THINK!

Pakistan was supposed to be America’s ‘Dost’ (friend) and there was a lot of ‘Pyaar’ (love) between them! What happened? “The United States is suddenly faced with the uncomfortable scenario of confronting the very same weapons and military hardware, including F-16 fighter jets; it has armed Pakistan with for decades”, reports Chidanand Rajghatta of TNN (Times News Network). Pakistan’s army Chief Pervez Kiyani has vowed to defend the country against US incursions “at all costs”.

All this bluster on both sides goes back to the problem in the FATA (Federally Administered Tribal Areas) that has become a refuge to the Taliban remnants. America wants them eliminated and Pakistan can not afford to co-operate with US openly. The result is a lot of political rhetoric, specially in the American election season. The incoming administration in the US would need time to formulate a practical strategy towards Pakistan. Unfortunately, there is no time left before the situation goes out of hand. Neither Obama nor McCain has a clue to the complexities in dealing with that part of the world, specially Pakistan.

The US-Pakistan relations go as far back as May 1950 when the first elected head of the Government of a Muslim State, Prime Minister Liaquat Ali Khan of Pakistan, paid an official visit to the United States of America. He was invited to America by President Harry S Truman and was accorded a rare opportunity to address the US Senate in Washington DC. President Truman and his Secretary of State, George Marshall were the first ones to recognize the new State of Pakistan. By doing so, both were convinced of having out-maneuvered the hated Soviet Union. Obviously, both of them (Truman & Marshall)  achieved this at the cost of relations with India that neither cared about. Truman and Marshall also created the pro-Pakistan State department in the US government. The result is in front of you to judge.

Such short-sighted foreign policies are a result of electing Presidents and Vice Presidents who had no experience in international diplomacy and should never have been put in that place to begin with. At least fifty percent of America’s foreign commitments are a direct result of Shri Truman’s twisted logic. Both McCain and Obama have similar qualifications. The policy proposals regarding Afghanistan-Pakistan, coming out of both camps are fraught with danger. Senator Obama and Senator McCain are equally capable of destabilizing the whole area. The United States needs to develop a bi-partisan long-term foreign policy for the Indian sub-continent. Any hap-hazard approach could be very expensive in blood and treasure. The State Department needs to be completely overhauled.

Filed under: International, Pakistan Tagged: | America's 'Dost', Army Chief Pervez Kiyani, Chidanand Rajghatta, Dost Dost Na Raha, F-16 Fighter Jets, FATA, Federally Administered Tribal Areas, Pakistan, Pyar Pyar Naa Raha, Taliban, The United States, Times News Network, TNN, US Incursions