The Chief of Army Staff’s visit to the United States stands as yet another accomplishment after a fruitful one-year tenure. However, a cohort of pseudo-intellectuals and rumor-mongers has seized upon this occasion to disseminate their anti-state sentiments and showcase their biases. Various allegations have surfaced, ranging from the purported surrender of strategic assets to the recognition of Israel, the implementation of the London Plan, and the potential alteration of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). These detractors, characterized by their vehement anti-establishment stance, exhibit a proclivity to extract negativity from any positive development. In light of these circumstances, it becomes imperative to elucidate the genuine objectives underlying the Chief’s visit, providing clarity for the broader public. This not only serves to counteract the dissemination of disinformation but also ensures a nuanced understanding of the diplomatic initiatives in progress, fostering a more informed discourse within the public sphere.
Foremost, it is imperative to underscore that such visits are a customary component of military diplomacy, focusing on deliberations concerning regional security and counter-terrorism matters.
Nevertheless, the salience of this particular visit lies in the backdrop of Pakistan’s enhanced standing, having effectively navigated and overcome a looming default crisis, and concurrently making notable strides towards economic stability. The Afghanistan matter will assume paramount importance during the forthcoming visit, particularly against the backdrop of escalating incidents of terrorism in Pakistan. Despite playing a pivotal role in the negotiation and implementation of the Doha Agreement, Pakistan has unfortunately witnessed a resurgence in terrorist activities, marked by a substantial 60% increase overall and an alarming 500% surge in suicide attacks over the past two years.
A pressing concern to be addressed is the utilization of American weaponry left in Afghanistan, as recent reports indicate the presence of 23 terrorist organizations operating from Afghan soil. Notably, 17 of these entities, including the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and Jamaat-ul-Ahrar, are actively engaged in adversarial activities against Pakistan, while Al-Qaeda focuses its operations against Europe and the United States. Palestinian issue and war crimes of Israel will also be on the agenda.
Already staunch support for Palestinian cause has been evinced by Mr. MunirAkram, Pakistan’s Permanent Representative at United Nations. In addition, Pak Army Chief himself has met Palestinian Ambassador to show solidarity with our Palestinian brethren and condemn Israel. In the backdrop of economic development and recent success of SIFC, the upcoming visit will explore ventures to admit Pakistan in US Mineral Security Partnership (MSP).
The MSP aims to accelerate exploration and extraction of minerals. Consequently, a collaboration between SIFC and MSP would constitute a monumental stride forward for Pakistan. A requisite response is warranted to counter unsubstantiated claims proliferating across social and electronic media platforms. Foremost among these is the inclination of fervent supporters of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) to ascribe every positive development as a concerted conspiracy against their party. Specifically, this upcoming visit has been dubiously labeled as a maneuver in the execution of the purported London Plan, ostensibly orchestrated to reinstate Nawaz Sharif to power. These keyboard warriors, appear to be diligently searching for rationales to justify the diminishing popularity of Imran Khan and pre-emptively address the prospect of their party’s forthcoming electoral setback. Another group of pseudo-intellectuals are linking this visit with surrender of strategic assets. This ruse is fabricated just to to gain public attention as Pakistan is only Islamic State which possesses nuclear weapons. Civilian and military leadership have made quite evident time and again that Pakistan’s strategic assets are in safe hands. These rumour-mongers are actually propagating foreign hostile to sow perpetual despondency amoung the nation. There is another class who just attributes every USA’s visit to be demise of CPEC and China-Pakistan Relations.
They deliberately try to downplay the fact that since Interim Government has taken oath, more than 20 memorandum of understandings (MoUs) have signed between China and Pakistan in the sectors of mineral exploration, processing and extraction, climate protection, industrial production, commerce, communication, transport, connectivity, food security, media, space cooperation and urban development, in which military establishment has played a key a role.
Historically, it was Pakistan who played the role of mediator to bridge gap between China and USA. It still has the leverage to engage both sides and drive them out of Thucydides’ trap, which is understood and acknowledged both by USA and China. In the current juncture, as Pakistan navigates the trajectory towards economic stability, successfully sidestepping a potential default crisis, curtailing trade deficit, and reining in inflation, Government is actively immersed in diplomatic endeavors, certain quarters including political parties and perpetrators of foreign hostile propaganda are trying to scuttle economic progress and de-stabilise Pakistan. In these crucial times, it is incumbent upon all citizens to discern fact from fiction, fostering an environment where good sense prevails. As Pakistan progresses on the path to economic recovery, it is paramount to ensure that the narrative remains anchored in truth and constructive discourse rather than succumbing to the pitfalls of misinformation. —Water: Yastasheer Abbas
