Logistic support to NATO forces in Afghanistan: I think, many people may not know due to dishonesty of politicians, journalists, anchor persons on TV and other Pakistani media, that Pakistan support to NATO forces in Afghanistanis not due to just phone call or request from USA, but due to UN resolutions 1368 (Passed on 12 Sept, 2001 … a day after New York attack on 11 Sept 2001). Many later resolutions also followed in this respect.
Pakistan being member of UN had obligation to follow UN resolutions, as UN is body that gives protection to Pakistan in international arena. Even Pakistani border is recognised international border due to UN charter, including sea territorial boundary, and many other rights that Pakistan has in international laws. With no UN protection and recognition, Pakistan would have been a piece of land with no legal status. Pakistan would have had no right on water coming from India, nor any say on Kashmir issue. If not for UN, strong countries would have enslaved weaker countries militarily, and certainly Pakistan would have been at big disadvantage with India and China next door. India with huge numerical and military advantage (spend ~50 billion dollars on military compared to Pakistani ~5 billion dollars) would have started grabbing internationally unprotected Pakistani land. Any country without reason could have enforced sanctions on Pakistan and Pakistani passport would have got unrecognised and useless as travelling document (just like Passport of Azad Kashmir).
So, not supporting ‘war against terrorism’ and NATO forces in Afghanistan would have been rejecting UN resolution, that was against Pakistani interest, and could have endangered Pakistan. It could have given NATO forces excuse for attacking Pakistan (at least bombing areas they would have liked to bomb) or weakening Pakistan using strict sanctions … all under the cover of UN resolution. NATO could have taken the war to Pakistan (making Pakistan an extended Afghanistan … a hint already given to Pakistan by Bush administration), and India helping NATO, would have taken advantage of NATO and UN, could have ended all international disputes in Kashmir making it part of internationally recognised part of India endorsed by UN, and using force, could have taken Azad Kashmir claiming that they are liberating an occupied area belonging to them.
On the other hand, why Pakistan should not have given logistic support to ‘war against terrorism’ in Afghanistan, as Pakistan was victim themselves, getting terrorized by sectarian outfits at that time, who were using Afghanistan under Taliban as refuge after bombing and killing people in Pakistan.
That is different matter that most Pakistanis have no ego or self-respect unlike Americans, and love to lay down flat when anyone gives them bashing in the name of Islam, however deviant their Islam could be, the way sectarian outfits were doing in Pakistan and then taking refuge in Afghanistan (before Taliban kicked out of power in Afghanistan). Today TTP, LJ and other sectarian outfits are doing the same, and many Pakistanis love them even though these outfits would not hesitate to kill them too.
In my opinion, if Pakistan had any self-respect than instead of Americans, it should have been Pakistan army entering Afghanistan to dislodge Taliban and arrest Pakistani criminals taking refuge in Afghanistan.
Here is UN resolutions 1368 on 9/11, the cause Pakistan gave logistic support to NATO in Afghanistan:
UN resolution 1368 (12 Sept 2001) … Clause 3: Calls on all States to work together urgently to bring to justice the perpetrators, organizers and sponsors of these terrorist attacks and stresses that those responsible for aiding, supporting or harbouring the perpetrators, organizers and sponsors of these acts will be held accountable;
Thus, UN called all states (including Pakistan) to work together and punish perpetrators, organizers, and sponsors of terrorist attacks (9/11 incident … as this resolution was with reference to 9/11 incident). Further, the resolution also makes it clear (stresses) that … if any one become responsible of aiding, supporting or harbouring the perpetrators, organisers and supporters of 9/11 than they would be held accountable (NATO can act against them too).
Apart of above resolution, there are many other UN resolutions on 9/11, one other I am putting down here.
UN resolution 1386 (20 Dec 2001) … Clause 2: Calls upon Member States to contribute personnel, equipment and other resources to the International Security Assistance Force, and invites those Member States to inform the leadership of the Force and the Secretary-General;
Thus on 20 Dec 2001, UN calls all member states (including Pakistan) to contribute personnel, equipment, and other resources to international security assistance force (NATO and other powers acting in Afghanistan) …
So, why Pakistan (or Musharraf) should have said ‘No’ to United Nation and should have rejected the resolution passed by UN, endangering Pakistan? … Pakistan had commitment with UN, but Pakistan had no commitment with thugs ruling Afghanistan, thugs who were not even recognised as legitimate government in Afghanistan, and were also harming Pakistan.