Saman Hamid
Is it not interesting how major events in Pakistan are celebrated across the globe? The minute we announce major headway in Parachinaar, achievements in RaddulFassad, Mr. Raymond Davis decides to “launch” his book. The former Pakistani Ambassador to the United States perhaps to commemorate his expulsion from his political party decided to write an article on Pakistan and US relations. For one thing it was surprising to see that the Trump administration has perhaps found an aide from this part of the world. Whether Mr. Ambassador, Mr A. from here on in likes it or not he still belongs to the land he so freely decided to slander against. If one googles the rest of his master pieces, it is shocking to see that he “supports” Trump and his administration and he feels confident enough to freely express it. His latest piece in New York Times seems to fit into the latest propaganda campaign launched against Pakistan.
The article kicks off with the grand declaration that Pakistan and Taliban are allies. After numerous bombings and failed attempts to shift the blame on Pakistan from Afghanistan, it seems that the great Mr. A needs to review his sources and claims a bit more as his own reputation or whatever is left after taking the American President’s side. Taliban ruling Afghanistan and Pakistan supporting them. He should be at the forefront of the realities in Afghanistan perhaps ignorance is bliss and perhaps it is this very ignorance that promises lots of rewards for the “learned” ambassador. The claim that Afghan leaders are living in Pakistan, his previous claims about Laden were enough to spark domestic debates but the latest claims seem to be coming straight from the New Delhi Lobby. This is especially true when he contests Indian influence in the country in the presence of aid amounting to more than $1 billion and the fact that the Afghan forces are receiving training from the Indians as Pakistan did or cannot. Interestingly perhaps it is the training that has resulted in massive breaches of security unprecedented in even Afghan history. Perhaps everyone should look into this training to find the loopholes or maybe there will be “training” to ignore that and clearly there is training to shift the blame on Pakistan.
Mr. A fails to give due credit like his lobbying and lobbyist allies to Pakistan on successfully conducting Zarb-a-Azb and now Radd-ul-Fassad. It takes great courage to weed out terrorist on your own land. Something that the great Sir will not be aware of living in the USA. Admissions of Kulbhushan and Ehsanullah Ehsan are ignored by him as obviously it does not please his allies. Sincerity of Pakistan is challenged in the war on terror when essentially our land is the most that has suffered over the past 20 years or so of our existence. His imaginative claims to base the leadership of insurgence in Pakistan is clearly in congruence with the Pivot to Asia, even though there is growing skepticism on the latter. Drone attacks approved or disapproved by the Pakistanis, Mr. A seems to have ample extra knowledge to make tall claims in that area, which are more likely to originate from the propaganda moguls of the east.The Kashmir issue received similar treatment from Mr. A. It should be taken by our countrymen as the tone Trump administration is likely to take, which should be not a shock as Mr. Trump has repeatedly publicly wondered why the US does not use nuclear weapons. But Mr. A should realize that there is a huge difference between him and Mr. Trump or at least he should pretend there is, to at least try and up hold the sanctity of the offices he has held in the past and pledges and alliances he has made.
The crux of Mr. A’s effort was of course the recurrence of how to force Pakistan to do more, and for them to not compete with India. Blissful ignorance is what Mr. A or at least his audience is forced to be in. The impression is that Pakistan is still dependent on the US for her survival. CPEC is of course mentioned nowhere but the tone and the underlying message is in congruence with what the Modi regime is seeking.
This all seems in line with form of warfare the world is engaged in these days. The nature, scope and frequency of disruptive information is to such a high extent that perceptions and beliefs are molded in the desired direction. Dear Sir, as a citizen of Pakistan I would like to assert that we tread in caution and it is high time Afghans shift their blame game elsewhere, the Indian agenda especially regarding economic wellbeing of our country is in our hands and at this point in time we are on the brink of great things. Spreading heinous misinformation about the past and the so called analysis into the future is of no help to the enemy. Winning Afghanistan is not easy as witnessed in history and especially if Pakistan is taken out of the equation.
As a nation we should also stand up to people like you; by dismissing you and for our country to lay an example by having some sort of punishment for your kind so that anyone in the future at least think a little before selling away their loyalties or perhaps that is one word absent in your dictionary?
