Why does Pakistan support America?

[sanjsingh]

The Islamic republic of Pakistan offers much suport to the US, it is a great partner in the “war against terror”, it allows NATO convoys to use Pakistan roads etc so NATO can fight against the Taliban. However at the same time I see many contradictions there are protests against the US, many Pakistanis hate the US that much is certain. Bin Laden was hiding in Pakistan, to be able to do so he must have had support from many Pakistanis.
I have read that Pakistan helped create the Taliban but now have turned against them in support to the US. Is that correct, if so Why? IS Pakistani support of the US a just jihad, or are they only helping the Americans kill their own people.
As a student of world affairs I really would like to read your opinions.

[Ali_Syed]

re: Why does Pakistan support America?

First of all lets see your knowledge of the region (Afghanistan and Pakistan) post 1979. Who were the Afghan mujahideen and who funded and supported them?

[BindazChakkar]

re: Why does Pakistan support America?

1) Fear
2) $

[Captain1]

re: Why does Pakistan support America?

As a student of world affairs I really would like to read your opinions.

As a student of "World Affairs" you should be reading history before opting to read opinion of people.

[Fayz]

re: Why does Pakistan support America?

The official stance of the government is to support the American led war on Terror because the current officials are a product of American facilitated NRO agreement. The government officials have made millions to play American puppet This is a known fact however majority of the Pakistanies don’t agree with American slavery and killing it’s own people. Even though it is a democracy, people haven’t really voted for these representatives (NRO & rigged elections), therefore the government doesn’t really represent the sentiments on the street. Official support and corresponding protests on the streets are a natural phenomenon under these circumstances.

[sanjsingh]

re: Why does Pakistan support America?

[QUOTE]
First of all lets see your knowledge of the region (Afghanistan and Pakistan) post 1979. Who were the Afghan mujahideen and who funded and supported them?
[/QUOTE]

The Americans supported the Afghan fighters so they could defeat their arch enemies the Soviet Union, but I cannot see what you wish to achieve by questioning somebody who has just asked a question of his own.

[sanjsingh]

re: Why does Pakistan support America?

[QUOTE]
As a student of "World Affairs" you should be reading history before opting to read opinion of people.
[/QUOTE]

Well history is often a matter of opinion, now the history of Israel/Palestine will differ depending on who you ask

[sanjsingh]

re: Why does Pakistan support America?

The official stance of the government is to support the American led war on Terror because the current officials are a product of American facilitated NRO agreement. The government officials have made millions to play American puppet This is a known fact however majority of the Pakistanies don’t agree with American slavery and killing it’s own people. Even though it is a democracy, people haven’t really voted for these representatives (NRO & rigged elections), therefore the government doesn’t really represent the sentiments on the street. Official support and corresponding protests on the streets are a natural phenomenon under these circumstances.

That paints a bleak picture, the leaders of Pakistan are mostly corrupt people with no concern for the nations populace, would you say then that the Pakistani Taleban are heroes fighting these corrupt politicians, or are they themselves corrupt in their own way and only concerned about their own power

[Iconoclast]

re: Why does Pakistan support America?

Because we love america.

[sanjsingh]

re: Why does Pakistan support America?

Because we love america.

Wel from a neutral point of view, I would say that answer may well be true despite the sarcastic tone. Many Pakistani people hae moved to the West despite so many others Pakistanis calling the West Kuffars, and America the Great Satan.

[Med911]

re: Why does Pakistan support America?

I wish it were because Pakistan is genuinly conecerned with extremism, but in reality, its a mix of pragmatism, common sense, oppurtunism, and for the lack of any other option. Beggers cant be choosers in this case.

[Med911]

re: Why does Pakistan support America?

The official stance of the government is to support the American led war on Terror because the current officials are a product of American facilitated NRO agreement. The government officials have made millions to play American puppet This is a known fact however majority of the Pakistanies don’t agree with American slavery and killing it’s own people. Even though it is a democracy, people haven’t really voted for these representatives (NRO & rigged elections), therefore the government doesn’t really represent the sentiments on the street. Official support and corresponding protests on the streets are a natural phenomenon under these circumstances.

Even truly representative democracies dont always represent the will of the people. How to explain the Tea Party, occupy Wall street, and the student protests in London among others. There are countless examples.
Representative or not, Democratic elections only mandate that a party has a right to rule. How it rules is often left to its own discretion, at least until the next round of elections.

In the case of Pakistan, the decision to side with the US was one that had to be made. The common man on the street has the luxury of not having to own any of the decisions that are made, nor is he responsible for the fallout of those decisions. No one likes killing their own people or anyone else, but those in power have to make decisions that will benefit the greater good, whatever it may be. Musharraf choose what was in his estimation, in the best interests of the country. Because the alternative would have been far worse. And whatever the alternative, its the leader who is lambasted. Everyone will forget that he took the moral and conscientious route, but everyone will be out for his head if his conscientious decisions hit their economic or social well being.

[Med911]

re: Why does Pakistan support America?

Wel from a neutral point of view, I would say that answer may well be true despite the sarcastic tone. Many Pakistani people hae moved to the West despite so many others Pakistanis calling the West Kuffars, and America the Great Satan.

No, its for economic opportunity... Otherwise, Pakistanis are no different then most Indian or any other expat community. I think we would all love to get a place in our own countries, if the situation on the ground were suitable.

That isnt to say that Pakistanis hate America in general. However, I dont think its a question of like or dislike. I think most Pakistanis are neutral towards the US, concerned with her foreign policy, but admire many aspects of the society, even if grudgingly.

To truly love a nation, and to truly feel as if its is your own, will take Pakistanis a generation or two.

[TheRealDeal]

re: Why does Pakistan support America?

1) Fear 2) $

Yes, this sums it up.

[sanjsingh]

re: Why does Pakistan support America?

[QUOTE]
Musharraf choose what was in his estimation, in the best interests of the country. Because the alternative would have been far worse.
[/QUOTE]

What would be the alternative? Would it be the threat made by Richard Armitage to bomb Pakistan back into the stone age?

[Ali_Syed]

re: Why does Pakistan support America?

@sanjsingh

The Islamic republic of Pakistan offers much suport to the US, it is a great partner in the “war against terror”, it allows NATO convoys to use Pakistan roads etc so NATO can fight against the Taliban. However at the same time I see many contradictions there are protests against the US, many Pakistanis hate the US that much is certain. Bin Laden was hiding in Pakistan, to be able to do so he must have had support from many Pakistanis.
I have read that Pakistan helped create the Taliban but now have turned against them in support to the US. Is that correct, if so Why? IS Pakistani support of the US a just jihad, or are they only helping the Americans kill their own people.
As a student of world affairs I really would like to read your opinions.

We need to see the full picture before understanding the complex Pakistan-Afghanistan issue.

Background:

Pakistan and India have been to three full fledge wars (1971 war culminated in the dismemberment of Pakistan). In addition to these wars we have had the Siachin incursion and the Kargil wars. In 1960’s and 70’s the rulers of Afghanistan (Zahir Khan and Daud Khan) started instigating Pakistani pashtuns in the name of Pashtunistan, and Afghanistan was thought to be behind some terror activities in Pakistan as well.

http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/war/pashtunistan-1961.htm
**The Pakhtunistan issue, a massive interference in the affairs of Afghanistan’s southeastern neighbour Pakistan, was given state support by King Zahir Shah, Amanullah’s grandson. The ruling family strangled a short era of liberalization in the late 1940s in 1953, when Prince Daud Khan, the king’s cousin, became prime minister. He wanted to expand Afghanistan, to include the Pashtun areas and population of Pakistan. Sardar Daud Khan was a strong proponent of Pashtun nationalism and a serious Pakhtunistan activist. But this very issue was to precipitate Daud’s downfall. The Pashtunistan question was pursued with hardline fervor by Prince Mohammad Daud in early 1960’s.**In 1960, the dispute heated up again, when Afghan irregular and Army troops dressed up as tribesmen, penetrating the Pakistan side of the Durand Line in the Bajour area, about 70 miles north of Peshawar. This led to the closing down of Pakistani consulates in Afghanistan in August 1961.**The most serious crisis lasted from September 1961 to June 1963, when diplomatic, trade, transit, and consular relations between the countries were suspended. The Pashtunistan conflict which erupted in 1961-1963 effectively led to a closure of the border between Pakistan and Afghanistan. Running out of patience with Afghan agitation, Pakistan closed the border in August 1961. Afghanistan and Pakistan severed relations on September 6, 1961 and traffic between the two countries came to a halt. Afghanistan was thereby obliged to depend more heavily on the Soviet Union for trade and transit facilities.**The closure of the border with Pakistan over the Pashtunistan conflict in 1960-61 led to a change of the winter pastures from Pakistan to Afghanistan. As a result Afghan nomads were cut off from their winter grazing grounds and were forced to either abandon pastoralism or relocate to winter grazing areas within Afghanistan. During the first year, and then with lesser intensity in 1962, nomads actually fought with each other as they competed for new winter grasslands, and farmers resisted the nomads who established winter quarters near their villages. This led to a reshuffling of pasture user’s rights in these new winter locations, from which ripple effects are still visible today in the provinces bordering Pakistan. Many of the wealthier pashtun nomads [kuchi] abandoned livestock production at this point, and invested in other businesses, which is one of the reasons why many wealthy kuchi are involved in the transportation business nowadays.By 1963, it became clear that neither Daoud Khan nor Ayub Khan, then ruler of Pakistan, would yield and to settle the issue one of them would have to be removed from power. Afghanistan’s economy was suffering from the dispute and in March 1963, with the backing of the royal family, King Zahir Shah sought Daoud Khan’s resignation on the basis that the country’seconomy was deteriorating as a result of his position regarding the Pashtun tribes in Pakistan. Daoud Khan resigned in March 1963 and was succeeded by Dr. Mohammed Yousuf as Prime Minister of Afghanistan. The change improved the atmosphere and diplomatic relations were restored in May 1963. The border was also reopened by Pakistan in May 1963.The United States has always supported Pakistan on the issues of the Durand Line and Pashtunistan. According to the U.S. State Department, “The Pashtunistan campaign is as farcical stunt on the part of the Royal Family to promote its own interests.”
](Pashtunistan)Pashtunistan

Afghanistan has been an independent nation since August 19, 1919, after the British relinquished control. A monarchy ruled from 1919 until a military coup in 1973. For many years Afghanistan never posed any military threat to Pakistan. During the reign of Afghan King Zahir Shah, Pakistan did not face a threatening military posture from Afghanistan that would require a force deployment on the Durand Line. This was the case even during the two wars with India in 1965 and 1971. Following the overthrow of Zahir Shah in 1973, the new Daud regime raised the issue of Pashtunistan, and for the first time moved the Afghan Army closer to the borders with Pakistan, which resulted in reciprocal Pakistani deployments. A large portion of the Afghan army was deployed along the Durand line. The 1973 coup by Daud in Afghanistan coincided with uprisings in tribal areas in parts of Baluchistan and NWFP actively supported by Afghan Intelligence.On July 17, 1973 Prince Mohammad Daud, 65-year old first cousin of King Mohammad Zahir (and former strongman Prime Minister of Afghanistan 1953-63) executed a brilliantly organized takeover of the country, supported primarily by a small number of dissident military officers. Daoud’s comeback was a return to traditional strongman rule and he was a particularly appealing figure to military officers. As prime minister, Daoud had obtained large supplies of modern arms from the Soviet Union and he had been a former army officer himself. Also, his strong position on the Pashtunistan issue had not been forgotten by conservative Pashtun officers.The main foreign policy question in the region for new regime was what to do about the Pashtunistan question, which Presumably he will adopt strong position against recent divide-and-rule tactics of bhutto in nwfp and baluchistan, but if he learned anything from his expirience of 10 years ago, he will apply this policy more judiciously, perhaps in fashion resembling his predecessors of recent years at least in short term future.By November 1973 Pakistan and Afghanistan continued to move slowly and steadily toward confrontation over the Pashtunistan issue. Each of the three players - Kabul, Islamabad, and the Pathan population of Pakistan’s Northwest Frontier Province - was acting under strong domestic compulsions which are largely unrelated to the issue itself but which will continue to fuel rising tensions. Athough the situation is not critical, there were no signs that any side of the triangle is disposed to seek accommodation.

The fear of India along with mistrust of Afghans created ideal conditions for Pakistan to interfere in Afghanistan. In 1979, Afghanistan was ruled by the communists and Pakistani policy makers feared that communism was knocking on their doors. When the Americans asked Pakistanis for their help they readily agreed and helped them defeat the Russians (with the help of Afghan Mujahedeen trained in Pakistan) while bagging billions of dollars in return. In 1991 after the breakdown of USSR, the world powers lost interest in the region. An unstable Afghanistan was left alone where thousands of people were killed by the fighting between rival sects, clans, tribes and ethnicities. This was the time (1996) when Pakistan helped unite a few of those warring factions to form what now is called taleban movement (although these people were already there in Afghanistan since 1979 in one form or the other). Three countries Pakistan, UAE and Saudi Arabia recognized the taleban movement.

WOT:

Fast forward to 2001, Americans had been under attack and they were mad with rage. Bush threatened the world and asked them if they were with them or against them.

With Us or Against Us

A few options were put forward to Musharraf, and he accepted all of them. Musharraf thought that if he didn’t side with the Americans, Indians will fill the void and Pakistan might come under attack from both US and India at the same time. This could be right or wrong it was his judgement (being a dictator he was not bound to ask his public before taking a complete uturn on his previous policies). As a consequence Pakistan became the biggest non NATO ally of the US, and got billions of dollars as Aid. This war from the beginning was very controversial for a very large population of the country.

**Results:
**
The consequence of Pakistan siding with Americans in 1979 gave us Afghan refugees, heroine and klashnikov culture. And our siding with them in 2001 has given us Pakistani taleban and suicide attacks.

[KaafHaaYaaAynSaad]

re: Why does Pakistan support America?

Pakistan needs to man up and show US where it belongs → in US.

[CENTCOM]

re: Why does Pakistan support America?

The US and Pakistan have faced severe destruction at the hands of terrorism. Our refusal to bow down to the atrocities of terrorism created an alliance with a common vision. Both nations made it a mission to free and clear the region from the wrath of terrorism. The sacrifices made by the US and Pakistani forces exemplify the extent to which the two nations are willing to go to protect their sovereignty. Our combined efforts have led to the halting of terrorist operations, and created a hopeful future for a region plagued by terrorism. Our resilience against terrorism, and the success of our combined operations, have encouraged us to look past our differences and disagreements, and carry on for the sake of achieving our common interest. The ultimate goal of stabilizing the region continues to prevail, as it should. The two proud, independent nations have often disagreed in the implementation of different strategies, and failed to move cohesively at times. The key point to note here is that the intention behind those disagreements usually rests on crafting a better plan moving forward. So, would it be fair to amplify those differences and suggest other motives? Is it then fair to allow our all important alliance to fall victim to the web of conspiracy theories? Do our nations not deserve a pat on the back for wanting to continue our alliance, despite all the unjust criticism? Do we not have the responsibility of supporting our nations in fighting the threat that is detrimental to our safety?

MAJ Nevers,
DET, United States Central Command
www.Centcom.mil/UR

[Med911]

Re: Why does Pakistan support America?

What would be the alternative? Would it be the threat made by Richard Armitage to bomb Pakistan back into the stone age?

Where to begin...

Pakistan becoming a complete Pariah. Losing access to much needs foreign aid, both economic and military.

I mean for a country thats so often had to turn to international support to prop itself up, the prospects of being another Iran in the region isnt very appetizing. And in Pakistans case, unfortunately, there is no oil to keep it going.

[nikhil25]

Re: Why does Pakistan support America?

@CENTCOM

The US and Pakistan have faced severe destruction at the hands of terrorism. Our refusal to bow down to the atrocities of terrorism created an alliance with a common vision. Both nations made it a mission to free and clear the region from the wrath of terrorism. The sacrifices made by the US and Pakistani forces exemplify the extent to which the two nations are willing to go to protect their sovereignty. Our combined efforts have led to the halting of terrorist operations, and created a hopeful future for a region plagued by terrorism. Our resilience against terrorism, and the success of our combined operations, have encouraged us to look past our differences and disagreements, and carry on for the sake of achieving our common interest. The ultimate goal of stabilizing the region continues to prevail, as it should. The two proud, independent nations have often disagreed in the implementation of different strategies, and failed to move cohesively at times. The key point to note here is that the intention behind those disagreements usually rests on crafting a better plan moving forward. So, would it be fair to amplify those differences and suggest other motives? Is it then fair to allow our all important alliance to fall victim to the web of conspiracy theories? Do our nations not deserve a pat on the back for wanting to continue our alliance, despite all the unjust criticism? Do we not have the responsibility of supporting our nations in fighting the threat that is detrimental to our safety?

MAJ Nevers,
DET, United States Central Command
www.Centcom.mil/UR

why do you parrot these kinds of statements when it’s no secret that pakistan and US have starkly contrasting interests in afghanistan?

the pakistani military wants pliant, pro-islamabad, pashtun rulers in kabul. naturally, it prefers its old mujahideen friends in the taliban, which is ready-made and suitable for this purpose. stone-age, tyrannical rule and ethnic warfare does not bother pakistan as long as the government is not hostile to pakistan.

the only common ground is opposition to the TTP, which is an enemy pakistan picked up simply as a cost of acquiescing to US demands and enjoying the compensation for doing so.