Waseem Shehzad
The Pakistani elite in general and the generals in particular find solace in subservience to the US. They will do anything to get in the good books of Washington.
Their experience also tells them that they find greater acceptance when the Republicans are in power compared to the Democrats. By a happy coincidence—for the Pakistani generals—the Republicans control both houses of Congress and Donald Trump is in the White House. A narcissist by nature, he loves flattery. The Pakistanis are masters at this game.
The world witnessed this in Sharm el-Sheikh on October 13. When Trump asked Shehbaz Sharif if he wanted to say a few words, the Pakistani clown went overboard. Much to the embarrassment of other heads of state, he went on a rant praising Trump, repeating once again that he should get the Nobel Peace prize.
The Norwegian Nobel committee had a little more sense—only barely—than to give the sex predator and convicted felon and tax fraud the prize. It might still do so next year, under pressure. After all, most past recipients have been notorious war criminals and terrorists.
For 2025, however, it was the hardcore zionist and unabashed supporter of Israeli genocide in Gaza, Maria Corina Machado, opposition leader of Venezuela that got the “prize”. She is working with the CIA to try and overthrow a democractically-elected government in Caracas. Being a staunch supporter of Israel’s genocide of the Palestinian people is another requirement.
On this score, Machado is a perfect fit. Trump was upset because he is even more pro-Israel, providing weapons to the zionist war criminals to continue the genocide.
Let us, however, return to the Pakistani generals’ desire to be in the good books of the US. When Imran Khan was the prime minister (August 2018 – April 2022), US-Pakistan relations went sour because he wanted to pursue an independent foreign policy. Such independence was unacceptable to the Americans.
The State Department official for Pakistan, one Donald Lu, made quite clear to the Pakistani ambassador in Washington, Asad Majeed Khan that if Imran Khan were removed from power, all will be forgiven and US-Pakistan relations will improve.
Then army chief, Qamar Javed Bajwa and the ISI chief Nadeem Anjum promptly went to work. They lined up members of the National Assembly and gave them sacks full of rupees to vote against Imran Khan. It was one of the most shameful acts of political manipulation in Pakistan’s sordid history, carried out at the behest of the US.
Country to country relations are based on mutual interests. Country A must have something to offer to country B for their relationship to flourish. In the US-Pakistan relations, the scales are grossly tilted against Pakistan. It is a country wracked by socio-economic and political crises. Teetering on the brink of bankruptcy, it is totally dependent on external handouts for survival.
There is also another factor that has proved debilitating for Pakistan: illegitimate rulers. With little or no support from the masses, the rulers are dependent on external props, especially from Pakistan’s godfather, the US. This is especially true when military dictators are in power.
At present, Pakistan is under de facto martial law although clowns have been put in front to create the illusion of civilian rule. The army chief, Asim Munir is the sole decision-maker. And Trump likes “strongmen”. He has called Munir “my favourite field marshal”.
Munir is desperate to get extension for his tenure as army chief. That decision theoretically resets with civilian rulers, especially the Sharif brothers Nawaz and Shehbaz. Nawaz is a wild card and can be erratic, hence Munir’s desperation to get Trump’s stamp of approval. In Pakistan, no army chief is appointed without a nod from the US.
Since March, Munir has made several trips to the US. In an unusual move, and contrary to protocol, Trump even invited him to the White House for lunch in June. What does Trump want from Pakistan?
There is a laundry list of items and actions. These include supply of rare earth minerals that apparently Pakistan has and the US covets because China will no longer supply them.
In late September, the Missouri-based firm US Strategic Metals announced it had received the first shipment of “enriched rare earth elements and critical minerals” from Pakistan, as part of a $500 million “partnership framework.” The batch included antimony, copper concentrate, and “rare earth elements with neodymium and praseodymium.”
Munir is also being used to exert pressure on the Taliban to hand over Bagram airbase to the US. Trump claims—falsely—that the US built it and gave it for “free” to the Taliban. Recent Pakistani air strikes on Afghanistan and the Taliban’s retaliation along the border are part of this diabolical plot.
The Pakistani generals have also latched onto Trump family’s cryptocurrency business. The World Liberty Financial, headed by Zack Witkoff, son of the US Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff, is a cyptocurrency company with 60% ownership of the Trump family. The generals know how to flatter Trump.
America’s two other obsessions are containment of China and Iran. While Pakistan has for decades enjoyed cordial relations with Beijing, these may be sacrificed at the altar of Munir’s ambition to get his extension.
With Iran, it may prove more difficult. Despite officially-inspired anti-Iran propaganda, there is much sympathy for Tehran among the people because it stands up to US bullying and is a staunch supporter of the Palestinian cause.
Trump’s most important demand is that Pakistan recognize the zionist entity. This is already a done deal but has not been officially announced. Shehbaz Sharif’s presence at the so-called peace summit at Sharm el-Sheikh on October 13 was part of this plan.
Since 2018, Pakistani diplomats, on orders from the military, have been trying to prepare the ground for Israel’s recognition. Aware of the public’s strong opposition, the hybrid regime (military rule with civilians at the front) are clamping hard on any expression of opposition.
The brutal crackdown on Tehreek-e Labaik Pakistan (TLP), the ISI-sponsored religious outfit, was meant to send a message to all would-be opponents. The army will not brook any opposition to Pakistan’s recognition of Israel.
There was also a message in the violent crackdown to the US: that the regime faces opposition to such recognition. It will need money to initiate plans to buy people’s loyalty for this diabolical plot.
As the US ambassador in Islamabad said in her message to the State department, Pakistanis will sell their mothers for a few dollars. This we learnt from Wikileaks in 2010. As far as Asim Munir is concerned, he will stoop even lower for a fistful of dollars.
Shamelessness is a peculiar trait of the Pakistani elite, especially the army top brass.
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