President, Secretary of State, and even Chairman Joint Chief of Staff has regretted it and assured Pakistan for a meaningful inquiry and punishing all those responsible for this act.

Rather repairing the spoiled relationship, Amb Blackwill, tried to further fuel the fire, while sitting at the drawing room of Pakistan’s traditional adversary. Amb Blackwill opines that, United States and Pak Army have “incompatible objectives regarding the war in Afghanistan.” Yes, there is no doubt; there always have been a mismatch between Pakistan and US with reference to their ultimate goals. Pakistan desires a political solution encompassing all Afghan factions and ethnic groups while taking onboard its immediate neighbours, having geographical contiguity with Afghanistan. Pakistan considers that such a solution would give this war-torn country a sustained stability and peace. In fact, Afghans are now sick of these foreign invasions and great games, being played making its geo-politic at the centre stage. No Pakistani is ambitious of making Afghanistan dependent on Pakistan. Rather Pakistan will continue supporting them. Still it is looking after 2.5 million Afghan refuges.

Contrary to Pakistani approach, United States indeed, is seeking a solution which would incorporate only a few, who are serving its purpose, while leaving the   bulk of stake holders away from the solution, thus pushing the unfortunate country towards another civil war, if at all it sticks to its pull out schedule by 2014.  This would be exactly, the way US left it after Soviet disintegration in 1990. In fact, U.S has a track record of creating crisis in various countries, then invading those the garb of that and at the end, leaving those even in worst crises situation. Nowhere in the world, it ever brought stability, lest for its interests. Vietnam, Cambodia, Balkans and Iraq are few examples. Sitting in Kolkatta with former Indian Ambassador to US, Mr Naresh Chandra, Blackwill is perhaps on such a mission of sabotaging Afghan future. Both have indeed co-chaired a report jointly drafted by Aspen India and the Council on Foreign Relations. The report entitled, “The United States and India: A Shared Strategic Future.”

Afghan people should not forget the Blackwill’s plan of dividing Afghanistan on ethnic lines. He proposed US Government to formally initiate it to UN and back this proposal, as it would bring stability in Afghanistan. Hamid Karazai and his Indian friends did not even condemn the proposal. It is the people of Afghanistan and Pakistan who shown their strong resolve against such a proposal. Pakistan and Afghan people have unbreakable linkages, thus foreign powers and interest groups cannot separate them. No one has ever terrorized the Afghans, as done by US forces in the last one decade. If Taliban are committing terrorism, it is also because of US invasion of their homeland. Today, if U.S decides to leave Afghanistan, I believe that peace would return there without any delay.

By now, Amb Blackwill should have been clear that, who aims what in Afghanistan and elsewhere. Rather gaining from U.S partnership in this futile war, indeed, Pakistan has lost everything. It has lost its economy, its peace and stability and above all, its sovereignty.  Its economic losses are now over $72 billion. Pakistan can come out of its crisis if US leaves it alone. Both Amb Blackwill and India need not to worry for Pakistani nuclear arsenals. These are totally secure and Pakistan has a strong command and control system for its nuclear arsenals, in fact unparallel in the world. This is a US strategy that whenever, Pakistan refuses US irrational demands, US and its pseudo scholars, senators and ambassadors and officials lacking acumen start questioning its nuclear arsenals.

The conspiring forum also tried to suggest Pakistan Army to “reduce its strategic preoccupation with India as 'the threat' and deal with internal security issues.” Question arise, who created internal threats and instability in Pakistan. It indeed, is a joint venture of RAW and CIA to destabilize Pakistan to the extent that it  should toe the US line and do not object to the increasing Indian involvement in Afghanistan and along the Western frontiers of Pakistan, letting it to promote all sort of terrorism and sub-nationalism. 

For the first time Pakistan has taken a principle, stand in the best national interest by disallowing logistic support to NATO and US troops in Afghanistan. Nation has its full backing to the Government and Military leadership for all these bold decisions. People of Pakistan are very furious over the losses of their soldiers at the hands of US troops. Thus, in no way people of Pakistan would like resumption of logistic supply to NATO and US, who indeed, sponsor terror in Pakistan and Afghanistan. Besides, getting Shamsi Air Base vacated from US forces, this is yet another act, the people desired since last one decade.  The next phase should be vacating the Shahbaz Base and asking this hyper power to pull out its CIA agents and contractors, having linkages with terrorists and sub-nationalists. Furthermore, this must be remembered that, bold nations, irrespective of the size have the right to live. Let us stick to the decision taken. This brave act has the support of entire nation. We can live without foreign economic aid with dignity and respect, if there are no personal comprises.  Likewise, conspiracies can be defeated through a determine leadership backed by a strong nation like Pakistan.