Pak nation rejects destabilisation moves

All over the world, politics is recognized, rather practiced as the art of the possible but when we talk of the word possible, the ultimate goal is finding the possibilities, ways and means for fire-fighting and for conflict-resolution aimed at making the world peaceful. The world has witnessed the resolution of difficult most conflicts and complexities on a number of occasions including the resolution of protracted disputes through restraint. On the contrary, mere coercion, intimidation and use of force have seldom resulted in lasting peace except in rare cases when only iron hand tactics have to be employed against the incorrigible forces of ignorance and extremism as have been employed by Pakistani authorities in the shape of Operations ‘Zarbe Azb’, ‘Raddul Fasaad’ and ‘Khyber-IV’ but simultaneously there has been equal focus on National Action Plan whose major portion’s implementation is the responsibility of civilian governments.

Unfortunately, the incumbent US administration, under the command of President Donald Trump, is not inclined to swallow this ‘art of looking into the possibilities of bringing an end to strife and conflicts in the world at large and in South Asia in particular. That is a different thing whether the American top guys, spearheaded by President Trump, are sincere or not about seeing stability and durable peace in South Asia.

And the biggest mistake that the present-day American decision-makers and forces’ high command are committing is that it is treating Pakistan at par with the extremist elements. It is like treating the both with iron-hand tactics and dictation in sheer disregard for the undeniable fact that Pakistan is a sovereign country equipped with ever-growing elements of national power and a diversified, vibrant populace besides being equipped with complete paraphernalia of modern, democratic statecraft and institutions.

US President Donald Trump’s newly announced policy on South Asia which focuses mainly on Afghanistan and Pakistan with a visible anti-Pakistan posturing (leveling of accusations over accusations against Pakistan) is an extension of America’s old ‘Do More’ drive but it is also a departure from the past ‘love and hate’ relationship. Now only ‘hate’ relationship is being promoted and pursued by way of an aggressive and unwanted smear campaign against Pakistan.

The fact is that it is nothing but a mere cover-up of the follies, foibles and failures of United States itself as well as of dozens of its allied forces which could not achieve the ‘desired’ results despite the employment of massive military might for more than one-and-a-half decades. But this cover-up is quite illogical and stands in conflict with actual realities which have been ignored altogether. Seemingly the United States has learned no lesson through all these complex and tricky phases surrounding the war on terror. It is not understandable as to how it can overlook the fact that war on terror in this region cannot be won without relying on Pakistan and without acknowledging the sacrifices rendered by Pakistan in the form of losses of thousands of valuable lives and in the form of financial losses exceeding the 100 billion-dollar mark (which has not been compensated so far correspondingly).

The United States rather needs to tread a confidence-building path, trusting Pakistani people who are, by temperament, peace-loving and accommodating. Such a nation ought to be given encouragement and motivation instead of being pushed to the wall. Perhaps no one has briefed President Donald Trump that whenever Pakistani nation is faced with threatening situations, the whole nation and all its segments and leading lights stand united like a rock against adversities and challenges.

The challenge now thrown by Trump administration has been given a befitting reaction by the entire Pakistani nation. Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, Foreign Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif and Chief of Army Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa have denounced the new South Asia (or Pakistan-bashing) policy in unequivocal terms and instilled confidence in the whole nation to resist any moves to malign and destabilize Pakistan on false pretexts. Pakistan’s Foreign Office also stands activated under the new, full-fledged FM as it has conveyed the feelings of resentment to Washington and stopped Assistant Secretary of State Alice Wells from visiting Pakistan. Other people in the limelight including Pakistan’s Opposition parties, religious parties, literati, ulema and all other sections of the society have also conveyed a strong message across the globe, not to misread the resolve of the vibrant Pakistani nation against misadventures or destabilizing moves.