Backtrack of Afghan President Hamid Karzai

Backtrack of Afghan President Hamid Karzai

Hamid Karzai, Afghan President, has done something which head of states usually do not do, but which is nothing less than tradition for him: withdrawal of remarks he had made previously.

Conversely, it was maybe only a matter of time before President Karzai’s feeble knees bowed under the pressure of United States (US).

His backtrack from his speech, which was being viewed with favour in Pakistan and Afghanistan, of supporting Pakistan in case of an attack from US or India has been withdrawn. The presidential spokesman relied on the standard politician’s excuse of the remarks being misread.

Karzai’s remarks were based on the powerful past experience of the Afghan refusal to attack Pakistan during its wars with India. However, the remarks obviously did not sit well with America which without doubts expected from the President whose chief patron it has been, or India, which has developed an interest in Afghanistan precisely because it does not want it neutral during any war it imposes on Pakistan.

The original remarks of President Karzai were probably made so that he could remain pertinent to Afghans, who are only too well aware of the difference between a neighbour with which there are deep roots of friendship and occupational forces.

Conversely, the withdrawal of statements came when, on more serious reflection, President Karzai realised that he had jeopardised the support which kept him at the post.

In the meantime, the Americans should comprehend that President Karzai was only reflecting not just an Afghan resolve to stand by Pakistan, but also nervousness at the constant killings of innocent Afghan civilians by US and NATO forces in the country.

Owing to the US-dependent nature of the Karzai government, Pakistan should neither take comfort from Mr Karzai’s real remarks, nor be surprised by this abjuration. It must rest its policy on what has been lacking since the Musharraf era’s principle stances.

Pakistan will also has to end our war alliance with the USA, for the sake of our own survival and to stop suffering the indignity of daily threats and insults which are becoming more and more difficult to stomach.

Short URL: https://www.newspakistan.pk/?p=1652

Posted by Faisal Farooq on Oct 27 2011. Filed under Opinion, Pakistan. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry