Failure to understand the ground realities in Pakistan: The Peace movement in Pakistan is being mis-labeled as “Anti-Americanism”.
Pakistanis want peace. They do not want perpetual mimitic ware. Pakistan has faced three decades of war in neighboring Afghanistan. There is fatigue for war.
Pakistan is the most abused ally of the US. No country in the world has paid as much in blood as Pakistan. Pakistani deaths out number US, NATO and Afghan sacrifices. If the US continues to abuse the Pakistanis, the Anti-Americanism that the Ambassador discusses will grow. The level of anti-Americanism in Pakistan has to be clarified. Most Pakistanis do not hate Americans. They dislike, detest and decry American foreign policy in the region. This abhorrence of American foreign policy is akin to the dislike of American citizens for the wars in Iraq, and Afghanistan.The American war on terror has become a war for the defense of Pakistan. Each time a drone attacks a target in Pakistan, a suicide bomber wreaks havoc on hundreds of civilians in Pakistanis cities. This is unacceptable to Pakistan and Pakistanis.
More Pakistanis have died in the war on terror than any other nation. For this, Pakistan gets pennies. Out of the $750 million sent to Pakistan, half stays in the US. The other 25% is spent on logistics. Pakistan thus receives less than 25% of the amount.
Compare to Afghanistan. She was promised $25 billion in the past six years and actually received $15 Billion. Now an additional $40 Billion has been promised to Kabul.
Pakistan has been a US ally since the 50s, a founding member of SEATO, CENTO, and now a Major Non-Nato Ally (MNNA). However a nuclear deal was signed with India and an anti-Pakistan non-Pashtun regime installed in Kabul. Mr. Karzai the Mayor of Kabul barks at the Pakistanis out of his “forbidden city” on a daily basis. The Karzai writ does not extend beyond North West Kabul, yet he roams world capitals as if he owns his narco-warlord excuse of a country.
The US instigated complete forgiveness for Egyptian debt. This did not happen for Pakistan. The US has not armed the Frontier Constabulary or provided the Pakistanis with helicopters, predator drones, IED detection devices, mine sweepers, armored vehicles or dedicated satellites. It however expects the FC to work more efficiently than the armed to the teeth ISAF-NATO forces in Afghanistan. ISAF has been losing territory to the Pashtun nationalists (aka Taliban).
Pakistan is unable to fight America’s war-it is too costly for Pakistanis. The bottom line is that Pakistanis want an amicable divorce from the US. The popular feeling is “we don’t want your favors, nor your hate.”
Editor Rupee News
http://www.rupeenews.com
