LOYALTY to any individual or political party, must never overshadow loyalty to Pakistan and neither should the ambitions of the paid elite. They all exist because of Pakistan and not vice versa. It is time for introspection by each one of us, especially political leadership including IK, MNS, AZ and members of the paid elite to ask, what John F Kennedy stated “Ask not what your country can do for you- ask what you can do for your country”. Not many within ruling elite, including those presently at helm and all others who have held power since 1956 onwards, can honestly state that they have delivered, what each one of them owed to Pakistan. For the sake of posterity, our identity and that of our own kith and kin, survival of Pakistan as a sovereign independent state is very vital.
In 1757 Mir Syed Jafer who served as commander in Bengal’s army, betrayed Sirajud Duala, by conspiring with Robert Clive in the Battle of Plassey, to facilitate East India Company’s entry into India. They rewarded Mir Jafer to ascend to the “masnad” after their victory. Betrayal was in the DNA of Mir Jafer, who in 1758, conspired with Dutch colonialists and this ultimately led to his abdication and replacement by his son-in-law Qasim. However, Mir Jaffer was ultimately restored as Nawab in 1763. Colonialists, irrespective of whether they were British or Dutch, believed in the pedigree of human-beings and preferred those willing to succumb to temptation and greed and had no pangs of conscience in betraying their motherland. The descendants of the likes of Tipu Sultan were either wiped out, or deprived of their belongings and titles, while the likes of Mir Jafer were rewarded. Maj Gen Iskandar Mirza was a direct descendent of Mir Jaffer and he conspired with AK to derail the democratic process. This country has suffered, because it failed to cleanse the stables of the rot, left behind the Colonial Raj. Pakistan suffers today because of the compromises made by the mediocrity that came at helm after the unfortunate death of Quaid-e-Azam in September 1948.
Pakistan’s Defensive Nuclear Deterrence was acquired in response to India’s underground test at Pokhran on May 18 1974, followed by explosion of five nuclear devices between 11 and 13 May 1998. The Indian Home Minister L. K. Advani stated “Islamabad should realize the change in the geo-strategic situation in the region and the world. It must roll back its anti-India policy especially with regard to Kashmir”. This was a very threatening message, after acquiring nuclear capability. Given India’s role in 1971 debacle, this was enough to raise alarm bells in Pakistan. ZAB realized gravity of the situation. He was of the opinion that in a conventional war, Pakistan lacked capacity to counter India’s hegemony and evil designs. It goes to his credit that he hosted Islamic Conference at Lahore between 22nd to 24 February 1974. He was aware that India planned to carry out nuclear tests shortly. It is believed that he discussed Pakistan’s apprehensions in sideline meetings held between Shah Faisal, Muammar Qaddafi, where they committed to fund this project. All three of them were later killed by CIA, through their proxies. Pakistan’s sole effective defence capability, against a bigger and more powerful enemy, which has never accepted creation of Pakistan, is our nuclear assets. It is India specific, given their threatening posture and nobody else. Any compromise on this, whatever maybe the compulsions, or offers of monetary assistance, or circumstances faced by any political party, it is not an option to be exercised. This should be loud and clear to all within the country or abroad.
The powerful Zionist Lobby in Washington and Tel Aviv have been vocal in their opposition and desire to neutralize Pakistan’s Nuclear Defence Deterrence capability, although Pakistan has made it clear at international forums that this is solely for our defence against India. Even a relatively weaker PM, could not dare to succumb to intense pressure of economic and military sanctions, threatened by President Clinton, who personally came to Pakistan to warn the federal government. Given this background, there is no justification, whatsoever for PTI US, based in Houston, to openly welcome sanctions on Pakistan’s Ballistic Missile delivery system, recently announced by the Biden Administration. Sajid Burki’s tweet on X that “The beginning of sanctions against the regime in Pakistan that is busy terrorizing people of Pakistan, rather than paying attention to the security issues of that country”, is uncalled-for and cannot be justified.
The fact is that this unjustified American response was instigated by powerful Zionist Lobby in connivance with Indian Lobby and cannot be a consequence of PTI America lobbying, as they are trying to project. This tweet by S Burki was to appease AIPAC and Indian Lobby and win some brownie points. Greed and temptation have led a few people astray, but they have rarely crossed this red line, where national security is compromised. These sanctions, in all probability were already under process of Biden Administration and there was no reason for PTI to get involved in this malicious anti-Pakistan campaign. PTI Pakistan and its popular leader Imran Khan must publicly disown this stance by S Burki and terminate his basic membership, as was done in the case of Salman Ahmed, the popular singer, associated with Janoon Group, who was one of the founding members of PTI. The reasons for termination of Salman’s membership are trivial as compared to acts of Sajad Burki. As long as Hindu extremists, with links to extremist Zionists led by Netanyahu, are at helm in India, Pakistan needs to be very careful. Netanyahu has committed the worst genocide in Gaza. No sane Muslim should be even remotely linked with condoning or welcoming sanctions on Pakistan’s defence capability. PTI and IK owe this to Pakistan which has benefitted him, far more than many others.
—The writer is contributing columnist, based in Lahore.
