Don't oversimplify Western perceptions regarding Pakistan through the American prism.
Many Western nations have good relations with Pakistan. Pakistan has received a GSP+ status from the EU on the basis that its economy lost out during the American warmongering in Afghanistan. That is nothing short of recognition the sacrifices made by Pakistan. Something that cannot be said about our supposedly American ally who only knows how to provide bribe aid to our leaders.
You don't seem to grasp the situation in neighboring Pakistan. This isn't about terrorism, Haqqani, Taliban blah blah blah. This is much broader. This is about power projection and control. Pakistan just happens to be caught in the midst of a struggle between major powers. We have made our choice. The Americans are losers and cannot accept the new reality. They cannot accept Pakistan breaking its shackles and freeing itself from blackmail and bullying. The Americans have always dealt with Pakistan like a client state. The Americans have become addicted to the slave master relationship and we are partly to blame, but we are trying to rectify that situation. The Americans response is to be expected.
I am not simplifying, just stating my opinion based on interactions with certain people. Being added to GSP+ scheme is not really achievement in my eyes. It doesn't show any influence of Pakistani diplomacy or great breakthrough in providing Pakistan some great economical leverage.
The GSP+ is designed to promote Labour rights and improve economic conditions etc, something that's part of the E.U's own agenda. All you have to do is sign up and ratify a few conditions. Please don't tell me you take this as part of some great achievement. Because I don't.
With regards to comparison with American aid, why do we accept it then? Our military gets regular reimbursements for services provided. Why does the military allow these conditions to develop where they have to accept reimbursements? And it is definitely not the aid that allows the U.S to project power, when Musharraf joined the WOT, it wasn't because of issues with AID corrupting our elite.
This is the perception that the world had in the after math of 9/11: We were one of only two countries who had supported and recognized a regime which was believed by most neutral observers to have a pitiful record on protecting the rights of its citizens, had provided shelter to thousands of extremists and exported global terrorism and committed crimes against humanity. It had sheltered a man who was responsible for the death of thousands of civilians. Tell me why our establishment chose such cretins as our best buddies and providers of strategic depth, when they never actually bothered to solve the border issue and refused to accept the Durand line?
Also, tell me why Musharraf was cowed by the Americans then? Was it Aid that the Americans threatened to stop? Which of these western allied nations stood with Pakistan when this happened? And what was the reasons why they sided with America over Pakistan on this matter? So we not only loose the good will of the international community, we have to join a war that kills thousands of Pakistanis, the regime we supported never actually sorted out any border issues, on the contrary, the ideology we supported was used to rouse up misguided people against our own state. Is this an achievement?
And now, what is the perception of the world in the aftermath of OBL's death: We either purposely allowed OBL in this country or our state institutions are such failures that they did not that the world's most wanted man was living for years in a garrison town. Please tell me which perception you prefer? Because on both, we are screwed. We as a nation have been labelled as state sponsors of terrorism, and I see nothing being done by the state of Pakistan to rectify this. Well nothing apart from saying, "don't dare to threaten us, or we will join Russia and China". Seriously? None of these countries are going to fight the U.S on our behalf.
As I said previously, I am not stating why America is doing what it is doing, I am asking what have our actions being apart from knee-jerk reactions and empty chest thumping? What have we achieved in Afghanistan? What have we achieved in Kashmir? What is the standing of Pakistan in the world today? Why does our establishment continue to make decisions that continue to make things worse for Pakistan and will anyone ever be held accountable for all the follies that have been accomplished by their actions?
As for the government of Pakistan, this is nothing new. Pakistan never had capable civilian leaders able to steer the country in the right direction. Panama is the reality and we all know how corrupt our rulers are. Don't tell me that we never saw this coming. The whole world knows it. Are you surprised at Nawaz Sharif's inability to defend Pakistan in the face of these significant developments? LOL I am not. This is what you get when you elect leaders like Zardari and Nawaz Sharif. Much of the fault lies with the people of Pakistan.
Don't have any expectations from the Pakistani elite to defend their country. This country has always been and will continue to be defended by you know who.
I understand the frustration you have expressed regarding our leaders in general. Many Pakistanis are dealing with the same feelings. Unfortunately at times as a nation we lack coherence and unity. We have a lot to learn in that regard. After the independence we gained we never had a patriotic leader who could truly rally the masses under a single banner. It has always been about regional politics
No disagreements here.