Why we hate the US II

KARACHI:

We hate Americans for all the wrong reasons but we must also thank and respect them for the right reasons. The killing machines that we all know by the name of drones kill many innocent Pakistanis (“collateral damage”). Is a Pakistani life less valuable then an American's? Everything the US does for us is conditioned. We must serve their interest to get their support and attention.

When that interest is served we are left on our own. America has also never come out clearly to support us on matters that concern us most such as a resolution to the Kashmir dispute and our nuclear capability.

In the past, two dictators, General Zia and General Musharraf, won American support because they agreed to fight American wars. Today, America needs to support the people of Pakistan by supporting our government unconditionally. We can only understand what the American value of “freedom and liberty with responsibility" means if America starts trusting the people of Pakistan and facilitates the government to implement decisions which will not only be in national and global interest.

Let the Americans help us improve our security by providing us with financial aid and security tools and technology, without any conditions. Let it help us to recreate peace and stability. Eventually it will be for these very reasons that the people of Pakistan will thank and respect Americans.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 24th, 2010.