Ties with US under fire in ‘Geo America’

RAWALPINDI: Pakistan has suffered by cultivating its friendship with America... The relationship of Pakistan with the US has been like slave and master... The US has played a big role in promoting dictatorship in Pakistan... The greatest spur to religious extremism in Pakistan has been given by the establishment... The US has summoned Nawaz Sharif to give him the task of a military operation and he will agree to that... As long as the US finds high-value targets in Pakistan, it will never stop drone attacks... Not to stop drone attacks goes against the US... During his stay in the US Nawaz Sharif will talk very openly and candidly against drone attacks and he will exert a lot of pressure too... Pressure to stop drone attacks is mounting on the US... It may be expected that US will stop drone attacks unconditionally... The Pakistani economy can run without US aid... These were some of the views expressed by leaders and analysts belonging to different political parties while answering questions put by anchor Hamid Mir in the two-hour long special Geo News transmission titled “Geo America or Jeeney Do America”. Those who took part in the discussion included former ambassador to US Sherry Rehman, PTI’s Arif Alvi, ANP’s Shahi Syed, JI’s Fareedullah Piracha, PML-N’s Senator Mushahidullah Khan, MQM’s Haider Abbas Rizvi, JUI’s Abdul Ghafoor Haideri, Air Vice Marshal (R) Shehzad Chaudhry, and former diplomat Agha Zafar Hilali. Initiating the special transmission Hamid Mir said that the nature of Pak-US relations is very interesting. We receive most of the aid from US and make it target of criticism the most. We find an element of American conspiracy behind most of our problems. US was not in favour of dividing India in 1947, and rather favoured a united India. But after it came into existence, within a short time Pakistan fell into the lap of US. After that every dictator who grabbed power provided military bases to US one after the other. In spite of such a prolonged togetherness, the crisis of confidence between the two countries is so sharp that two years ago when US launched an operation against Osama Bin Laden in Abbottabad, it did not let Pakistan have even the smallest indication of that. Responding to Hamid Mir’s first question whether Pakistan had gained or remained a looser because of friendship with USA, Sherry Rahman said the foreign policy has been framed for the last 5-6 years on the basis of betterment, solidarity and nationalism of the Pakistani people. Pakistan had benefited through friendship with USA. Pakistan had always sought friendship with the US. The US had never imposed it. While seeking visa every one becomes friend but to appear on TV they depend on anti-American posture. The leader of the PML-N, Mushahidulah Khan, admitted that no doubt the Americans had helped us but for that we had paid a high cost and Pakistan had been a loser because of ties with US. Pakistan’s shape would have been different if it had adopted neutral and independent foreign policy. Americans had also gained economically greatly due to relations with Pakistan. Haider Abbas Rizvi was of the opinion that a limited number of people had greatly benefited from relations with the US and the people got nothing. We failed to draw maximum advantage because of lacunas in our foreign policy. Arif Alvi said Pakistan had forged relations with US in accordance with its needs. Because of greed of money it remained with America. We failed to guard our interests but the Americans served their own interests. There were bad intentions in the American foreign policy and we were also caught in that misconception. Shahi Syed opined that hypocrisy had been at the helm of affairs in the US-Pakistan relations. Because of this hypocrisy aid was coming forth but that benefited few persons and the people and the country at large got nothing. Large scale humanitarian losses were sustained due to friendship with the US, friends became foes and our borders also became unsafe. Except money we got nothing out of friendship with the Americans. Abdul Ghafoor Haideri said relations with US are like master and slave. We had always sacrificed our interest for USA. Pakistan had been a great loser because of its ties with USA. We have to review our policies in the national interest. Farid Pracha said there were no relations between the US and Pakistan but it was slavery. We got nothing from the US. Former diplomat Zafar Hilali stated that there was no people-to-people contact between Pakistan and US but friendship is at the level of organisations specially Army. Pak Army had drawn many benefits from US. It could not imagine winning the 1965 war in the absence of American armaments. The friendship with US offered opportunities but Pakistan failed to draw benefits. Shehzad Chaudhry said Pakistan had all along been gainer due to ties with the US. Whatever loss had been sustained they were due to our own policies.In response to the second question of Hamid Mir that whether the US was behind the promotion of dictatorship in Pakistan, all participants except Haider Abbas Rizvi of MQM endorsed the idea. Shery Rehman said that every dictator of Pakistan had been given red carpet welcome in USA. Mushahidullah Khan said if atom bomb is made in the era of dictator Ziaul Haq US felt no problem but if the same was done during the democratic government US imposed sanctions adding that there would have been never a military government in Pakistan if US did not support army generals. Arif Alvi said that US plays double role in respect of democracy and dictatorship all over the world. He said dictatorship has been promoted in Pakistan due to US backing. Abdul Gafoor Haideri said that America has always supported dictators in all Muslim countries especially in Pakistan. Farid Paracha said that US has always backed dictators and kings all over the world and has damaged democracy as Pakistan faced many problems during the military and dictatorial rule.In reply to the third question of Hamid Mir that who promoted and developed religious extremism in Pakistan, except Farid Paracha all participants held the same view saying the Establishment played the greater role in this regard. While JI’s Farid Parach accused the US of spreading this evil in Pakistan. When Hamid Mir put his fourth question about unconditional halt to US-led drone attacks in Pakistan, Sherry Rehman replied that the US would not stop drone strikes till it continues to find its high-valued or middle-valued targets inside Pakistan’s territory, as stoppage of the attacks is not in America’s favour. Mushahidullah Khan said that Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif would strongly emphasise discontinuation of the attacks and would also pressurise the US leadership in this regard. However, it is uncertain when these attacks will stop, he added. Zafar Hilali said that as drones are the most effective weapon of the US, it would not discontinue them until we acquire the drone technology. Arif Alvi said that the world community is mounting pressure on the US to give a halt to the drone strikes, and added that Malala Yousafzai has also discussed them, which has been warmly welcomed by the people, owing to which the US has got no choice other than to stop drone attacks unconditionally. He stressed that Pakistan must take up this issue in the United Nation’s Security Council. Shahi Syed and Haider Abbas Rizvi were of the opinion that the drone strikes would not stop. Abdul Ghafoor Haideri said that Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, during his visit to the US, should stress end to drone strikes in Pakistan and it is expected that the US would unconditionally end drone assaults. Farid Paracha said that the drone strikes are a violation of international laws and if the premier begs in front of the US, the results would not be favourable. He remarked that the US has invited Prime Minister Sharif to give him the task of an army operation and he would succumb to the US demand. Shehzad Chaudhry said that the premier should not waste time on petty issues and should discuss with the US President Obama important matters. However, he noted that it is would be wastage of time to discuss the drone issue and in place of this, more worthy issues like Afghanistan problem, and energy-crisis should be discussed during the visit. In response to the last question put by Hamid Mir regarding the dependence of Pakistani economy on the US aid, all the participants unanimously agreed that the Pakistani economy can run well without aid from the US. Sherry Rehman said that the economy can function without the aid through consistent planning. Mushahidullah Khan noted that the nation would have to suffer a bit and have to have the determination to survive without America’s financial assistance. Arif Alvi said that if the government taxes the elite class, Pakistan’s economy can be self-reliant. Haider Abbas Rizvi said that if we implement the principle of good governance, we could stand on our own feet. Abdul Ghafoor Haideri added that the cut on government’s unnecessary expenditures and an end to adhocism can make Pakistan’s economy depend on its capacity. Farid Paracha said that the moment we say good bye to the US aid, our economy would flourish. He called upon all the Pakistanis to invest their money in Pakistan and remarked that a conscientious leadership and implementation of Islamic system can strengthen the economy. Shehzad Chaudhary said that the economy of Pakistan can function without foreign aid if backed up by restructuring, bold leadership and economic planning.