@ Jalaluddin: Neither you nor I can ever justify ourselves on whether America is our friend or not. The debate will go on and on. In my case, I just cannot trust America enough. I have heard about America having wars and being so ruthless, all my life.
The conditions it has put with the bill are very disturbing. Americans are freely moving around our cities now and have access to places that not even our commanders have. This is quite upsetting.
After reading all the news on this bill, I had too much in my mind to pour out, and I did it. Whatever I wrote was totally biased. However, if you have any solid facts that you would like to share, I would highly appreciate that.
Emile - for youngsters (I assume you're one) who do not have the benefit history, I can completely understand the hurt about current situation and the perceived lack of respect for Pakistan by America.
no country has friends;thy just look after their own interests and that leads to sometimes friendliness and sometimes enmity. Neither is permanent.
In Americans' minds, their activities in Afghanistan and Pakistan are simply part of defending themselves from terrorism.
The problem is Bush/Cheney/Rumsfeld went about this noble goal as warriors rather than thoughtful statesmen - in the process they have ended up alienating many muslims and actually strengthening the hands of the terrorists.
Countries like Pakistan and India should absolutely stop being played as pawns by anyother country. In my view, India has woken up a bit more and a bit earlier than Pakistan. You guys need to do the same.
But in order to do that you need internal law & order. That has established a vicious cycle where your domestic policies and foreign policy are directly in conflict.
They are in conflict because of entrenched interests of the past goals and expectations (eg: Kashmir, Afgan depth of influence etc) that are still driving some key stakeholders in your military. It is further compounded by the religious factor and the historical lack of control over FATA etc.
The only solution I see is for these entrenched senior people to retire from all Pakistani institutions. Equally important that the new generation that replaces the old has equipped itself with the correct version history - not the politically motivated version that the establishment gives you, or the religious glory version that some madrassahs give you or the combination of the two that clowns like Zaid Hamid give you.