KARACHI, Nov 3: Participants at a discussion on current military and political situation in the region endorsed the government’s decision to extend support to the US as the only available option to gain international economic and political support.
The programme was organized by Centre of Development and Democracy, on Friday.
Former ambassador Shahid Amin said that decisions should be taken based on the national interest instead of personal liking, emotional rhetoric and propaganda.
He said that it was a reality that Osama bin Laden had a history of terrorism and his statements released from time to time had confirmed a number of attacks against the US.
After Sept 11, the US response was inevitable and had Pakistan opposed the US, it might have fallen into a trap laid by India, which wanted the US to use its military facilities.
Pakistan, he apprehended, could have been declared a terrorist harbouring state.
Praising President Musharraf’ decision, he said that Pakistan has become a centre of global attention while India has been pushed to a corner.
He said that there were no permanent friends or permanent enemies in international relations but only mutual interests and for us Pakistan was more important than Afghanistan, similarly, Afghanistan and its people were more important than Osama and his associates.
Shahid Amin said the US was neither anti-Islam nor the current crisis could be termed a crusade as a majority of Muslim countries were supporting the US decision.
To a question regarding US interest in Central Asia through Afghanistan, he said that practically speaking there were no major natural wealth in Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and Afghanistan and the US already had considerable presence in a number of Central Asian republics.
Lt-Gen (retd) FS Lodhi said that Pakistan is providing intelligence, overflight and logistical facilities to the US and its allies in the current situation.
He said that since civilian casualties had increased in Afghanistan, international sympathy was shifting towards the Taliban. However, the Taliban did not have considerable strength to face a superpower.
Chairman of the Centre, Nafees Siddique, said that Pakistan as a frontline state, was faced with many challenges, including the long standing trouble at its eastern border, influx of refugees from Afghanistan and limited resources. Internal pressure against the government, he said, was also a cause of concern.
Pakistan is facing the most crucial time of its history and all the current events would leave long term impacts on the future of the country, he maintained.—PPI
