I request my compatriots to be realistic and think of the realities of world politics. We can’t exist in isolation.
ISLAMABAD: Let’s see the pros and cons of the difficult situation in which Pakistan’s leadership finds itself currently because of the Raymond Davis affair. On the one hand, if it accepts the US demand, public opinion will become even more outraged than it already is. However, if the US demand is not accepted, the reaction worldwide, especially at the diplomatic level, could be severe.
I will request my compatriots to be realistic and think of the realities of world politics. Of course, there can be no denying the pain that the families of the dead Pakistanis must be experiencing. However, we must also not forget that both of the young men allegedly killed by Davis were carrying weapons. Also, Davis was a white man travelling in Pakistan, where the law and order situation is not exactly good.
Pakistan can’t exist in isolation. Now is the time to be pragmatic and to not be emotional or act in an impulsive manner. Our economy is in a precarious state and a decision by Washington to cut economic assistance will have disastrous consequences on the economy. Perhaps people like Abdus Sattar Edhi should be involved in convincing the families of the dead men to reach a compromise with Mr Davis. Let’s be realistic and act sensibly.
Ahmed Saeed Minhas
Quaid-i-Azam University
Published in The Express Tribune, February 18th, 2011.
