O Lovely: PAKISTAN -- US RELATIONS

Sometimes I wonder as to what went wrong and why it went wrong between Pakistan United States (US) relations?

If I look back in the past I see United States of America as one of the close friends of Pakistan.

Though I was not born then but I was told by my elders and also I read it through the history that whenever there was need US was there to help us. Why?

May it be the Kashmir war of 1948 or any other war thereafter US was there with Pakistan, helping. And it was not wars only in which the US was there to help us out. It was even all types of natural calamities that US bailed us out.

I remember that at the time of Independence, India refused to give our share of Revenue/Machinery/Arms & Ammunitions. Of course it was with the preconceived idea of destroying Pakistan economically as well as capturing it militarily. And India never hesitated to show her nefarious designs. In 1948, it attacked the Pakistan Territory and captured great part of Kashmir. Pakistan at that time was not having much of Regular Armed forces and India was fully aware of it. The Limited Army we had at that time was ill equipped with no armed vehicles, Guns and Aircrafts. It was US which came for our resource. It provided us Tanks, Armed Personal Carriers, Trucks, Jeeps, communication equipments, Arms and Ammunitions. If it was not of US and the Mujahedeen of Northwest Frontiers Province we would have lost the entire Kashmir Territory and thus the Originating points of all the Rivers. That would have been catastrophic and India would have succeeded in finishing Pakistan with Thirst and Hunger. Though it is very correct that “Man proposes, ALLAH Disposes” but still ALLAH has HIS own way of working.

Let me also throw some light on the general economic conditions of Pakistan during that era. There was scarcity of food. Despite having a vast land we did not have much of Agriculture to support the population with the required food. I still remember as a child that ships loads of Wheat, Rice, Sugar, grains, pulses and Flour use to come from the US in aid and on them the monogram of US flag and Pakistan Flag joined together with two shake hands was used to be printed.

In those days, natural calamity in shape of Floods, especially in East Pakistan, was a regular phenomena and guess who came to our rescue in even those hours of our need. It was the US of course. Their planes, Helicopters carrying relief goods use to come immediately and the food and clothing used to be distributed amongst the sufferers. If it was not of US we were not in a position to recover and it would have been disastrous for the new emerging nation, Pakistan.

Lets look it from the strategic point of view. After the Second World War, it was the US which stands out as the victorious country. Russia, Britain, France etc were in the list of “Just Survived”. They just enjoyed the jubilance of the victorious and that was US. And if it was not of the US, they all would have been defeated.

Having said that now let us come to Indo Pak subcontinent. At that point of time, the Victorians US, who emerged as the only Super Power, having open choice with her, selected Pakistan as her friend and ally. Despite the fact that in the region India was much bigger in size & economy and a definite larger market for US goods who was badly in need of money as its economy was all shattered due to World War II. This is also a known fact that India tried their utmost to make friends with US but, due to unwillingness of the US, failed. Ultimately India joined hand with the USSR. Have we ever thought as to what was stopping US to make friend with India. Apparently, all US befits, in the short as well as in the long run, would have been with India. But still it made friends with Pakistan. If we look back in the history, we will find that at that time due to US, even UK, France and Germany also became friends of Pakistan. If we see it realistically who was stopping US to make friend with India, None.

I also remember that US helped us in all walks of life. May it be training of Armed Forces, may it be supply of Arms & Ammunition, and may it be industrial development and training of their staff. May it be education sectors of Pakistan or May it is Science & Technology or may it be Road & communication infrastructure. So much so, I can very safely say that if it was not of the US, we would never have become a nuclear power.

Having favored us in all the above said fields and making us able to stand on our own two feet, US deserved to be loved by us and have to get the status of most favored nation. However, surprisingly it is not so. I was wondering as to why?

Since the beginning there is lot of propaganda against the US. Initially it was apparently Jamat-e-Islami who was deadly against US and it seems that the originator of all the negative propaganda against the US. Now, as the fact would have been, for quite some time due to some reasons unknown Jamat-e-Islami has been labeled as pro-US political party.

As of now, we wonder, why Pak-US relations are not that good as they were in the 50s, 60s, 70s, and 80s. Only one thing comes to my mind. Let us take it this way. In a home if we have two brothers and one brother is always favoring and helping the little brother and in return he only expects some respect from the little brother. On the other hand he only gets undue bashing from the little brother. Now let us analyze as to how much the Big brother will tolerate. It is natural that a time will come when the Big brother will start getting annoyed and start squeezing and twisting the things around. And now if at this juncture the little brother starts hue and cry that Big brother is not looking after him, that will not be justified.

Keeping the same in view, we as Pakistani needs to review our behavior and conduct towards the US. Still even now whenever we are in trouble we look towards the US for help, why? On what claim? And still the big brother is not disappointing us but of course now, at times, they have some of their preconditions.

In the end, I have a big question to ask. If today the US changes its policy and decides that Pakistan as a Nation is no more required than what will happen? On our Eastern border India is already prepared to take on Pakistan and waiting for a chance.

Let me show you a picture. India has the capability of amphibious landing and has an Aircraft carrier and a larger Navy. It is much larger than Pakistan Navy. Pakistan Navy doesn’t have the capability of neither amphibious landing nor it has the capability and resources of defending its territory from any such attack. Today if India decides to make a two pronged attack one from the Pakistan’s Eastern borders and simultaneously another from the south on the Makran Coast, where the civilian population is already hostile, will we be able to stop it, probably not. India also has the capability of vertical attack and that is through its para divisions. What if with this two pronged attack, it decides to make it a three pronged attack and make the vertical landing of troops at our important installation and also use it to cut our Logistics at two or three places, for example at Multan, Rahimyarkhan and Kharian and make a linkage operation through its ground forces. And also to drop its para brigades at the airbases of Sargodha, Karachi, Attock and Chaklala. Are we prepared for this? No certainly not. Neither our troops at all levels are prepared nor are our public in general prepared to defend against such eventuality. Only a well trained, mentally motivated and well equipped or at least moderately equipped population can withstand the vertical attacks. A motivated and equipped civilian population is the one which can only give some potent resistance to the landing force. Sadly, we are not prepared for it. In my view if India, despite having capabilities, is not adopting the above course of action is because of the fear of US.

Now why I am portraying this picture just to make realize the general Pakistani Public that is this the way we treat our Big brothers. Or is this the way we return the favors. Let us analyze our behavior and attitude towards the US. Look at the way US is still accommodating and look at the way we are paying back. I don’t know from where, we always have a conspiracy theory that US is trying to destroy us. Oh come on, have a heart and be rational. If today US wants to destroy Pakistan or capture Pakistan, who is stopping. It will be matter of hours that Pakistan will be no more and become a US captured territory. Do you like stupid still think that China will come to our rescue? I mean why? Why should China put her self into trouble and pitch herself again US. You think Iran will dare think of doing something. It doesn’t have the capability. Who else than? Afghanistan? No question he would dare. Russia, forget about it. Rest like, Saudi Arabia, Libya, Turkey, UAE etc are not even capable of nor they are potent.

Keeping all the above in view, what I think is that whatever the case or whatever the reasons that US still like us and support us, it is time now that we should start behaving and make a policy which should at least bring us to that level of friendship and mutual confidence which was there from 50s, to 80s.