Daily Times

Fallacies and facts do not go together. A realistic suggestion to Mr. Trump is to let sanity prevail. Let there be initiatives for peace and positivity. Politics of hate and prejudice is never ultimately helpful to resolve issues. Rather it encourages inequalities and discrimination. That is the sad chapter of current U.S. politics resulting in extremism and racism.

Pakistan is a land of simple and struggling people whose suffering remain uncelebrated. Mr. Trump we wish you would act with grace and magnanimity representing the high office of the president of the United States; do not add to the sufferings of our self-respecting people. You had given indications to help resolve the Kashmir issue and take initiatives to reduce tensions between India and Pakistan. Appropriate policies and action on the part of the United States could fulfill the promise of peace and prosperity in this region. Destroy terror havens in Afghanistan; the Afghan war cannot be fought in Pakistan. India cannot be the key to security in South Asia and a blame game will not help.

India is a factor hindering peace in the region, directly affecting the situation in Afghanistan and lingering on the process of terrorism, not letting Afghanistan achieve the common goal of peace and politico-social stability. The American policy of increased role of India in Afghanistan will further deteriorate the situation and intensify terrorism. Tensions will grow and create more problems.

Mr. Trump please understand the need to acquaint yourself with the history of Pakistan – US friendship since the time of President Eisenhower. If you were aware of the background you would not have used the tone and tenor and the kind of language you preferred to use against an ally in war on terror, a self-respecting nation.

Billions of Dollars in your new foreign policy statement was just peanuts compared with $123.13 Billion that Pakistan had spent in direct and indirect costs of the 16 year old war on terror. US aid during the same period was $30 Billion only. Please note Pakistan seeks to bridge the Pakistan – US trust gap. It does not look for your `billions and billions of dollars in aid’.

Moreover, the money that Pakistan spent from its own resources had served to protect common interests. There has been no compensation for that money spent that had protected American interests.

Peace in Afghanistan is as important to us as to any other country. Our government rejects the role of scapegoat for United States’ failures. Islamabad has a clear message for Washington: Shifting the blame for your own failure in Afghanistan and arm-twisting won’t work anymore. Pakistan’s war on terror has been without exception and there is no case of offering ‘Safe Havens’ to what you call “agents of chaos” Mr. Trump, why do you close your eyes on “Safe Havens” in Afghanistan and the India sponsored terrorism attacking innocent people in Pakistan. The US could use its influence to prevent use of Afghan soil to perpetrate terrorism in Pakistan. Let us resolve to reduce tensions and create a culture of desired cooperation and understanding. Mr. Trump, you had given an understanding of your help in reducing tensions between Pakistan and India. Your policy of preferences favouring India has resulted in greater tension between the two countries. Pakistan is keen to see improved Pak – US relations and closer Pakistan-India ties. Assertions about terrorist safe havens are misplaced and disappointing.

Pakistan has an important role in Afghan peace process. The United States has to understand this hard fact and it should resist any strategy to bring Pakistan under pressure. Peace in Afghanistan means peace in Pakistan. Enemies of Pakistan therefore will be out to see that Pakistan’s role is restricted through pressures in whatever form. Pakistan must get out of conditions leading to destabilization.

Cooperation with the United States in efforts against terrorism in the past reflects Pakistan’s unflinching commitment to eliminate this menace

The National Security Committee (NSC) in its meeting on August 24, 2017 discussed the Trump Administration’s South Asia Strategy. The Committee confidently rejected the specific allegations and insinuations made against Pakistan.

Pakistan has taken indiscriminate actions against all terrorist networks and sacrificed tens of thousands of troops and civilians in this fight. The demonstrated security improvement inside Pakistan would not have been possible without eliminating all terrorist hideouts. Moreover, successful cooperation with the United States in the past against terrorism reflects Pakistan’s unflinching commitment to eliminate this menace.

Pakistan, the committee stressed, would appreciate understanding and recognition of its contributions and sacrifice of thousands of Pakistanis and over $120 billion of economic losses. We only ask for the acknowledgement of our sacrifices, not any financial and material assistance.

The writer is a former Director of the National Institute of Public Administration (NIPA), Government of Pakistan, a political analyst, a public policy expert and an author. His book Post 9/11 Pakistan was published in the United States.

Published in Daily Times, September 2^nd 2017.