Have you heard the name of Ileana Ros-Lehtinen? She is a Congresswoman of the U.S and she chaired the hearing of the House Foreign Affairs Committee the other day, and set the tone of a fierce frontal attack on Pakistan.
“The Taliban operate freely because Pakistan refuses to take action against them inside its borders. Pakistan is a direct contributor to the Taliban success,” she said, “It makes no sense to continue giving Pakistan billions of dollars, if it continues to work against our interests.”
Even though Ambassador Olson tried to remind the lawmakers that Pakistan had been making great sacrifices in its war against terrorists, and had stepped up its operations against armed terror-groups, the anti-Pakistan lobby seemed to prevail. Now the news is that the loan of $742 million is being held back in order to twist Pakistan’s arms. Should Pakistan allow itself to be humiliated for this negligible amount while billions are being siphoned off from its treasury by its plundering rulers?
It is to be mentioned here that a large part of this loan was to be used to pay for the F 16s Pakistan has purchased from the U.S Now all of the price of these planes will have to be paid by Pakistan from its own resources. Can’t Pakistan’s super-rich pool up $700 million to save their country from further humiliation?
Who will come forward ? You Mr Zardari? You Mr Sharif? You Mr Mansha? Who?
More important question is:
Who will come forward to tell Washington:
Enough is enough.
Let Pakistan function as a proud free nation…..?