- By: Ibn-e-Taha
- Khan_adnan040@yahoo.com
After loss of five fighter aircraft by Bharat on 8 May,25, Donald Trump immediately chipped in for a cease fire and announced he would mediate in between Pakistan and India for resolving the Kashmir issue. Being Shylock mentality, he focused on mutual trade between US and the two rival nations. Only a week before, Trump had said, Indo-Pak rivalry is 1500 years old and both the states will resolve it mutually.
Similar words were uttered by US Vice president JD Vance only two days before the aircraft were shot by PAF. Unlike wishes of some influencial anti-Pakistani figures in USA, Trump had also not commented on domestic politics of Pakistan after his take over. What prompted the super power of the world to change the stance within a week?
The changed stance is a surprise as Trump in his previous term (21 August 2017) had accused Pakistan of providing safe havens to terrorists. On 1 January, 2018, Donald Trump also criticized Pakistan, “They have given us nothing but lies and deceit”. Trump administration had also moved to change Pakistan’s status into “Grey List” of the Financial
Action Task Force (FATF), pressing Pakistan to take action against terrorist financing in its territory.
Trump was snubbed in his first tenure on Kashmir issue by Bharat, by refusing any mediation, terming Kashmir as a bilateral matter. How come, this time Bharat asked for a cease fire on Kashmir based conflict, which according to Bharat has to be debated between the two states as per Simla agreement (1972)? It must be understood, Kashmir is an internationl issue which is pending on charter of UNO since 1948. Moreover, Simla agreement has been abrogated by Bharat when it captured the Siachin peaks in 1984. The disrespect to Simla agreement continued when Bharat attacked the Kargil heights (Kashmir) in 1999, Struck Balakot (Kashmir) in Feb 2019 and acceded Indian occuppied Kashmir to Bharat on 5 Aug, 2019.
One may recall which country awarded Kashmir to Bharat in 1947? and in return picked up to be Governor General (GG) seat at Bharat. The GG than initiated move for accession thru false document against principles of independence plan Jun 03,1947. Same country took Kashmir issue to UNO and halted Pakistani advances in Kashmir with a commitment, plebecite will be held as per wishes of Kashmiris whether to accede to Bharat or India. Nevertheless, western powers never let it happen, bullying Pakistan. Even today, western high commissioners / ambassadors openly indulge in domestic affairs of Pakistan. Unfortunately our short sighted leaders encourage them to get involved in our domestics for the sake of their personal gains within country. The Western viceroys do not comment on human atrocities against Muslims but feel desecration of human rights over any small incidence in Pakistan. They intentionally glorify and award their chorus players but never discuss humanitarion actors like Abdus Sattar Edhi.
Why Western powers are interetsed in an immediate cease fire between Pakistan and Bharat is a paradigm shift in Pakistan’s policy showing inclinations towards Sino-Russian block. It effectively used locally developed Chinese origin aircraft (8 May, 25), which is a major development since birth of Pakistan. Previuosly European/US origin aircraft were used in all aerial conflicts by Pakistan. Shylock mentality, desires increased trade between USA and the two perties of Kashmir issue. The preamble can be, Pakistan is improving its’ economy avoiding dependence on traditional sources and anti-Pakistan global powers do not wasn’t to see strong economic Pakistan. These powers know USA latest terriffs’ imposition on Pakistan (29%), would not effect balanace of payment between USA and Pakistan, which is negligible today.
On neighbourhood front, Bharat is on offencive against Pakistan since independence in 1947. Aggressive postures of 1948, 1965, 1971 and after nuclear capability (1974) are clear examples. She was supported by global powers and US imposed embargo and restriction on Pakistan to limit its’ nuclear weapons program the same year. West wants Bharat against Chinese influence and act as policeman in South Asia. Bharat is artistically playing to these tunes of West. Bharat also continued hostilities against Pakistan from 1984 (Siachin occupation), Brasstack exercise (1987), Kargil conflict in 1997, killing Sikhs during visit of Clinton in 2000, Parliamant attack (2001), Mumbai attacks (2008), Urri false flag opeartion (2016), Attack on Pathankot Airbase on January 2, 2016, Pulwama bombing (2019) and latest the Pehelgam incident. Who can guarantee the Chanakiya’s followers would not repeat another false flag operation in coming days? And would not again amass forces on borders.
Story of Pak-US/West relations is another sea-saw since creation of Pakistan. UK is considered among the biggest financial donors to Pakistan. USA developed diplomatic relations and invited Prime Minister Liaqat Ali Khan for an official state visit in May 1950. During PM Khan’s first visit to the US, president Truman requested Pakistan’s premier to let the CIA formulate a base in Pakistan, strictly to keep an eye on the activities of Soviet Union. USA later established intelligence facilities at Badaber (Peshawar) in 1960. In May, 1962, USSR shot down a USA spy aircraft (U-2) and Pak-US relations began cooling. In the aftermath of India’s major defeat in the Sino-Indian War, USA shipped arms to India. It did not provide notice to Pakistan and ignored Pakistan’s concerns that these arms might be used against Pakistan. In Sep, 1965, Pakistani troops were about to take Srinagar (Kashmir) when global powers intervened to save Bharat. Ayub Khan was disappointed with United States efforts in negotiations to settle the Kashmir dispute.
Pakistan faced US sanctions in 1974 and in 1977. In 1978, France refused the contrcated nuclear deal (1976) on western powers pressures. In 1979 after Russin invasion of Afghanistan, USA felt need of Pakistan and cooperated in the funding and financing of the anti-communist Afghan Mujahideen and then in the ensuing First Afghan Civil War. In 1980s Pakistan paid $658 million for 28 F-16 fighter jets from the United States; however, the US congress froze the deal. The United States also sanctioned Pakistan thru “Pressler amendment” in Aug, 1985. Factors involving in the contingency operations, distrust, and different priorities of both nations in Afghan war led to serious criticism on each other’s strategy to achieve common goals. Resultantly in April, 1988 Ojhri camp incidence was orchestered killing Pakistanis in Rawalpindi/Islamabad area. Western powers like France also kept bullying and in December 1990, France’s Commissariat à l’énergie atomique agreed to provide a commercial 900MW power plant, but plans did not materialize. Pakistan also faced sanctions after nuclear explosions in 1998 from United States.
After 9/11 incidence in 2001, US backed Mujahedeens were declared terrorists overnight. This started another cooperation era of “War on Terror” between Pakistan and the West. Pakistan was also declared a major non-NATO ally in 2002 by USA. Pakistan was simultaneously pressurized by blaming for supporting non-state actors, including “Talibans”. In 2008, NSA Director Mike McConnell confronted ISI Director Ahmad Shuja Pasha, claiming that the ISI was tipping off jihadists so that they could escape in advance of American attacks against them. On 11 June 2008, the Gora Prai airstrike, on the Afghan-Pakistani border, killed 10 members of the paramilitary Frontier Corps. The Pakistani military condemned the airstrike as an act of aggression. However, after the drone attacks, Bush said “Pakistan is strong ally”. During 2008 vice-presidential debate, Joe Biden was asked to identify whether Iran or Pakistan posed a greater threat to the United States. Biden responded by naming Pakistan and said that a stable regime needed to be established in the country. In November 2008 during another false flag operation of Mumbai Attacks, United States supported Bharat and informed Pakistan that it expected full cooperation in the hunt for the plotters of the attacks. American politicians at the US Congress publicly accused Pakistan of harboring of Osama bin Laden, Afghan Taliban and their “Quetta Shura” while the lawmakers in the Pakistani Parliament leveled serious accusations at the Americans doing very little to control the porous Eastern border of Afghanistan, where Pakistan’s most-wanted terrorist, Mullah Fazlullah and his organization were believed to be hiding. Drone strikes by both nations, an incident involving the arrest of spy Raymond Davis in Lahore (Jan, 2011), killing of Osma Bin Laden (May, 2011) and a friendly fire incident at Salala (Nov, 2011) killing 24 Pakistani soldiers further complicated Pak relations with West.
In 2012, Dr Shakil Afridi, who had set up a fake vaccination campaign – in cooperation with the United States in searching for Al Qaeda and Bin Laden – was convicted of treason by Pakistan, and sentenced to 33 years in prison. USA is still persuing their hero while Pakistan couldn’t negotiate release of Dr Aafia Siddiqui. USA. “clearly distanced” itself from Pakistan after the United States troops withdraws Afghanistan in 2021, Imran Khan describing it as Afghans breaking “the shackles of slavery” further complicating the Pak-US relations. In October 2022, U.S. President Joe Biden called Pakistan “one of the most dangerous nations in the world” during an address in California. Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari rejected the statement as baseless, and the country’s acting foreign secretary summoned the U.S. ambassador for an explanation of Biden’s remarks. Sanctions on Pakistan again occurred in December 2024, targeting four Pakistani entities involved in the ballistic missile program.
A brief of the Pak-West relations raise questions about integrity of Pak relations with West. Latest development with a cease fire for 12 days is most likely to be disrespected by Bharat. Are the Pakistanis once again disillusioned like in past?
Being member of UNSC, opportunity for Pakistan exists to call an extra-ordinary session and put up a resolution condemning Bharat for aggression against Pakistan. The resolution will be substantiated with the Balakot strikes of 25 Feb, 2019.
The plan to thwart Pakistan, force it to opt for nuclear arms use and than deprive it from this capability forever remains on cards. Pakistanis must be positive their armed forces are cognizant to this probbaility and would not let the nation down in ay such eventuality.