Only China stands by Pakistan

ISLAMABAD: It was only China to stand-by with Pakistan when the US military helicopters raided a compound in Abbotabad to kill Osama bin Laden without informing its closet ally in the so-called war on terror. The incident plunged Pakistan into a worst crisis, the country has seen in recent history. Leader of the opposition, Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan rightly described the Abbotabad operation by US Navy SEALs as the biggest disaster than the Dhaka debacle.The US subjected Pakistan to humiliation and the CIA Chief, Leon E. Panetta, even said Pakistan was either involved or incompetent. US officials also said had Pakistan been informed it could have frustrated the action. Britain and France also raised doubts over Pakistan’s contention that Osama bin Laden went unnoticed in his Abbottabad mansion, and as a headmaster they vowed to seek explanation from the country on the issue. Britain and France must have learnt how to diplomatically deal other nations.In London, British Prime Minister James Cameron, famous for his anti-Pakistan tirade, told the House of Commons that the al-Qaeda leader’s ability to live in a large house in Pakistan showed he had an “extensive support network” in the country and it was right to ask “searching questions” about that.Cameron also adopted similar tone by the US officials and said Pakistan will have to answer questions about Osama’s presence.The most ridicules reaction came from Afghanistan not only from the top leadership but also from its opposition, media and analysts. The U.S-backed President Hamid Karzai used the occasion to ask Western nations to open a new front in Pakistan.The Afghan president said the war against terrorism should not be carried out in Afghanistan, but in bin Laden’s “safe haven, sanctuary and his training camp,” a reference to Pakistan. Mr Karzai, who lived for years in Pakistan, when Taliban had been ruling Afghanistan, has never left any occasion to blame Pakistan and he ignored the agony Pakistan has been facing since the death of Osama bin Laden. Pakistan insists that the government was not involved in sheltering the al-Qaeda chief and now the top US leaders also admit that no proof to link Pakistani authorities with Osama bin Laden.Karzai’s has proved how he takes political mileage of the Pakistan’s difficult time. Speaking in front of a packed hall in his palace in Kabul, he also hinted that the Pakistani state itself was complicit in hiding the Saudi terrorist leader, saying Bin Laden had “hidden himself in the military bases of Abbottabad”. Karzai’s remarks encouraged one of his spokesmen to come up with more harsh reaction. “There are circles inside Pakistani government that are cooperating with terrorist groups,” President Karzai’s Deputy Spokesperson, Seyamak Herawi remarked.Despite tense relationship between Pakistan and India, reaction from India was not hostile as was from Mr Karzai. The Indian Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh said, “The international community and Pakistan in particular must work comprehensively to end the activities of all such groups who threaten civilised behaviour and kill innocent men, women and children.” Pakistan’s Arab friends are mysteriously silent and may be enjoying what embarrassment Pakistani nation is facing due to the arrogance of the US Britain and other Western nations. Turkey and Iran also preferred to shut mouth and leave Pakistan in lurch.China said that the sovereignty and self-government of all countries should not be violated. It was only China which recognized the difficult situation Pakistan was facing after the US raid and the Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Jiang Yu said that the International Community should further assist Pakistan for its efforts against the war on terror. The Chinese Foreign Ministry said the sovereignty and independence of all countries should be respected while criticizing the United States for it unilateral military action in Abbottabad.It is the time for Pakistan to know real friends and foes. Whether those are our friends who have attached tough conditions to their aid to Pakistan and who slapped sanctions on Pakistan days after Soviet troops withdrew from Afghanistan in 1989. Will Pakistan consider the US as its close ally which has defamed the country and its security institutions across the world?