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Thursday March 28, 2024

Policy change reminds people the wolf and lamb story

By Zafar Alam Sarwar
June 29, 2017

A wolf was once very hungry. He was drinking water on the bank of a stream. Suddenly he saw a lamb. The lamb was drinking water on the same stream. The wolf thought a plan to kill and eat the lamb. He went near to the lamb and asked him: “why are you muddying the water; can’t you see I am drinking water?”

The lamb said: “Sir, how can I make water muddy? It’s flowing from your side to me.”The wolf said: “Why did you give me an abuse last year and ran away?” The lamb replied, “Sir, how can I give you abuse I was not born last year.”

The wolf said that would have been your mother. He attacked the lamb and tore him into pieces. People living in urban and rural areas say they have been reminded of the wolf and lamb story by ‘our old friend the US,’ whose newly elected President Donald Trump’s is said to be exploring hardening its approach towards Pakistan to crack down on alleged Pakistan-based militants reportedly launching attacks in Afghanistan.

The proven fact is that Pakistan has always espoused the cause of the neighbouring country. Every Pakistani wants to see peace prevail in Afghanistan because that is necessary for social harmony, economic progress and political understanding on the basis of principles of democracy and tolerance.

Potential new administration responses being discussed include expanding drone strikes, redirecting or withdrawing some aid to Pakistan and perhaps eventually downgrading its status as a major non-Nato ally.

People say an unprejudiced approach to study of events of more than half-century history of the so-called Pakistan-US friendship establishes the fact that Pakistan was never found lagging behind in fulfilling the demands of true friendship. But the city elders question the veracity of peace policy of the world’s major advocate of democracy in 1965 and 1971 when India attacked Pakistan.

Who secretly pressurised Pakistan not to use the US arms and weapons against invading India whose army chief had declared he would conquer Lahore and sip whisky in gymkhana there?The citizens of Lahore jubilantly accepted the challenge and the enemy cut a sorry figure. 

People say they’re proud of Pak armed forces who have sacrificed thousands of men and the country has suffered huge loss of billions in the war on terrorism.The irony is every time Pakistan launched a historic operation against militants and it was acknowledged as great success by the Western countries, our friend said ‘do more’.

“What else is needed to more than satisfy the old friend,” elders say. Reportedly there’s difference of opinion in the US over toughening of policy on Pakistan.And, by the way, the wolf can’t tear the lamb into pieces because it’s nuclear now.

zasarwar@hotline.com