Pakistanis, living at home or abroad, have become masters at monologues, despising or ignoring the value of dialogue among ourselves and with others. We have convinced ourselves that we are the prime target of persecution and discrimination, ignoring our own infinite propensity to do the same within our own society and to others. We have started living by cliches. This xenophobic collective state of mind is, inadvertently, serving the interests of the state and the ruling elite and undermining the rights of the common citizen.
These days, the prized cliche is that the American abandonment of Pakistan after the Soviet forced withdrawal from Afghanistan. Pakistani expatriates interacting with American politicians never miss a chance to remind them of their infidelity. While it is true that the Americans did leave the region without fulfilling their responsibility, the fact is that this reference to American infidelity cloaks many a debacle of our own making.
Most Pakistanis believe that Pakistan has always stood by the United States in difficult times. A common perception is that, despite joining the US-led South East Asian Treaty Organisation (SEATO) and Central Treaty Organisation (CENTO) agreements, the Americans did not help Pakistan when it was needed the most, in its war against India. In reality, the US gave Pakistan arms worth billions of dollars to fight Communism. Wisely, Pakistan did not actively participate in any anti- Communist war other than jailing a few of its own leftleaning activist intellectuals and retired military officials.
The SEATO and CENTO agreements were specifically designed to fight Communism and did not call for members' intervention in wars against non- Communist aggressors. Therefore, it could be said, from the American angle, that Pakistan misused its resources to fight India. Besides, once it had been shown that the US is an unreliable ally, Pakistan should have terminated its American links and devised an alternative foreign policy. But, our governing elite, having a vested interest in the US and its auxiliary international institutions, carried on with their servile attitude with the richest superpower.