Pakistan and America's Strained Relations

The entire world knows that America’s friendship is the kind of friendship that always turns out to be detrimental to one. Pakistan is America’s non-NATO ally. Since 9/11, there has been a great deal of animosity between both countries as a result of America’s drone attacks in the tribal areas. Mike Mullen, former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, has blamed Pakistan and its Inter-Services Intelligence for aiding the Haqqani Network in Kabul and helping launch attacks on American troops. Furthermore, they issued a threat that they were going to carry out investigations on Pakistani soil.

After Mullen’s groundless threat, the Pakistani public became very angry. Even our establishment took notice of it. Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar spoke at the U.N. General Assembly and told the world that it is Pakistan which has suffered the most from acts of terrorism. 30,000 Pakistani civilians and 4,000 Pakistani troops have been affected by the violence. Pakistan has aided America in its fight against terrorism in Kabul. We have arrested hundreds of key terrorists and do not want them to launch any operations from our country.

Shortly before his retirement, Mullen again emphasized that ISI had provided the Haqqani Network with “strategic support.” These statements have worsened relations between the U.S. and Pakistan. Martin Dempsey, current chairman of the Joints Chiefs of Staff, has said that the U.S. would like to continue diplomatic relations with Pakistan. He seems to disagree with Mullen on some points.

If India or America plans to declare a war on us or take actions that interfere with our sovereignty, we will turn against them. Our sovereignty can never be compromised. America issued these accusations [against the ISI] without concrete proof. Again, we will never let them interfere with our sovereignty. There can be no compromise in this area.

In these tough times, China has once again proven that its friendship with Pakistan is deep and strong. Chinese Vice Premier Meng Jianzhu visited Islamabad and stated that China will always be there for Pakistan and that it will never let Pakistan face its problems alone. Mostafa Mohammad-Najjar, the interior minister of Iran, has openly said that Iran will help Pakistan face its enemies and help it get through its challenges.

Time has proven that Pakistan’s enemies always try their best to cause problems for it and to attack it. America and its NATO allies are blaming Pakistan for their own failures in Afghanistan. Even Hamid Karzai has become a puppet of India and America these days. Obama again said that America will carry out its investigation against Pakistan, and that it will investigate our “relationship” with the Haqqani Network. Prime Minister Yousaf Gilani has already said that Pakistan does not maintain any relations with the Haqqani Network and that it will not spend its time and energy on the Haqqani Network issue. Instead, we need to spend all our energy dealing with our own problems and enemies.