US Secretary of State Greatly Disappoints Pakistan

Defense talks between Pakistan and America were discontinued in November 2011 following the bombing by American fighter jets of the Salala checkpoint, which caused the deaths of 24 Pakistani soldiers. Now Pakistan and the U.S. have announced that the strategic talks will resume in six months.

Fond illusions held by Pakistan turned into ashes when all of its major demands were rejected by the U.S. secretary of state.

U.S. drones are the greatest cause of unnatural death for the innocent people of tribal areas in Pakistan. Pakistan had hoped that the U.S. would adopt a reasonable change of course in regard to its drone policy, in light of the destruction of Pakistani property and deaths of innocent Pakistani civilians. John Kerry dismissed the demand to stop drone attacks, saying that America will continue attacks against its enemies.

As for the assertion by the U.S. secretary of state that America is carrying out attacks in Pakistan’s territories defensively, it can be said that currently the U.S. is not facing any threat from either al-Qaida or organizations such as the Taliban. In fact, if America had not committed the worst kind of aggression against Afghanistan, using the al-Qaida attacks on two American cities as its reason, then the U.S., seven oceans away from al-Qaida and the Taliban government of Afghanistan, would have nothing to fear from them. Supposing there was a threat, the U.S., with the largest stockpiles of modern arms and the latest technology, could have combated any threat with ease. Instead it came to Afghanistan and martyred hundreds of thousands of Muslims; in addition, it thrust Pakistan forever into the fire of terrorism.

The only new thing that came from John Kerry’s Islamabad visit is that both countries have agreed to resume the stalled defense talks.

Pakistan essentially has one demand: The U.S. must stop using drone attacks. This is a demand America has refused to accept. In the course of his visit, John Kerry also dispelled the perception that the U.S. is leaving Afghanistan. It does have to reduce its forces by October 2014, but its military grip will remain in place. Hence, its real purpose and real problem relates to breaking the resistance of the Afghans. By resuming strategic talks, America, with Pakistan’s help, wants to end the Mujahedeen’s fight for independence.

During his Islamabad visit, when journalists asked John Kerry if the drone attacks were not against Pakistan’s independence, he said that the Obama administration’s policy is clear in this regard: Those who attack mosques are targeting Pakistan’s independence, and terrorists are the common enemy of America and Pakistan. Ayman Al-Zawahiri is carrying out terrorist activities in Pakistan; the U.S. wants to finish off terrorist safe havens.

Undoubtedly, people carrying out any kind of terrorism in our beloved country are committing evil acts against the country’s sovereignty. These are hidden groups that attack in secrecy. Suicide attackers are considered terrorists and knowledge about them is unavailable. America is not a terrorist, nor is America’s name a secret. Rather, America is a superpower that claims to value democracy and human rights; its drone attacks are the actions of its government only. The U.S. secretary of state’s similar view of drone attacks and attacks on mosques is equal to placing America in the same rank as these terrorist groups.

America has absolutely no justification for conducting drone attacks, nor is there need for drone attacks now; most wanted individuals have been killed and the Pakistani army is conducting land operations against those remaining. As long as these groups continue to be targeted from the air, the power of al-Qaida and Tehreek-e-Taliban will continue to be perceived as an insignificant challenge. Those who conduct ground operations should also be confronted with ground power. The U.S. needs to announce a complete end to its drone attacks. This is the only way to make an atmosphere of trust possible for conducting a strategic dialogue with Pakistan.