Airbases a turning point in Pak-US Relations.

(Syed Fawad Ali Shah, )

The United States has established military bases to eliminate terrorists and threats in many developed countries such as South Korea which is an economically strong state but its neighboring North Korea does not even have a US military base, so the economic situation there is bad and the country is underdeveloped. Japan also has US military bases since World War II, but Japan is not at risk of terrorism or hostility from any country. On the other hand, Pakistan has always sided with the United States and will certainly allow the United States to establish its military bases in the future, but Pakistan's refusal at the moment is because Pakistan is increasing its bargaining power. Eighty percent of the people of Pakistan also want the United States to be given a military base which will lead to a huge grant from the US. Because the United States has so far been told by Pakistan that the Pakistani people are against the Americans, in the past the damages of burning NATO containers were also imposed on the Pakistani people. But the reality is the opposite. Except for one or two Maulvis, no public group has so far been seen protesting against the United States. And it is also possible that in the future the public will hold a couple of fake demonstrations on this issue. If Pakistan allows the United States to set up military bases on its soil; Pakistan's integrity will not be under any kind of threat but it will be economically beneficial. Pakistan can provide military bases to the United States on the condition of complete waiver of the debt which has become a challenge. In exchange for these military bases, the United States should resolve the pressing problem linked to lean drinking water, sanitation, health and economy and provide grants to all the universities because presently our universities are under financial stress. Similarly, Pakistani students should be given scholarships in American educational institutions. The United States should help Pakistan in building dams and could play an important role in providing health and clean water and help Pakistan in resolving the outstanding Kashmir issue. Donations should be taken from the United States, not loan, because borrowing has not helped and it has to be returned. In the past, Egypt and Turkey have allowed the United States to establish military bases which lead to relinquishment of their debts giving a boost to their economics. Bases were also provided to the United States under former Pakistani Presidents General (retd) Pervez Musharraf and Ayub Khan. Everyone remembers the story of the US U-2C spy plane being shot down by Russia after which the United States had established a base in Badaber. But the two former Pakistani presidents took advantage for themselves instead of benefiting the country. For example, if Pakistan does not allow the US to provide airfields, then all of Pakistan's sacrifices will be lost and all hard work will be wasted. That will amount to build and demolish one’s own house. The United States does not oppose the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor; it wants developed and jobs in poor countries so that people can stand on their own feet. The US should support the CPEC and Pakistan should also think of the benefit of the people instead of getting cheap fame because so far the present government has done nothing but trigger unprecedented inflation. Prime Minister Imran Khan will have to take a U-turn in this matter as well, because the people will have to suffer the consequences of annoying the United States. In the past, a former IG police had provided US with a complete database of an intelligence agency to please them, as well as a federal secretary who handed over Pakistan's national identity card and passport data to the US. This happened because they knew that doing so would definitely benefit their own case and buy them luxuries. Former Deputy Inspector General of Police Captain (Retd) Haji Muhammad IftikharKhan who is an expert on security issues, says that Prime Minister Imran Khan should not be providing airbases to the US this time, because the US is not an ally of Pakistan but an ally of India. "Our alliance is with China, Turkey, Russia, and Iran," he said. He has noted that it has been the habit of the US to take advantage of Pakistan and kick it when not needed. In the 70-year history of Pakistan, we have found a bold leader like PM Imran Khan who has said no to the US in absolute terms. The US has used Pakistani territory in the past to consume ISAF funds due to which Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province had suffered a lot. Mohammad Iftikhar Khan says that if the US is provided bases by Pakistan, then Pakistan may also be threatened by Iran, China, Turkey, and Russia not by Taliban, because these countries are our trusted allies which cannot be infuriated.

Syed Fawad Ali Shah
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