By Zaheer A. Khan , Plant City, FL
As a Pakistani-American who still feels for Pakistan and her people, I hope and pray that
Almighty God will grant you wisdom to take the right decisions in the present difficult times. I just want to remind you that the Afghans are our brothers. But we don’t own terrorists since we abhor terrorism.
Your offer of cooperation to the US government on behalf of the government of Pakistan seems right if Pakistan’s national security interests have not been brushed aside for the sake of US national security interests. You must not succumb to outside pressures at the expense of Pakistan’s national interest. I know of no Pakistani-American who is not skeptical of your decision to allow US military personnel the use of Pakistani bases at Pusin, Jacobabad, and Quetta. In this regard, you are wrong when you claim, “Only a small minority group of extremists” is opposed to it. Historically, US forces don’t let go of territories that come under their occupation. Japan, South Korea, Saudi Arabia, and Kuwait testify to this truth.
General Sahib, if you do not find a way to resolve this problem now, you never will. You will never be able to take such a bold stand unless you are on high moral grounds (and I hope you are).