Trump Follows Obama in Asking Pakistan to “Do More”

After the victory of Trump in the US presidential elections, the rulers of Pakistan were waiting anxiously as to what they will get from new administration in reward for their loyal services for the US in this region, particularly regarding the consolidation of the US occupation in Afghanistan. These American agents supported the invasion of Afghanistan soon after 9/11 and helped the US to topple the Pakistan-friendly government of the Afghan Taliban. These agents then started military operations in Pakistan’s tribal areas, one by one, to eliminate the safe havens enjoyed by Afghan Taliban and other Muslim Mujahideen, who were fighting against the US forces in Afghanistan. In doing so they created a war of Fitna all over Pakistan which resulted in the killing of more than sixty thousand people, both civilian and military, and Pakistan’s economy incurred damages of more than 100 billion dollars, whilst hundreds of thousands of tribal Muslims were forced to leave their homes and businesses and become Internally Displaced People (IDP) living in camps.

Pakistan’s armed forces were forced to fight those whom they had previously fought alongside with against the USSR in Afghanistan. This led them to disengage from the Indian border, providing huge relief to their arch enemy. Whilst Pakistan opened the doors of Afghanistan to the US, the US promptly opened the doors of Afghanistan to India, granting her an unprecedented presence there. India’s intelligence agency, RAW, used this presence to launch attacks through her proxies creating instability in Pakistan. After every sacrifice for US interests in this region, rulers expect that the US will recognize their sacrifices and reward them and claim before the people that now America will adopt a favourable stance to Pakistan. However, after every sacrifice, they always receive yet another stern message to “do more” and condemnation of their alleged support of the resistance in Afghanistan.

The rulers of Pakistan did not have to wait long to see the direction of new US administration with regards to Pakistan. Gen. John Nicholson, the commander of US forces in Afghanistan stated that there is a need for a "comprehensive review" of relations with Pakistan, adding that it supports the Taliban and undermines the Afghan government's standing (Reuters Arabic 02/09/2017). So the new US administration's policy about Pakistan is to do more in the service of US, no matter if it undermines the interests of Pakistan, with regards to her security and economy.

Pakistan's rulers have built a myth that being part of the US alliance and supporting her in Afghanistan and the region is in the interest of Pakistan. However, what has been proved is that becoming part of the US alliance is the prescription for the destruction for Pakistan, not to cure the ailments from which it has been suffering. Despite their sincere loyalty to US, the actions of the rulers have always been met with suspicion by their masters. Yet, this does not force them to think out of the box, rather they still continue to follow the US dictates to please her, whilst abandoning the interests of the Muslims of Pakistan.

And this shows the bankruptcy of the political and military leadership of Pakistan, who cannot think outside of slavery to US, the assured path of humiliation and destruction. If they had even a small amount of intellect and sincerity, they could have taken heed from the saying of Allah (swt)

وَلَنْ تَرْضَى عَنْكَ الْيَهُودُ وَلَا النَّصَارَى حَتَّى تَتَّبِعَ مِلَّتَهُمْ قُلْ إِنَّ هُدَى اللَّهِ هُوَ الْهُدَى وَلَئِنِ اتَّبَعْتَ أَهْوَاءَهُمْ بَعْدَ الَّذِي جَاءَكَ مِنَ الْعِلْمِ مَا لَكَ مِنَ اللَّهِ مِنْ وَلِيٍّ وَلَا نَصِيرٍ

“Never will the Jews nor the Christians be pleased with you (O Muhammad Peace be upon him) till you follow their religion. Say: "Verily, the Guidance of Allah (i.e. Islamic Monotheism) that is the (only) Guidance. And if you (O Muhammad Peace be upon him) were to follow their (Jews and Christians) desires after what you have received of Knowledge (i.e. the Qur'an), then you would have against Allah neither any Wali (protector or guardian) nor any helper.” [Al-Baqarah:120]

Written for the Central Media Office of Hizb ut Tahrir by
Shahzad Sheikh – Wilayah Pakistan