A CNN report on Friday claimed that Biden administration had told their lawmakers of nearing a formalised agreement with Pakistan for use of its airspace to conduct military and intelligence operations in Afghanistan.
Our Foreign Office was quick to respond, as the report came to fore, categorically denying that any such understanding is in place with Washington.
In the past especially during the era of PPP, there was a tacit understanding between both sides regarding the use of drone attacks in tribal districts of Pakistan.
The government of that time used to condemn drone strikes to calm down public sentiments yet behind the scene something else was taking place.
Secret US documents also revealed that senior Pakistani government officials were aware of this understanding and endorsed CIA drone strikes. Since these strikes killed scores of civilians, it only fuelled terrorism within Pakistani. Prime Minister Imran Khan maintained an unambiguous stance on such strikes.
This is the reason that in an interview with Axios on HBO, he said Pakistan would absolutely not allow any bases or use of its territory to the US for any sort of action against Afghanistan. He made it clear that Pakistan will be partners in peace, not in conflict.
This emphatic response was applauded by the entire nation and our country needs to stick to it, no matter what kind of pressure comes from the US.
We should not repeat mistake of the past. The Biden administration will use its financial lenders such as the IMF to twist our arms but under no circumstances we should bow down.
Indeed we are passing through difficult economic times and need revival of IMF loan programme yet getting it at the cost of providing airspace will have disastrous consequences for peace and stability in Pakistan.
It will amount to angering the new Afghan government and providing a lifeline to terrorist organisations whose back have been broken by our security forces after rendering immense sacrifices.
On this matter, our political forces must show unity and a collective message should be given to the US from Parliament of Pakistan.
Nothing should be hidden from the nation. It is also for Biden administration to end what it earlier said ‘cop role’, and rather engage with new Afghan set-up in a more meaningful manner to take matters towards normalcy in the war torn country.