By Zamir Awan for the Saker Blog
“To be an enemy of America can be dangerous, but to be a friend is fatal.” — Henry Kissinger. The United States became one of the first nations to establish relations with Pakistan, just two months and six days after the independence of Pakistan through the partition of British India, on 20 October 1947. Since then, the relations kept on expanding in all fields, cooperation in Education, Science & Technology, Agriculture, Economy, Trade, Defense Investments, etc., were the major areas of collaboration. In spite of China being the largest importer and exporter of Pakistan’s market, the United States continues to be one of the largest sources of foreign direct investment in Pakistan and is Pakistan’s largest export market (till 2016).
The cooperation and collaboration in the defense domain were much prominent. Pakistan was a leading member of the Central Treaty Organization (CENTO) and the Southeast Asia Treaty Organization (SEATO) from its adoption in 1954–to 55 and allied itself with the United States during most of the Cold war. In 1971–72, Pakistan ended its alliance with the United States after the East-Pakistan war in which the US showed a cold shoulder despite having a defense treaty and obliged to support Pakistan, failed to assist Pakistan to fight against India. During the Indo-Pakistani War of 1965, the United States refused to provide any military support as against its pledge. This generated widespread anti-American feelings and emotions in Pakistan that the United States was no longer a reliable ally.
Pakistan remains a close ally with the US during cold-war era against the communism threat. Pakistan provided full support and military bases to the US and countered the expansion of communism. In the Afghan war against the former USSR invasion, Pakistan was a front-line state and fully cooperated with the US till the evacuation of the USSR’s troops from Afghanistan. Pakistan stood with the US during its war on terror and declared a non-NATO close ally.
Pakistan was serving and looking after the American interests in this region for almost seven decades. Although Pakistan is a small country with a poor economy, its geostrategic location, and commitment made it possible for the US to achieve its all strategic goals in this part of the world.
Pakistan played an instrumental role in bridging US-China relations. President Richard Nixon and Henry Kissinger took advantage of Pakistan’s close relationship with the People’s Republic of China to initiate secret contacts that resulted in Henry Kissinger’s secret visit to China in July 1971 after visiting Pakistan. The contacts resulted in the 1972 Nixon visit to China and the subsequent normalizing of relations between the United States and the People’s Republic of China. China always recognized and valued it, whereas the US overlooked it.
True, Pakistan was one of the largest beneficiaries of US AID too, but, most of the aid was dispersed among the ruling elite and US officials only. There was hardly any trickle-down impact on society. Only a few individuals were the beneficiary of this aid in Pakistan or in the US, the general public was deprived.
But, Pakistan has to pay a very heavy price for siding with the US. Only due to its support to the US in the Afghan war, we did sacrifice 80,000 precious human lives. The economic loss was estimated to be US Dollars 250 Billion. A huge setback to the social and economic growth of the country. Due to unrest, economic activities were halted, and society deteriorated. Extremism, Intolerance, Terrorism, Drugs, and Gun Culture were additional gifts for Pakistan. By design the society was radicalized, individuals and groups were funded, brainwashed, trained, armed, and exploited against the state.
The US penetrated into our society and understood the weaknesses of the society. They identified corrupt, disloyal, greedy, disgruntle, and destitute Pakistanis. They offered them money, visas, migrations, etc., and cultivated them to be utilized against the state. Today, there are many Pakistanis having US nationality, Green Card, Multiple Visa, etc., and serving American interests. Some of the ruling elite are keeping their wealth, either white or black money, in the US, keeping their families in the US, considering their future in the US. In fact, few of the ruling elite are more loyal to the US and yet serve Pakistan. Their stakes are with America, not with Pakistan.
The US has a history of intervening in the domestic affairs of Pakistan and kept on dictating, even, in small matters, of posting, transfer, promotions, and appointments of public servants in Pakistan. As a matter of fact, they install their own loyal in key posts in Pakistan, who are serving their agendas, instead of solving the domestic issues. Under the banner of democracy, they always imposed their agenda on Pakistan. Under the cover of friendship, they have cultivated a strong lobby in Pakistan to influence domestic politics.
Although the publicized documents show that the US has been involved more than seventy times in the change of regimes during the cold war. But, after the cold war, in the unipolar world, this frequency must have been increased many folds. The change of regimes in Iraq, Afghanistan, Libya, Yemen, Tunisia, Egypt, Syria, Arab Spring, etc., are only a few examples known to the rest of the world. But, actual numbers of similar activities may be outnumbered.
However, the rise of China and the revival of Russia has created a counterbalance and the world has transformed into a multipolar once again. The major reason for the failure of the US in changing the regime in Syria was Russia. This phenomenon has checked America and made it clear that the US is not only a unique superpower.
The recent victims of American friendship are Sri Lanka and Pakistan. Both were close allies with the US and are punished for their friendship. Sri Lank was pressing smoothly and was a very stable country. But, the US intervention made it unstable and damaged the democratic and economic system of the country. It is passing through a civil war-like situation and the economy has been destroyed almost.
Pakistan is also facing a similar situation. Ex-Foreign Minister Mr. Shah Mehmood Qureishi, informed publically that the US was asking Pakistan to cancel the Mosco visit. Prime Minister Imran Khan’s meeting with President Putin was not digested and was punished. Although the meeting was decided long ago and has nothing to do with the Ukraine issue, the US is linking it illogically. Pakistan was asked to roll-back China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), and keep its distance from China. Although Pakistan always kept close relations with China as well as with the US during the cold war era. The US was a beneficiary of Pakistan’s close relations with China too.
Regarding, Pakistan’s stance on Ukraine, it was independent and motivated for reconciliation. But, the US was annoyed for abstaining from the UN. Although, many other countries also opposed or abstain during voting on the US-Backed resolution in the UN. Especially, India also abstained from the sane resolution. And violating sanctions. India is buying cheaper oil from Russia, procuring S-400 and etc., but US-Administration kept silent.
The irony is that the US does not want to be a friend of Pakistan, not it allows any other country to be friendly with Pakistan. To understand American mentality, the above-quoted saying of Henry Kissinger is a perfect example. The US might succeed in punishing Prime Minister Imran Khan, but, the narrative he has left among the youth of this nation will remain alive. Pakistan will not bow to any foreign power and will resist any pressure and coercion. The US has been exposed and lost its credibility as a sincere friend. The US is neither friend nor well-wisher of any country or nation. All countries and nations should learn from Pakistan’s experience. The UN is urged to intervene in stopping the interventions in the internal affairs of any sovereign state.
Author: Prof. Engr. Zamir Ahmed Awan, Sinologist (ex-Diplomat), Editor, Analyst, Non-Resident Fellow of CCG (Center for China and Globalization). (E-mail: awanzamir@yahoo.com).
It is tragic to hear of the decision of the Supreme Court to annul the dissolution of Parliament. I thought it would go otherwise, but if the US interferes with the appointment of every bureaucrat then it was wishful thinking. There is nothing in virtually any country in the world that the US does not delve its tenticles into.
May Pakistan one day succeed in cleaning itself of the cancer of US tenticles.
Wonder, if someone with insight, could estimate the chances of the no-confidence vote
Excellent article but it was Australia’s Prime Minister Whitlam who first met with the Chinese , and was never forgiven for it. The Americans “regime -changed “ him in 1975. The Dismissal
Australia has ruined a perfectly fine trade and social relationship with China just to please the US again, only for the Yanks to take up all the lost trade!
https://insidestory.org.au/whitlam-in-china/
This is an article by John Pilger. It’s the same playbook as Pakistan. I’m really glad to hear what our friends in Pakistan have to say about the detrimenal effect the US has had on their country.
https://williambowles.info/2020/06/04/the-cia-coup-against-the-most-loyal-ally-is-historys-warning-in-2020/
Secret letters written in 1975 by the Queen and her man in Canberra, Sir John Kerr, can now be released by the National Archives – if the Australian establishment allows it. On November 11, 1975, Kerr infamously sacked the reformist government of prime minister Gough Whitlam, and delivered Australia into the hands of the United States.
Today, Australia is a vassal state bar none: its politics, intelligence agencies, military and much of its media are integrated into Washington’s “sphere of dominance” and war plans. In Donald Trump’s current provocations of China, the US bases in Australia are described as the “tip of the spear”.
There is an historical amnesia among Australia’s polite society about the catastrophic events of 1975. An Anglo-American coup overthrew a democratically elected ally in a demeaning scandal in which sections of the Australian elite colluded. This is largely unmentionable. The stamina and achievement of the Australian historian Jenny Hocking in forcing the High Court’s decision are exceptional.
Excellent report. Hope Pakistan finally find its rightful place amongst the countries of Asia. We remember how on numerous occasions the US bribed Pakistani military officers to look the other way when US bombed schools, weddings celebrations, hospitals across Pakistan killing may civilians against supposedly the Al-Qaeda.
No roller-coaster.
Simply a continues war for control over PK by UKUS. That war startyed the moment PK gained independence and continues to this day. Some battles are won by Pakistanis, some are won by the UKUS.
On the outside what we see is only who has the advantage or initiative at any given point. Given that UKUS is stronger, they always invest only so much as to have slight advantage, but no more. Keeping PK down, but not destroying it entirely – as that would be too expensive. A colony which has hope is easier/cheaper to control than one where all hope was lost and only (expensive) raw power works.
And there is a string of deceased Bhuttos, a general/president who fell from the sky, an intel. service that runs w/ al Qaida and a military officers’ corp with institutional corruption, or do I have that wrong? Is any of this not allied w/the U$A?
What we may see after ukraine is a bunch of trained psychos going back to their countries with weapons, and engaging in violence against public officials, and even selling themselves out for hire to crime gangs and terror groups.US and EU will reap what they sow. Has happened before.
During his visit to Moscow, Imran Khan negotiated deals in Wheat and a pipeline to bring LNG north to LaHore.
Never mentioned, including in this essay, is the critical importance of the Wheat for Rupees deal to the stability and welfare of Pakistan.
Never mentioned, is that the Chinese built, first ever in Pakistan, nuclear power plant went on-line and was connected to the grid on 4 March.
Never considered, is connecting the Pakistani gas pipeline network to the Iranian gas access point on the border, which would give Pakistan cheap gas to run it’s economy.
Never mentioned, of critical importance, is refurbishment of Pakistan’s extensive agricultural canal based irrigation system. This system can now be fed from the numerous reservoirs created by the Chinese built Hydro-power dams.
Not mentioned is Lahore’s new Chinese built metro, completed in the face of US obstructionism within the past year.
Pakistan is offered a return to the stone age, and part and parcel of US meddling in Asia, by the US, should it follow an independent course, in stark contrast to the helping hand(s) extended by China/Russia/Iran & the entire SCO.
I agree that a handful of Paki MPs care more for the pieces of silver offered by the CIA than their country.
INDY
Why wouldn’t Pakistan ally with China? As in most other third world countries, China builds things that are beneficial to the people of those countries. What does Uncle $hmuel have to offer other than weapons and military bases?
The article should speak both sides of the story.
South Korea, Japan, Taiwan, china etc all became super rich by having good relationship with USA. Why Pakistan became what it is, spending all resources the to create terror infrastructure, in the country and preserving the same in Afghanistan, exporting to Kashmir.
SK, Japan are de-facto colonies of the US. They have no “relations” with the US as they have no agency there.
TW is ehavily dependent on US for its survival – again, no talk of “agency” ref their relations with US.
As for China. The ONLY reason China was even recognised by the US was because they needed them against the USSR. Unfortunately for US and fortunately for China the US severely underestimated the Chinese …
But what is common for all these countries is they god developed and “rich” BY THEIR HARD WORK which was “allowed” aka not torpedoes by the US not out of US good will.
The US NEED(ed) SK, Japan, TW and China against the USSR. They still NEED the SK, JP and TW against China.
To the contrary, the US never really NEED(ed) PK for anything. Not to mention PK being in a permanent bind vis-a-vis India since their creation. Hell, that was like the main reason they were created by the British in the way they were – to create seeds for future conflict that would prevent IN to ever acquire global power by putting in PK as a “balancing” force they would be bound to be in conflict for generations.
A very good reply to upstairs, but if I can just add; USA needed China against the USSR, and benefitted greatly from trade with China, until today. It allowed their corporations to offshore their manufacturing, so as not to pay real wages to their people.
The result was the hollowing out of production, the 1% got exponentially richer including the politicians, and the rest got poorer. China was meant to be subservient just like SK and Japan is, but the Chinese worked hard, intelligent and actually are much smarter than the West.
They’re are many incidences where the 2 servants(above) tried to break the economic noose around they’re neck, but was hauled back into place. Example: Just recently, China opened a huge site to make micro-chips and SK wanted to invest 350 million, but the boss told them NO!
Taiwan is a bit different for USA has always agreed with the “one China policy”, only until recently. Yes, they always traded with Taiwan,which China never complained about. But when USA started instigating independence for Taiwan, China started to reply. It is the same all over the world, for America’s footprints are there for all to see.
The Pakistani people hate America just like most countries around the world, but many of these countries leaders are bought,and do not represent the feelings of their people. Pakistan army and leaders were always in the pockets of the CIA, Pentagon and Ned etc. I can name so many other countries.
It is an outright lie to say that Pakistan has terrorist infrastructure. They helped America in their 20 year occupation of Afghanistan, and paid a terrible price. Terrorism came to them and America is directly responsible for that, but Imran Khan is trying to correct the wrong, “and he must be taken out” , so said the cannibalists.
My money is on the return of Zia Ul Haq, second act. The army cannot stay in the barracks anymore as they can be bought for term contract. By China or USA or the highest bidder
Imran has outlived his use for the army and ISI and they have received their orders
For anyone who thinks USA does not control those two security apparatus of Pakistan, I have a bridge for sale
Good luck on trying to extract any sort of rational or ethical justice out of the UN.
It was designed and set in place by the Rockefellers and other banksters of their ilk.
It’s role is not world peace or unity but rather worldwide subjugation to globalist authority.
The problem here is that China and Russia are still sleeping in this kind of event, they still don’t understand that the real target of this REGIME change ops are them. After the CSTO Intervention in Kazakhstan, Putin declared that they will not allow anymore US sponsored Regime Change especially if the target is their ally or friendly nation. I am asking why they allow this thing to happen in Pakistan, it seems China doesn’t care, though it’s obvious That the US target here is the CPEC and BRI and also Pakistans recent economic agreement with Russia. The US wants to put a puppet regime which only goal was to destroy Pakistans good relationships to both of them.
It is too early to say that China does not care.
There are Pro-Imran protests planned for tomorrow or the next day allegedly.
If these get handled violently by the police, or the no-confidence vote passes AND Imran does not concede, then and then only can China declare public support against the color revolution attempt
In other words, abolish CIA-USAID.
Sri Lanka is also one of the examples of regime change. They have also abstained from voting.
Sad but true, USA helped many countries after WWII, then exploited them. Independence is difficult. Slavery is easy.
I can only hope all countries of the world wash their hands of the USA’s bribery and threats. I am personally disgusted with my own government’s behavior the last 50 years, spreading war and hate around the world, for profit.
I wish all countries independence and health.
Even if Imran loses the confidence motion, it should be possible for him to remain as caretaker PM during the fresh elections. Of course, Supreme Court can be gamed to have an “independent” Caretaker PM. But even then, IMran can campaign powefully on an anti-imperialist campaign.