Acknowledging mistakes is a prerequisite to building a healthy, honest relationship. Only then can a mutual vision be defined and pursued in the search of a better tomorrow.
On Tuesday, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton again lamented America’s ‘incoherent’ dealings with Pakistan over the last 30 years. She made it clear that Washington had abandoned Islamabad once the Soviets were forced to withdraw from Afghanistan. It was also implied that the US had supported military dictators instead of the people of Pakistan. She announced an additional $110m in emergency relief for persons displaced by the fighting in Malakand.
According to the Dawn newspaper’s editorial on Thursday, the suffering in the region is acute and America has done well to extend a timely helping hand. Food from the US will win more friends among the people than the delivery of weapons to the army. Dawn.com invites its readers to debate whether this strategy will work.
We need to stop blaming other countries for OUR problems. We decided to put corrupt and selfish power hungry leaders to lead Pakistan.
This is our problem and instead of blaming others to blame which is now becoming an old excuse like a broken record we need to as a nation to step up to the plate and make some fundamental changes to our society.
A good step forward is to focus on education.
Pakistan should accept only aid from USA and nothing else. The simplest solution for the problems of Afghanistan and Pakistan is that the criminal occupation forces of USA and NATO have to withdrawn from Afghnistan. Let the people of Afghnistan to decide their fate.
For Mr. Prakash – “Just for your information, Fawad, there is absolutely not a single terrorist training camp on the Indian side of Kashmir. Indians are not terrorists. and India does NOT use terrorism as an instrument of state policy, anywhere in its neighbourhood.”
Yes, indeed Mr. Prakash, we do not blame Indians people, usually they are good people but Inidan Government’s policies are not what a normal Indian thinks. The government of Inida is using the land of Afghanistan for that purpose under the umberella of USA. You think Indian government is consists of angels; RAW is NGO/Human Watch body, which is usually helping people for their socio-economic problems by supplying water, food and education to them.
Everybody is aware of what Indian Government is for in the region, recently the brave people of Sri-Lanka defeated the form of Indian supported terrrorism which started 30 years ago only with the help of Inidan Government.
The motto of today is ‘Live and Let Live’ and not the ‘Live and Let Die’.
I think Mrs. Clinton has reached the conclusion that Pakistan has been taken advantage & then dismissed, their policy has not been coherent. It is true Pakistan has been the US ally since 1947 in bad & good times. Pakistan has not been just good weather friend. Pakistan started US China relationship, during in 1960’s. Pakistan helped the US free their captives in Magudushu. Pakistan spied on the Soviets with US U2’s. Pakistan has been like a true friend for the US, not for just seeking economic advantage. Taliban is another name of “mujahideen who have lost their direction”, who fought the Soviets. The US created Taliban also referred to as Al Qaeda, in alliance with Pakistan & Saudis. The US owe the end of the cold war to the blood of Pakistanis & Muhahideen and Saudi Arabia’s support. Mrs Clinton acknowledges these facts, because she read the history.
“Somebody has said, how long Pakistan is going to beg.”
I think the US companies should move their call centers and high paying jobs to Pakistan from India, so that Pakistan does not have to beg.
By doing that, the cash flow may trickle up and trickle down iteratively within the system, to water every sector of the economy & create jobs, and Pakistan will not have to beg.
I think it will be more proactive on the part of the Pakistan government to use some of the money to train & retrain Pakistanis to enable her people compete in the global market.
I thin it needs a thorough plan & execution of the plan to raise standards.
Another thing is give preferred access to export Pakistani goods with assured quality or covered under ISO 900.
Its brave to admit fault in times when 8 yrs of fear mongering in the US made an average American to fear words like Muslim, Pakistan etc. It is appreciated that she addressed the congress an pointed out the elephant in the room.
Question is – Is there or will there be any change in strategy from the US. Pakistan, technically, does not anything to the US. Because, US fought a proxy war in the 70’s to crush USSR away form their home, keeping Americans safe and putting Pakistani’s in the harms way and we all know thousands of people who died to Americans can gloat about their supremacy in the world. They act so innocent that they are righteous and help poor Pakistanis. They were attacked, in 2001, by Frankenstein of their own creation and conveniently they took the war immediately out of their country to Afghanistan and Pakistan. No American has died since, well except for their stupidity when marines kill their own out of craziness or mistake.
Question is they claim to be supreme power of the world and have the finest military technology and they created Taliban and their ammo, even though, they attacked them from South (Where Pakistan is) and for some strange reason taliban slipped out to the south? right though their attack lines??
Now, Pakistan has to “do more” to get aid? Do what? reverse their mistakes of 30 years in days and paying a massive cost of death, destruction, displacement, humiliation of innocent honorable families and pupil of Pakistan?
They expect us to use guns from world war 1 era to fight what they couldn’t with 21st century weaponry, technology and money??
I think, Mrs Clinton and others in the administration need to communicate that it was their mistake and it was the acts of US government that handful of people died in the US and half a million in its aftermath in other countries and continue to die in Pakistan. Pakistanis are paying the price, of the mistakes and greed of the US govt, with their lives. Once people of the US understand that their governments over the last 30 yrs are responsible for death destruction and reversal of nation into past, then only they will understand Pakistanis are not the enemies they are the victims.
I can tell you that American people are not bad at all, most of them, they can be fair based on data they have to work with and if this administration is serious about improving the world they need to clear the name of this poor country and take the cover off and let the truth be known.
Pakistanis are suffering, losing lives, homes and dignity and respect and they will appreciate the return to normalcy and restoration of honor. US has the capacity and they people of that country have good hearts, we know it, and they should be told the truth and world will be a safe place without any safe haven for taliban or the likes.
Pakistan needs all the help it can get. It is hard for me to believe that the help we are receiving is totally benevolent. It does appear that Obama has a softer corner for Muslim countries but it is not easy to drastically change the operation of Government Machinery. US is a powerful country and it has caused harm to many nations in its quest for world domination.
Past US Governments, with the help of our incompetent and corrupt leaders, have brought Pakistan to the brink of total failure. Thanks to the nuclear warheads, the “Civilized World” cannot afford to allow Pakistan to disintegrate. I hope we have honest and patriotic Generals who are safeguarding our nuclear weapons from Fanatics as well as the ‘Civilized World”. If either one of them gets their hand on these weapons, we are doomed!
@ Fawad
“India with strong support of America is killing Muslims in Kashmir for about 60 Years”. It seems our dear Fawad has become completely confused about who kills who in Kashmir. Just for your information, Fawad, there is absolutely not a single terrorist training camp on the Indian side of Kashmir. Indians are not terrorists. and India does NOT use terrorism as an instrument of state policy, anywhere in its neighbourhood.
The current US stance towards Pakistan does indicate a much more balanced an approach and hopefully a continued approach in principle. Over a period of time it may help translate the development of a Pakistani outlook that is less suspicious outlook towards the west in general.
While Pakistan should feel good about a warmer approach to the relationship – it is best to assume that depending on continued goodwill over the decades ahead cannot be guaranteed and may not be warranted. Best to realize that geopolitics in the long run is always rooted on current necessities and self-interest of nation states.
While there is a strong need felt for food and guns today, more can be taken from the Americans. Among them long term democracy, secular outlook, subservient military, focus on education….
Mis. Clinton’s gesture although sounding well meaning, can do little to aid the desperate situation in Pakistan. The mullah and military culture is now so deep rooted in Pakistan that any development will be blocked by these two forces. With Zia’s ideological poison embedded so deep in the minds of generations of Pakistanis it will be impossible to get anything positive out of all this aid.
One more thing it takes a brat to raise a finger and a big heart to admit ones mistakes Ms Hillary Rodham Clinton admitted their past wrong doings. The big question is when are we gonna admit ours?
US is unable to pay attention to each country in the world and renew its relationship with individual country from time to depending on needs and requirements of the US government. The gap of incoherent dealings of US over the last 30 years has caused massive damage to Pakistan which will take a lot of time to build confidence between the two governments and its people. Pakistan in former Soviet Union case was used in a manner where all responsibilities have been fixed on Pakistan by the US government before and after the Soviet invasion on Afghanistan. On the top of it, the former military dictator Zia-ul-Haq made the biggest mistake by giving shelter to Afghan refugees in Pakistan. After more than 3 decades, US and UN cannot send Afghan refugees back to Afghanistan.
Though Soviets left Afghanistan but at what cost? On one hand Afghan refugees introduced Heroin and Kalashnikov culture in Pakistan and on the other hand making Taliban culture stronger in Afghanistan which has also affected Pakistan.
its nothing to accept the old mistakes of the history.its same as you(Mrs.Clinton) are giving us poisoning aid with a sweet food.
Every body knows your friendship is more dangerous than your enmity.So please i have a humble request d’t give us poisoning aid.You people first pay for the cultivation of the poision and then for harvesting.
On the other hand our leaders are sensless and the people having a silent revolution inside them.
The USA will be doing the right thing to provide help to displaced persons in the areas under Pak military operation, but must make sure that the aid reaches the needy persons. With the level of corruption in Pakistan, much of the money is likely to fall into the hands of corrupt government operators.
Hillary: a pragmatic diplomat?!
Acknowledging old mistakes and committing new one means one step forward, two steps backward.
Healthy, honest and lasting mutual relationship can only be built when the US would not approach Pakistan with India on its left (shoulder) and Israel on its right (shoulder).
Bilateral relations should be kept bilateral without promoting the biased or controversial agenda of any third country.
Food is a must to fill your stomachs but the weapons are also essential to safeguard your home (country) and your honor (sovereignty) against all internal and external threats.
Those who don’t like to see us strong, independent and self-sufficient can never be our friends..!
Ahmed bin Babar
Multiways@hotmail.com
Thank you Miss Clinton – finally you acknowledged that America was on the wrong side of the history –
but have you stopped taking actions which is reason to death or directly killing thousands of people around the world and making millions life miserable.
Americans are still killing Muslims in Afghanistan. Americans are still killing Muslims in Iraq. Isreal backed by America just few months back have killed 10,000 Muslims. Indian with strong support of America is killing Muslims in Kashmir for about 60 Years. Your CIA is destabilizing Pakistan, Iran, Syria. You are tightening arms of Saudis. Your above law forces kill Muslim leaders …….
Thanks for the gesture that you said you might be wrong or it is another move to make humans lives more miserable on this earth.
How long will Pakistan survive from the food and money begged from others??
So long the American Aid will serve American interests; America will provide Aid for weapons as well as food. It is up to Pakistan to stand for its own interests first when accepting any aid from a foreign nation that is known to help only when the aid will serve its own strategic interest
Giving any humanitarian aid would be the best way to go mostly because the displaced will be able to see the results firsthand. Pakistanis today NEED to be able to trust America. Not only will it make them back their own government but the anti-American sentiment that gave birth to Taleban in the first place will too have to mellow. To make sure that none of the displaced, hungry, hopeless children in Malakand grow to become terrorists, what needs to be eliminated (or at least somewhat eradicated)is that very seed of terrorism.
“Better late than never”
That’s a right step towards the right direction.
Finally, the Americans have admitted their indifference towards Pakistani population for a long time.
Mrs. Clinton is brave enough to have admitted the wrong done to Pakistan by encouraging the dictators in the past.
Although, the democracy has never been allowed to flourish here, yet everyone knows beyond any doubt that ‘the worst democracy is better than the best dictatorship.’
Thanks to Hillary for her timely help to the hungry at the critical hour.
BUT!
Weather Food from the US would win more friends among the people than the delivery of weapons to the army. Big question mark!
The strategy is unlikely to succeed because, ‘feeding the hungry and the deliverance of weapons to the army go hand in hand’ therefore, food only would not win the hearts of the people unless the army is equipped enough to protect the Pakistani people and their land.
In my view helping Internally displaced people with food and parmedics is a better option rather than delivering arms to Pakistan army. If food and Medical help is not provided to IDP’s than it will create a humanitranian Crisis in the whole affected region. On the other hand Pakistan Army by the grace of ALLAH is well equiped and trained to fight out Terrorists in the region.
in my opinion Americans can only win the war if they try to win the hearts of common man in Pakistan .If they will try to follow the same policy of carrot and stick they r sure to fail.This is the best time to do that and besides the people of swat if they could sole the current electricity crisis they r sure create a good image of americans in the hearts of common man.
The problem with Pakistan lately has been our mere arrogance when it comes to international relations, esp relations with US. Although the nation is full of egoistic fanatics and so called “ghairatmands”, yet we in the first place allow the US to govern and conduct our policies, and then have the audacity to speak against US’s interference in our matters.
I still don’t understand why we are so reliant on others to lead us, show us the way, why we cannot control our own matters………
Some things shouldn’t be so hard to understand. If I hire a cook or a driver, I expect him to do & deliver things I ask for and not carry his own agenda. We have been running on aid from donors for the last 30 years. We are not supposed to run our own agenda. On a seperate note, which other nation in this world has shown development or progress that runs on aid or money from other donours??
food vs. weapons is a smart diversion. on one hand it shows the humanitarian intervention that it brings before the annihilation as the afghan food drops began prior to the carpet bombs over talibans and untold number of civilians. it also portrays its willingness to impose what Chomsky calls ‘US exceptionalism’ — to mete out eternal justice if its worth the price, even if that means the starvation of half a million children in iraq before the war. because not doing so will endanger everything the west stands for –life, liberty and freedom, the fruits of the treaties of westphalia (1648) and bretton woods. the inventions of which had been the twin-blade rotors of nation state and debts, channeling us further apart with a dead weight of a rock.
This vital shift in American foreign policy towards Pakistan is truly commendable. Conditional aid has proven to be successful in many parts of the world; where foreign aid is contingent on fulfilling the donor’s agenda, which is usually beneficial to both agents.
The American administration should be encouraged in pursuing such confidence-building measures with the uneducated masses in Pakistan that have been brainwashed into thinking negatively of the western hemisphere due to the hateful teachings of the Taliban and extremist religious elements. Aid should also be contingent on the Pakistani govt using this money to provide not only economical opportunities, but also to ensure that sufficient investments are made to ensure that these individuals are au courant, and have the ability to not be lead astray in the future!
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