Participation in NATO Summit was a mistake: Former Generals

Rawalpindi: Former military leadership on Saturday said outcome of the Chicago Summit was disappointing as Pakistan was dealt as an accused.

Our Foreign Office should have advised President Zardari to stay at home as US President Obama and leaders of other major NATO countries couldn’t spare time for formal meetings with him.

Opening of NATO supply route is awaiting a US apology for Salala massacre but arrogance of power is barring her from saying ‘sorry’.

This was observed when the Executive Council of The Pakistan Ex-servicemen Association (PESA) discussed the US-Pakistan relations. Participants included Lt. Gen Ali Kuli Khan, Air Chief Marshal Kaleem Saadat, Air Marshal Masood Akhtar, Vice Admiral Ahmad Tasnim, Lt Gen Naeem Akbar, ex-ambassador Salim Nawaz Gandapur, Brig Mian Mahmud, Brig Syed Masud ul Hassan and others.

They said that Pakistan has served US interests for over six decades but our sacrifices and contributions have been totally forgotten which is evident from the anti-Pakistan attitude of the US Congress.

NATO containers have been having free rides for the past 11 years, causing damage worth billions to infrastructure and now our demand for charges is being termed as extortion which proves that bilateral relations have reached their lowest ebb, they added.

United States used Pakistan till the end of Cold War, now her strategy has changed, she want to contain China by building up India as a regional super power. Nuclear Pakistan is considered a hurdle in the scheme therefore US has decided to destroy its economy and the military, it was observed.

Moreover, the American support for separatist movements is aimed at Balkanization of Pakistan.

The invasion of Afghanistan was, in reality, a declaration of war against Pakistan with a view to achieving their nefarious objectives. Having failed to achieve these objectives in the last 11 years, they are now acting in desperation to complete the job by 2014.

Through a well calculated plan, Leon Panetta has brought about a sea change in the thinking of Americans towards Pakistan. Its condemnation has become a must for anyone who wants to survive in the American politics.

Many Americans are now calling Pakistan their No. 1 enemy and persuading their government for nuclear strikes, it was noted.

 

Dr Shakil Afridi is guilty of working for a foreign intelligence agency in return for financial gains which is a crime. America has punished renowned Kashmiri leader Dr Ghulam Nabi Fai on charges of working for ISI.

How come US convicts Fai in a crime and declares Afridi innocent for the same offence; they said adding that the American stance clearly indicates duplicity.

Aid cut and other threats over Dr Afridi’s conviction are sheer blackmailing which will make relations more problematic.

 

The US has placed its cards on the table. It is now for the people of Pakistan to decide whether they would like to keep standing as a free nation or go down on their knees begging for mercy and a fistful of dollars.

It was agreed that all the above issues emanate from a crisis of policy failure. Everyone wants that decisions must be based on vital national interests but no one has described these national interests in specific terms. Are these a bundle of dollars to balance our budget or are there some higher values that we must protect.

The parliament must initiate a national debate to finalize agreed set of national vital interests and national values. That is the only way to develop true national consensus and have people’s support in critical times, the meeting concluded.