THIS is apropos Cyril Almeida’s article ‘A trip to forget’ (Nov 22). It is way out of line with your front-page news item ‘Pakistan-US agree on early resumption of Afghan peace process’ and your editorial ‘Signals from Washington’, the same day.

One may disagree with what Gen Raheel Sharif is doing where, when or how, but the importance the Americans have accorded to this visit is beyond doubt. We are told that two to three military commanders on an average visit Washington every week; and not all even get to meet the secretary of defence.

Gen Raheel not only had extensive discussions at the Pentagon, but also with the secretary of state. While the whole world is commenting on how rare a visiting army commander’s interaction with the Congress is, and how Joe Biden chose to receive him at the White House, it takes monumental prejudice to see ‘raps on the knuckles’ in it.

Some Pakistani leaders in the past have succumbed to ‘tough talk’ by much lower Department of State officials. I wonder how much more impressed the Americans could be by ‘the cult of Raheel’?

While everything ‘the boys’ have done in the past may not be enviable or cherishable, your blanket condemnation of whatever they do only reflects lack of objectivity.

Shirjeel Riaz
Sialkot

Published in Dawn, November 30th, 2015