According to the Washington Post on December 23, 2016, the United States attempted to change the governments of other countries 72 times during the Cold War. According to one study, the United States made at least 81 known overt and covert interventions in foreign elections during the period 1946-2000. Another study found that the United States engaged in 64 covert attempts and six overt attempts at regime change during the Cold War. After the disintegration of the former USSR, the United States became the sole superpower in the unipolar world. Its role in changing regimes across the world has escalated exponentially.
Recent victims are: Iraq, Haiti, Zaire, former Yugoslavia, Afghanistan, Kyrgyzstan, Palestine, Syria, Libya, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, etc. There could be many other countries that have not yet been identified. In fact, in the unipolar world, there was no countervailing power to control the Americans, and the situation worsened. However, with the rise of China and the rebirth of Russia, the world is once again turning into a multipolar one. The American administration could think twice before making the slightest decision to intervene in the internal affairs of another country.
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How have relations between Pakistan and the United States deteriorated?
Pakistan has been on the American side for more than seven decades, a close ally during the Cold War against the communist threat, a frontline state in the Afghan war against the invasion of the USSR, a close non-NATO ally in its war on terrorism. Pakistan is the single country that has suffered the greatest loss due to its partnership with the United States in the war in Afghanistan. 80,000 precious human lives were lost, far more than any NATO or Allied country. The estimated economic loss was approximately US$250 billion, the social impact was severe, in addition, the threat of terrorism, extremism, intolerance, drugs and gun culture were additional gifts. Yet Pakistan was penalized and imposed the harshest sanctions.
Pakistan has protected and guarded American interests in this region for almost seven decades. Pakistan has ensured that the United States achieves all of its strategic objectives in this region with the assistance of Pakistan. Since the United States kept its distance from Pakistan and put all its priorities on India, the United States has faced one failure after another over the past few years.
It was a shift in US policy to focus on India and unilaterally keep its distance from Pakistan. The United States has exerted pressure from all sides, sometimes through the IMF and the FATF, sometimes through its friends like Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. Sometimes directly threaten disastrous consequences. Although Pakistan has been and is willing to have good relations with the United States. At least Pakistan has nothing against America, it cannot be a good friend, at least there is no reason to hate Pakistan, to coerce Pakistan or to penalize Pakistan.
Prime Minister Imran Khan, was educated, raised and lived in the West and is a moderate Muslim. His understanding of the West should have been used to bridge East and West. He is the only prime minister in Pakistan to have the highest number of foreign nationals or dual nationals in his cabinet. Above all, in key state positions, he appointed very pro-Western individuals. He is surrounded by American lobbyists around him. Yet Americans don’t like it, which is incomprehensible. Is it his visit to Moscow or his abstention from the American motion at the UNSC, or his vision of an independent sovereign state, or anything else that might have irritated the United States?
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Of course, he is sincere and loyal to the nation, which should not be taken against him. He came to international attention as a moderate world leader and his efforts for global peace and stability gained momentum.
All these acts must be taken positively, without justification to punish him
Any attempt at regime change in Pakistan by a foreign power is taken very seriously by the Pakistani public. As a nation, Pakistan is full of diversity and enjoys the highest degree of freedom of expression anywhere in the world. Our media are completely free and the judiciary is independent. It is believed that the Pakistani people are wise enough to decide on their own, any foreign intervention can become counterproductive.
In fact, its popularity chart was down due to bad governance, especially rising prices and increased inflation. But, with the foreign plot, his popularity has improved a lot. Political activities are a healthy sign and we encourage the opposition to play a positive role, to criticize the actions of the government. But, if foreign programs are implemented, the nation is united to confront them collectively.
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The coming days are critical in Pakistani politics, the public is urged to think intelligently and decide their loyalty to any political party, based on their best judgement. All political parties are equally good to support and a healthy completion is good for the country. Even strong opposition is the beauty of this society. However, he urged them to be loyal to the country and to unite against any foreign intervention or plot. Each individual is held responsible for judging and deciding according to his or her conscience. Respect the constitution of the country and remain peaceful in all circumstances. Understand your rights and duties and also emphasize the duties. Strive to transform Pakistan into an independent, strong and prosperous nation in the club of the civilized world.
Teacher. Eng. Zamir Ahmed Awan, sinologist (ex-diplomat), editor, analyst, non-resident member of the CCG (Centre for China and Globalization). He can be reached at [email protected] The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the editorial policy of Global Village Space (GVS News).
